Director, Office of Research Support (ORS) Contracting Services
About The Position
Duke University: Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries. Be You. Be Bold. Choose Duke. Be You. At Duke, we value the diverse experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives that strengthen our community. As the Director, Office of Research Support (ORS) Contracting Services, you will report to the Executive Director of the Office of Research Support and provide leadership for the unit responsible for developing, reviewing, negotiating, and executing research-related agreements across the University. In this role, you will partner closely with faculty, administrators, and external sponsors to ensure that Duke’s research agreements support institutional goals and comply with applicable policies and regulations. Be Bold. The Director, ORS Contracting Services provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for Duke University’s research contracting activities. This position manages the review, negotiation, drafting, and processing of a wide range of research agreements and ensures alignment with Duke policies, federal regulations, and standards applicable to nonprofit research institutions.
Requirements
- Work requires a Bachelor's degree. A Ph.D. or a post‑graduate law degree is strongly preferred.
- Ten years’ experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating agreements with companies, academic centers, and government agencies supporting academic research. Five years of this experience may be replaced by three years of direct scientific involvement in academic laboratory or clinical research. Five years of experience managing and guiding team members, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Responsibilities
- Manage and supervise research agreement operations within the contracting unit, including oversight of assigned staff.
- Review, draft, negotiate, and process sponsored and non-sponsored research agreements including clinical and non-clinical agreements, MTAs, NDAs, DUAs, and subawards.
- Coordinate with internal Duke offices to ensure agreements meet institutional, regulatory, and sponsor requirements.
- Serve as an institutional signatory for delegated agreement types and approve agreements prepared by staff.
- Provide guidance to faculty and research teams on contractual requirements, risks, timelines, and negotiation status.
- Maintain accurate records of negotiation activities and agreement lifecycle progress in institutional systems.
- Recruit, hire, train, evaluate, and support departmental staff, promoting consistent performance and adherence to ORS standards.
- Develop and implement standards of practice, operational workflows, and quality‑control procedures for contract management.
- Represent the Office of Research Support in policy discussions, institutional initiatives, and research‑related committees.
Benefits
- Total compensation includes medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, and additional programs.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
