This position is open to internal candidates only.  External candidates will not be reviewed or considered.

Salary/Position Classification

• $150,000+ annual, dependent upon relevant experience, Exempt
• 40 hours per week
• This position will work onsite the Grand Forks, ND campus.

Purpose of Position

The Director of Contracts and Intellectual Property (IP) for the EERC is the primary point of service in providing contracting and IP. This position will lead the Contracts and IP team to maintain financial and operational integrity in EERC business operations, in support of the EERC strategic plan.

Duties & Responsibilities

Oversight, Management, and Reporting of Legal Documents Necessary for Success as a Research, Development, Demonstration, and Commercialization Facility

• Provide oversight and direction for the management of contractual documents.
• Sign agreements.
• Decide path forward and negotiation strategies on various IP and contractual matters.
• Ensure effective communication and problem-solving is occurring between the clients, research personnel, and contract personnel.
• Anticipate, analyze, and resolve problems and concerns that may hamper research.
• Ensure effective and efficient policies and procedures that comply with requirements.
• Prepare reports reflecting contractual activities.
• Educate project managers, fund managers, and support personnel on contractual matters.
• Advise on UND policy and procedural changes as requested.
• Function as a liaison to EERC technical and financial groups.
• Operate within established budget.

Oversight of EERC’s Research Discoveries

• Oversee the management of inventions from cradle to grave, including inception, disclosure, legal transfer to the EERC Foundation, legal protection, and commercialization.
• Oversee compliance with research agreements, federal (Bayh–Dole Act) regulations, state laws, and state board, UND, and EERC policies and procedures.
• Oversee the filing of service marks and registered copyrights with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
• Provide leadership to ensure that IP business practices are effective and efficient. 
• Prepare reports as requested in relation to the EERC’s IP.

Leadership and Vision for the Contracts Team and the Intellectual Property Team

• Shape a workplace where people are more likely to experience optimal motivation in work environment through autonomy, deepened relatedness, and developed competencies.
• Oversee the performance of the Contracts and IP teams.
• Contribute to EERC strategic goals and adhere to and promote EERC core values (Safe, Effective, Engaged, Ethical, and Professional). 
• Promote a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values customer service.
• Advise the EERC CFO, COO, and other leadership members on critical issues and concerns.  
• Work with the programming team to gather information, automate procedures, and develop reports.
• Work on special projects as requested.
• Ensure business practices are effective and efficient.
• Comply with federal regulations, state laws, and state board, UND, and EERC policies and procedures.
• Ensure team members receive appropriate training and professional development.
• Establish and monitor teams’ performance, assign and assess development goals, establish priorities, conduct performance reviews, and administer salary adjustments.
• Mentor and develop the teams.
• Evaluate the structure and organizational plan for continual improvement of the teams’ performance.
• Represent the EERC professionally and be an effective liaison to university departments.
• Integrate safety in all work activities and EERC wide.

EERC Foundation

• Sign agreements as delegated from president (as backup to the assistant VP for Contracts).
• Maintain and update the contractual policies and procedures and contract templates of the Foundation.
• Review MOUs and other agreements for Foundation business.
• Advise EERC Foundation officers on contractual matters, critical issues, and concerns and keep EERC Foundation officers appropriately informed of contracting actions in coordination with assistant VP for Contracts.
• Research insurance and maintain insurance coverage as applicable for Foundation general and research business, as well as minimize risk through analysis of current and potential risks of projects and incorporation of appropriate agreement terms and conditions.
• Decide path forward and negotiation strategies on various IP and contractual matters, and work closely with the VP for Intellectual Property on terms and conditions for research awards and commercialization agreements.
• Represent the Foundation professionally and maintain a good working relationship with EERC Foundation contacts, to include clients, consultant(s), legal counsel, and insurance provider(s).

Supervisor Tasks

• Use inclusive practices to hire the most qualified team members.
• Manage the performance and development of HR team members. Provide constructive feedback/coaching and perform annual evaluations and midyear reviews.
• Mentor your team members, providing guidance, tools, and support needed for success in their jobs. Identify development opportunities and provide guidance on EERC career pathways.
• Exemplify and convey the importance of the EERC core values to employee success.
• Ensure employees understand how they will be evaluated. Maintain position descriptions.
• Communicate organizational information.

Risk Management

• Minimize risk through analysis of current and potential risks of projects and incorporation of appropriate agreement terms and conditions.
• Assist with the selection/implementation and maintenance of risk management tools in addition to existing insurance coverage, such as business interruption insurance.
• Collaborate with the EERC Facilities and Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) manager in prevention efforts for risk management.
• Maintain effective communications with UND Risk Management personnel, EERC CFO/COO, and the EERC Facilities and EHS manager.

Core Values

EERC team members are expected to maintain these Core Values in all aspects of their job performance. The Core Values form the basis for employee evaluations.

• Be Safe: act safely and promote safe practices and procedures.
• Be Ethical: be caring, be a good steward, be responsible.
• Be Engaged: stimulate new ideas, provide solutions, communicate clearly.
• Be Effective: work hard, take pride in your work, expand and adapt your capabilities, work as a team.
• Be Professional: uphold integrity, use effective interpersonal skills, develop meaningful relationships, lead and inspire.

Required Competencies

• Experience working with employees at all levels and contractual agreements
• Must have experience with communicating effectively with researchers, inventors, patent counsel, external partners, and leadership
• Organizational leadership skills
• Organizational/prioritization ability
• Excellent interpersonal/oral/written communication skills
• Computer software

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree
• 7 years’ experience with business law/legal documents, business operations and contract oversight/administration
• 5 years leadership experience
• Experience with relevant federal regulations-Uniform Guidance (federal guidance)
• Experience with financial management
• Experience implementing strategy, aligning staff and resources to achieve goals. 
• Resume and Cover Letter required
• Successful completion of Criminal History Background Check

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the US and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. This position does not support visa sponsorship for continued employment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate degree
• Experience with protection and administration of IP or classes in IP
• Certified Research Administrator or equivalent certification
• Experience in scientific research setting