Advertising Summary: 

Join Virginia Commonwealth University and help advance research that makes a real-world impact. As a Senior Contract Reviewer, you will play a key role in enabling innovative research by reviewing, drafting, negotiating, and executing complex clinical and non-clinical research agreements—including industry-sponsored contracts, master agreements, collaboration agreements, and clinical trial agreements.

Serving as a trusted institutional expert, you will independently resolve complex contractual and regulatory issues while ensuring agreements align with university policy, sponsor requirements, and applicable regulations. Your work will help accelerate study activation, protect institutional interests, and support VCU’s dynamic research enterprise.

This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic thinker and skilled negotiator who thrives in a fast-paced research environment and wants to help drive discovery by supporting world-class investigators and partnerships.

Department Summary: At the VCU Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation, our mission is to foster transformative research, discovery, and innovation at Virginia Commonwealth University through excellence in service.

We partner with faculty in all schools and departments as they seek funding, plan studies, establish collaborations, calculate budgets, submit grant applications, negotiate industry contracts, and secure patents and licensing agreements.

Our commitment to supporting and elevating the research community at VCU has resulted in record levels of sponsored research and has placed VCU among the nation’s premier public research universities.

Through our passion for discovery and willingness to take on challenges, we continue to advance the work that matters most and position the university as a national leader in research, innovation, creativity, and scholarship.

Duties & Responsibilities:

The Senior Contract Reviewer provides advanced-level expertise in the review, drafting, negotiation, and execution of complex clinical and non-clinical research agreements, including complex industry-sponsored contracts, master agreements, collaboration agreements and externally supported clinical trial agreements.

This position exercises a high level of independent judgment and serves as a primary institutional contracting resource, independently resolving complex contractual, regulatory, and operational issues that impact research compliance, study activation, and continuity.

The role ensures agreement compliance with University policies, applicable federal and state regulations, and sponsor requirements, while mitigating institutional risk and supporting VCU’s strategic research mission.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.

Only applicants who do not require current or future sponsorship for employment will be considered

• Proven ability to analyze, interpret, and apply regulatory and contractual requirements, including University policies, sponsor requirements, and applicable federal, state, and local laws.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills with demonstrated attention to detail.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to provide high quality customer service to a diverse population.
• Ability to manage multiple complex tasks in a fast-paced environment and exercise sound judgment with minimal supervision.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in a related field or an equivalent combination of education and extensive experience.
• Experience: 3–5 years of progressive professional experience in research administration, specifically focused on the drafting and negotiation of complex contracts.
• Technical Proficiency: Systems Knowledge: Advanced experience with the Research Administration Management System (RAMS-SPOT) or a comparable sponsored program electronic database.
• Core Competencies: Exceptional organizational, analytical, and creative problem-solving skills with a proven ability to prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience reviewing, drafting, negotiating, and executing research agreements and clinical trial contracts with for profit, nonprofit, and federal flow through sponsors. 

• Working knowledge of Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards as they relate to the conduct of clinical trials, including contractual obligations governing subject protection, data integrity, monitoring, reporting requirements, and regulatory compliance.

• Demonstrated experience negotiating complex or standard clinical trial agreements, Strategic Partnership Agreements, Master Clinical Trial Agreements, industry sponsored research contracts or collaboration agreements.
• Experience serving as a lead reviewer or subject matter expert within a research contracting or sponsored programs office.
• Experience collaborating with units such as clinical trials offices, technology transfer, research integrity, or human subject’s protection programs.
• Experience developing or delivering training, educational programs, or guidance materials for faculty, staff, or research administrators.
• Advanced Degree: Juris Doctor (JD), MBA, or Master’s degree in a related field.
• Professional Certification: MAGI
• Institutional Expertise: Deep familiarity with VCU-specific systems (RAMS-SPOT) and internal policies regarding F&A rates, COI, and knowledge of AAHRPP compliance.
• Leadership: Experience mentoring staff and leading others.

Salary Range: 73,600 - 82,000

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

Unit: VP Research MBU

Department: Office of Research

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Hours per Week: 40

Restricted Position: No

ORP Eligible:  No

Flexible Work Arrangement: Fully Remote

University Job Title: Sr. Contract & Grants Specialist