Head of Research Contracts

One of the top-ranked universities globally, the University of Southampton is an exceptional place where people achieve remarkable things. Outward looking and research intensive, Southampton has gained prestigious recognition for its wide-ranging successes and history of world-changing achievements.

Research and Innovation Services (RIS) provides expert advice and assistance for research funding and contracts, research integrity and governance, technology transfer and the commercialisation of intellectual property, collaboration with industry, and public engagement with research.

You will lead a team within RIS providing advice on research contracts and collaborations. You will provide professional yet pragmatic advice on a wide range of complex agreements and research related matters being progressed by the team. Also playing a significant role in training, operational matters, and providing guidance and advice to other groups in the department and university. You will have responsibility for research contracts for the university ensuring that all matters are allocated, progressed and concluded in a timely manner.

You must have experience of complex contract review, negotiation, and drafting. Ideally this experience will have been gained in an industry-university setting, on research and development activities working with at least one of the following industry sectors: aerospace, defence, engineering, health or pharmaceutical. This role will require a strong working knowledge of risk mitigation and intellectual property rights, data protection regulations, export control regulations, subsidy control and an ability to read, interpret, and advise on other regulations and guidance as required.

You will need to have excellent written, presentation and verbal skills, with the ability to communicate at a variety of levels including senior managers. You must be a team player with the demonstrated ability to supervise and work collaboratively with others to disseminate and share knowledge and information and give direction. You will have a degree (or equivalent) in either law or one of the sciences and have had further contract training.

Our vision and mission at the University of Southampton is to have a community where staff and students feel welcome, supported and valued. RIS fosters a culture of inclusion, respect and equality of opportunity, encouraging applicants from diverse backgrounds, with the belief that excellence will be achieved through recognising the value of every individual. Our flexible working practices, including a hybrid working model, where employees can split their working time between the office and home, support our belief that this balance brings long-lasting benefits for our institution as well as our people. For this role candidates will need to be on campus regularly and to be available to attend meetings and events externally as required.

For an informal discussion about this post, please contact Doug Akins, Director of Research Contracts & Compliance, Research and Innovation Services: Doug.Akins@soton.ac.uk.

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Application Procedure

The application deadline is midnight on the closing date stated above. If you need assistance, call Recruitment on +44 (0) 23 8059 2750, or email recruitment@soton.ac.uk. Quote the advert reference on all correspondence.

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