Senior Contracting Officer

University of Minnesota•Minneapolis, MN

51d•$160,007 - $214,735

About The Position

The Senior Contracting Officer, a key member of the National Security Research Institute (NSRI) at the University of Minnesota, brings the highest level of expertise in the planning, negotiation, and coordination of complex and sensitive funding agreements managed through the NSRI. The role specializes in expanding the university's research partnerships with the Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Health and Human Services (HHS/ARPA-H, BARDA), NASA, and others, steering negotiations involving agreements such as: Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs), Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs), Commercial Solutions Openings (CSOs), Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs), Partnership Intermediary Agreements (PIAs), Technology Investment Agreements (TIAs), and Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Working closely with Contracting Officers in the Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA) to establish these formal agreements with the University, the role ensures the NSRI and the University have the specialized skills and capabilities to handle very large research programs that could reach and exceed $50M. By interfacing with NSRI teams, University leaders, researchers and staff system-wide, as well as business and industry partners, the role seeks to match University R&D strengths to high-value, high-interest technical challenges and structure agreements to grow interdisciplinary research. It provides specialized contracting support to research teams, leaders and administrators as they pursue high-value, cross-cutting initiatives that address resilience, energy, health, aerospace, national security, and innovation challenges that are of strategic importance to the nation. This role reports to the Executive Director of the National Security Research Institute.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in business, contract management, law, public administration, or related field
Minimum 10 years experience, with 8 years of progressively responsible experience in federal/defense contracting, including direct experience as an unlimited warranted Contracting Officer in the military, or equivalent federal civilian role or comparable experience as a lead negotiator for large-scale federal Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) programs.
Demonstrated track record of negotiating and handling large and complex RDT&E programs involving CRADA, CSO, BAA, and OTA agreements.
In-depth knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), and non-traditional contracting authorities.
Proven success in negotiating high-value agreements with both federal agencies (DOE, DoD, DHS, HHS/BARDA, NASA, etc.) and private-sector partners.
Strong communication and collaboration skills, with experience working across research, legal, compliance and contracting offices
be a US Citizen
possess an active US Government security clearance or have the ability to obtain and maintain a US Government security clearance.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree, JD, or professional certifications (DAWIA, NCMA CPCM/CFCM).
Experience working in or with research universities or other nonprofit research institutions.
Familiarity with technology transfer, intellectual property management, and research compliance in an academic context.
Established relationships within DoD, DHS, DOE, HHS/BARDA, NASA, or other federal contracting and acquisition communities.
Familiarity with export controls, data rights, and IP considerations in federally funded research
Experience with consortium-based contracting and interagency research collaborations
Familiarity with platforms such as SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and other agency-specific procurement systems.
Strategic Contracting and Negotiation Acumen: Ability to align complex contracting mechanisms with institutional research priorities, including interdisciplinary initiatives in strategic national fields.
Analytical & Problem-Solving: Strong skills in structuring agreements that balance flexibility, compliance, and innovation.
Communication & Diplomacy: Ability to clearly explain federal contracting requirements to academic and administrative audiences and maintain credibility with government/industry counterparts.
Leadership & Mentorship: Capable of training and guiding contracting staff and building institutional and administrative expertise in a highly-specialized domain.
Adaptability: Comfortable working in a university environment that requires collaboration, shared governance, and mission-driven decision-making.
Excellent collaboration and project management skills.
Strategic Foresight: Ability to anticipate evolving federal research priorities and contracting models, and position the University to take advantage of new funding mechanisms.
Risk Assessment and Judgement: Proven ability to evaluate and communicate contractual risks, distinguishing between manageable and unacceptable terms in the context of the University's policies and mission.
Innovation Mindset: Willingness to explore new funding models and research approaches that expand the University's engagement in national R&D initiatives.

Responsibilities

Contract Negotiation & Management: Lead negotiations and structuring of complex CRADA, CSO, BAA, OTA, PIA, TIA, and STTR/SBIR agreements and other federal and industry contracts, in compliance with federal regulations and university policies, and in partnership with the Sponsored Projects Administration office, the Office of the General Counsel, and Technology Commercialization.
Strategic Growth and Stakeholder Engagement: Partner with faculty and research leadership to match University R&D strengths to high-value, high-interest technical challenges; seek and identify opportunities, and develop strategies that expand DOE, DoD, DHS, HHS/BARDA, NASA, and other federal research funding. Build strong working relationships with federal sponsors and industry partners to streamline contracting processes and foster collaboration. Represent the University at federal acquisition research partnership forums.
Interdisciplinary Research Support: Facilitate contracting solutions that enable large, multi-disciplinary teams to compete for federal programs addressing areas of strategic national importance, including energy, microelectronics, health security, defense, aerospace, AI, geospatial, advanced materials, manufacturing and other emerging areas for the NSRI.
Expert Guidance: Serve as the university's in-house, NSRI expert on specialized contracting mechanisms (e.g. CRADAs, OTAs, CSOs); advise leadership on risk, compliance, and negotiation strategies; interface and collaborate with Contracting Officers in SPA to formalize and finalize agreements with the University. Provide guidance on flow-down clauses, cost structures (e.g. Fixed Price), data rights, and IP protections to ensure compliant and advantageous terms.
Policy, Training, and Domain Expertise Development: Develop and implement contracting policies, tools, and training programs to raise institutional knowledge of advanced contracting mechanisms. Collaborate closely with Sponsored Projects Administration, Research Integrity and Compliance, and other units as appropriate.
Compliance & Risk Management: Ensure that contracts are structured to protect the university's interests, comply with federal acquisition regulations, and align with intellectual property and export control considerations. Partner with RIO's Research Integrity and Compliance office.

Benefits

Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
University HSA contributions
Disability and employer-paid life insurance
Employee wellbeing program
Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
Financial counseling services
Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area