Manager of Contracts, Technology Development

UT Southwestern Medical Center•Dallas, TX

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Leading the contracts team, the Manager Contracts - Technology Development is a non-practicing role providing strategic leadership for all contracts flowing through the Office of Technology Development (OTD), serving as the offices guide on best practices in contract structure & policy. This role develops and maintains contract templates, clause libraries, playbooks, and workflows, and advises commercialization and research teams by clearly articulating institutional positions, approved fallback options, and escalation thresholds. Leveraging a deep understanding of university policy, state regulations, and federal requirements, the Manager Contracts - Technology Development ensures agreements are consistent, compliant, and risk appropriate while enabling timely deal execution. The position partners closely with General Counsel, Sponsored Programs, Compliance, Business Development, and OTD leadership to triage issues, resolve ambiguities, and support effective decision making. Operating with high emotional intelligence and strong judgment, the Manager Contracts - Technology Development balances stewardship with pragmatic deal enablement, improving throughput, reducing friction, and safeguarding the institution's interests.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school
4 years of experience in a legal environment or in general business with primary responsibility for reviewing, drafting, analyzing, and negotiating complex contracts.
Advanced knowledge of contract law, legal risk assessment, and compliance principles.
Strong negotiation, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, lead complex matters, and collaborate with senior stakeholders.
Proficiency with contract management systems and standard business software (Word, Excel, etc.).
Good organizational skills.
Clear written and oral communication skills.
Analytical and critical thinking skills
Working knowledge of spreadsheets and word-processing software.

Nice To Haves

Life Science contracting or Venture Capital contracting.

Responsibilities

Leads drafting and reviewing complex, high risk, and high-profile contracts with various companies, stakeholders and agencies while coordinating with staff.
Provides guidance, assistance, and training to staff and team members within OTD as necessary for implementation and negotiation of contracts for: Confidentiality / Non-Disclosure Agreements (CDAs/NDAs), Material & Data Transfer Agreements (MTAs/DTAs/DURCs, DUAs/NDAs for data), Inter-Institutional Agreements (IIAs) and Consortium/Participation Agreements, Patented Intellectual Property (IP) Agreements: options, evaluation agreements, license agreements (exclusive/non-exclusive, field‑limited), software licenses, end-user licenses, background IP/access rights, Sponsored Research / Collaboration Agreements and unfunded research/collaboration MOUs, SBIR/STTR subawards and related research commercialization agreements, Clinical/Translational research support agreements (where TTO touchpoints exist), Industry-university master agreements and template side letters, Revenue distribution, assignment, and royalty administration addenda (in coordination with Finance/OTL Ops).
Leads the development of processes and procedures, including process improvement, for the area of expertise related to overall contract drafting and management activities.
Monitors status of contracts for completion; ensures contracts move through the process from negotiated intake to execution in a timely manner.
Drafts internal and external correspondence related to contracting activities.
Accurately spots issues, interprets complex contract terms and conditions, and engages attorneys in the Office of Legal Affairs and UT System OGC as the offices point of contact, as needed.
Applies extensive knowledge of the entire contracting lifecycle to meet business needs.
Creates and implements KPIs on contracts team performance.
Drafts, negotiates and completes revenue generating contracts
Acts as the Point of Contact for COI, Legal Affairs, and UT System OGC offices
Partner closely with General Counsel (for legal interpretation and negotiation strategy) and Sponsored Programs (for research agreements interfacing with IP/industry).
Model proactive ownership and high emotional intelligence; especially when mediating between faculty urgency, industry timelines, and public-institution constraints.
Crisp, respectful communication that defuses conflict and builds trust across faculty, counsel, and industry counterparts.
High situational awareness; knowing when to escalate, when to offer a fallback, and how to maintain momentum without negotiating.
Performs other duties as needed.