Grants Contracts Negotiator

University of Wisconsin Madison•Madison, WI

About The Position

The Grants Contracts Negotiator supports proposal development and submission, budgeting, agreement negotiation, and award setup activities for UW-Madison’s College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence Research Administration. The role helps ensure submissions are timely and compliant, provides oversight of pre-award operations, and establishes consistent workflows for tracking, monitoring, and managing proposal submissions to support growth of the research portfolio. This is a 100% Academic Staff appointment. The minimum salary is $74,154, depending on qualifications and experience. The position may involve new account setup, developing and evaluating pre-award operational policies and procedures, serving as a resource and liaison, preparing proposals and budgets, reviewing and negotiating agreements, and potentially supervising research administration staff. A bachelor’s degree in a related field is required. The successful applicant must be eligible to work in the United States by the effective date of appointment.

Requirements

At least three years of experience in contract negotiation, research administration, sponsored programs, grants and contracts administration, or a related field.
Experience reviewing, negotiating, and administering research-related agreements, including sponsored research agreements, subawards, confidentiality agreements, data use agreements, material transfer agreements, and other research contracts.
Experience interpreting and applying contractual terms and conditions, sponsor requirements, federal regulations, and institutional policies.
Knowledge of regulations governing sponsored research and research agreements, including Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), research security requirements, export controls, cybersecurity requirements, intellectual property, and data management and sharing requirements.
Experience supporting agreements funded by federal sponsors, including NSF, NIH, DOE, and DOD, and/or industry sponsors.
Demonstrated ability to analyze contractual risk and negotiate terms and conditions that align with institutional policies and objectives.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including ability to explain complex contractual and regulatory requirements to varied stakeholders.
Excellent organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and customer service skills, with ability to manage multiple priorities and competing deadlines.
Bachelor’s degree in business administration, research administration, public administration, law, life sciences, finance, or a related field.
Must be eligible to work in the United States on or before the effective date of appointment.

Nice To Haves

Five or more years of experience negotiating and administering research-related agreements in higher education, an academic medical center, a research institution, or a similar environment.
Experience negotiating sponsored research agreements, industry-sponsored research agreements, subawards, confidentiality agreements, data use agreements, and other research-related contracts.
Experience working with federal sponsors, including NSF, NIH, DOE, DOD, and other federal agencies, as well as industry and nonprofit organizations.
Experience identifying, assessing, and mitigating contractual, intellectual property, regulatory, and research compliance risks.
Experience collaborating with principal investigators, research administrators, legal counsel, technology transfer offices, and other administrative partners.
Experience using electronic research administration and contract management systems such as RAMP, Cayuse, Research.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, or similar systems.
Juris Doctor (J.D.), Certified Research Administrator (CRA), Certified Federal Contracts Manager (CFCM), Certified Commercial Contracts Manager (CCCM), or another relevant professional certification.

Responsibilities

May be responsible for new account setup.
Develop, implement, and evaluate pre-award research administration operational policies and procedures, including financial, administrative, staffing, and compliance matters.
Serve as a key resource to leadership and staff and as a liaison to partners and stakeholders.
Work with researchers to prepare budgets, proposal submissions, agreements, and other materials for sponsor consideration.
May review and negotiate agreements on behalf of the unit.
May supervise activities of research administration staff.
Support proposal development and submission, budgeting, agreement negotiation, and award setup.
Help ensure timely and compliant submissions and provide oversight of pre-award operations.
Establish consistent workflows for tracking, monitoring, and managing proposal submissions.