Sponsored Contracts Administrator

UTHealth Houston•Houston, TX

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Sponsored Contracts Administrator joins UTHealth Houston’s Sponsored Projects Administration team to review, draft, redline, negotiate, and administer complex research-related agreements across the university’s schools and research institutes. The role handles agreements such as sponsored research agreements, clinical trial agreements, subawards, data use agreements, material transfer agreements, fee-for-service agreements, and collaborative research arrangements. It applies working knowledge of research compliance, contract law, intellectual property law, and institutional policy to develop contract language, assess risk, resolve complex issues, and protect the university, its assets, and faculty. The administrator works closely with investigators, faculty, departmental administrators, sponsors, industry representatives, and internal stakeholders to understand research projects and ensure agreements meet scientific, financial, regulatory, and compliance needs. The position coordinates with groups including the Office of Technology Management, Legal Affairs, the Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects, Procurement, UT System, and post-award staff. It also supports training, process improvement, and timely project account setup. The schedule is Monday through Friday, and the position is eligible for hybrid work under departmental and university guidelines. Employees must permanently reside and work in Texas.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
At least 2 years of experience in research, research administration, or research/healthcare contract negotiation required.
Required experience may be substituted with equivalent years of education beyond the minimum education requirement.
Must permanently reside and work in the State of Texas.
The position is security-sensitive and requires the ability to maintain the security or integrity of critical infrastructure when applicable.

Nice To Haves

Doctorate degree in a life science or a JD is preferred.

Responsibilities

Independently review, draft, redline, and negotiate complex research agreements, including sponsored research agreements, clinical trial agreements, subawards, material transfer agreements, data use agreements, fee-for-service agreements, and collaborative arrangements.
Ensure agreements comply with federal and state requirements, UT System and institutional policies, regulatory obligations, and risk tolerance, with particular attention to intellectual property, data and materials ownership, and compliance requirements.
Coordinate internal discussions between Sponsored Projects Administration and the Office of Technology Management, attend meetings with Principal Investigators, assess relationships among investigators, commercial entities, and the university, determine appropriate intellectual property terms, and secure necessary approvals.
Collaborate with schools, departments, Legal Affairs, the Office of Technology Management, the Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects, Procurement, and UT System to resolve contract issues involving intellectual property, data and materials ownership, and regulatory compliance.
Review non-standard grants and contracts for the Grants and Award Management team to ensure appropriate and consistent intellectual property and data/materials terms, and help revise language to meet institutional standards.
Gather project details from faculty and departmental administrators and develop agreement terms that address research, scientific, financial, regulatory, and other compliance needs.
Develop original language for unique agreements and lead negotiations with external sponsors and collaborators.
Coordinate project account setup with the post-award team for timely and accurate implementation of sponsored agreements.
Participate in on-campus trainings and forums to educate faculty and administrators about intellectual property, data/materials ownership, and contractual policies and procedures.
Maintain working knowledge of research compliance, contract law including intellectual property law, and institutional policy; participate in process improvement efforts.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

100% paid medical premiums for full-time employees.
Approximately 37–38 days per year of time off, including holidays, a preventative leave day, vacation, and sick time.
Increasing vacation accrual with longer service.
Longevity pay through monthly payments after two years of service.
Retirement/pension plan.
Free financial and legal counseling.
Free mental health counseling services.
Gym membership discounts and access to wellness programs.
Employee discounts, including entertainment, car rentals, and cell phones.
Resources for child and elder care.