UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON
Pre-Award Team, Research Services, Finance Division
Job Description
Job Title:
Head of Research Contracts
Grade:
9
Reporting to:
Assistant Director [Pre-Award]
Line management: Team of 5 Contracts Managers and 1 Contracts Assistant
Internal Liaison:
Research Services staff, Departmental Academic and
Administrative staff. Head of Intellectual Property, UCL
Business, Vice Provost - Enterprise
External Liaison: Legal offices of industrial companies, government
agencies and other major funders of research. Senior
officers of collaborating organisations including other
Universities.
Background
Research Services is a busy, professional office within the Finance Division of
UCL’s Corporate Support Services. The section is responsible for the costing,
negotiation, authorization and administration of research grants and contracts
from a wide range of external funding sources. These include the UK
research councils, government departments, industry, commerce, charities
and research foundations. Research income in 2008/09 was in excess of
£240million.
The Pre-Award Team’s responsibilities include the provision of systems to
help academics identify new research funding opportunities, costing and
pricing of research under Full Economic Costing, authorisation of research
grants and the negotiation of contracts with industry, other external funders
and third parties.
Overall Job Purpose
The post holder’s primary purpose is to ensure the delivery of a professional,
comprehensive and timely contracts negotiation, advice and management
service to UCL academic Departments.
The post holder is responsible for managing a team of 5 Contracts Managers,
1 Contracts Administrator and for effectively deploying and managing the
team’s activities. The post holder will be required to have extensive and
expert working knowledge of research and research contracts in the Higher
Education sector in order to deliver a high level of support and leadership.
Duties and Responsibilities

Reporting to the Assistant Director [Pre-Award] the post holder will lead
the Contracts Managers in the provision of a high quality contract
negotiation and advice service to UCL Academics and external
sponsors of research funding.

Monitoring and evaluating Contracts Managers workload ensuring that
distributions are appropriate in terms of both volume and levels of
complexity.

Working with Contracts Managers, Contracts Assistant and UCL
Departments to develop a set of achievable service standards for the
delivery of finalized contracts as well as developing appropriate
systems to support the work of the team.

Developing a formal risk-based methodology for agreeing terms in
order to facilitate the timely negotiation and conclusion of contracts.

Disseminating, implementing and playing a key role in the further
development of UCL policies in relation to all issues governing
research contracts. For example UCL’s policies on pricing of industrial
income and the protection of intellectual property.

Provision of management reports regarding the levels of contracts
activity and industrial research income.

Responsible for the day to day line-management of 5 Contracts
Managers and 1 Contracts Assistant including staff recruitment,
probationary reviews and annual appraisals.

Ensuring that contract templates are reviewed on a regular basis and
updated in line with any changes in legislation and/or policy.

Responsible for an appropriate individual caseload, drafting and
negotiating a wide variety of research and research-related agreements
including research collaboration, studentships, subcontracts, nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements, Memoranda of
Understanding, data sharing and loan agreements.

Developing a suite of training programs for Departmental academics
and administrators in order to facilitate a wider understanding of
contractual matters and to facilitate more efficient working practices.

Directly working to support Contracts Managers in complex contracts,
though expert mentoring and skilled negotiation.

Providing specialist advice to staff within Research Services with
respect to complex legal/contractual issues Pre and Post-Award.

Liaising with the Head of Intellectual Property and UCL Business plc to
ensure that UCL’s intellectual property is protected in accordance with
UCL’s agreed policies, providing a seamless interface between UCL
academics and external funders.

Keeping abreast of changes to external sponsors’ contractual terms
and conditions in particular their policies relating to issues such as
price, intellectual property rights and freedom to publish.

Maintaining a full awareness of UCL policies in relation to broader
research related issues.
As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the post-holder may be
required to undertake other duties which are broadly in line with the
above duties responsibilities.
Person Specification/key competencies:
Qualifications
Essential
(E)
Desirable
(D)
Assessment:
Application (A)
Interview (I)
Test (T)
A/I
Law degree OR significant
experience in an equivalent
role/job
Professional legal
qualification.
Knowledge & Experience
E
D
A
Demonstrated experience
of drafting, negotiating and
concluding a wide range
and high volume of
research contracts in the
Higher Education sector
Excellent working
knowledge of key research
contract related issued
(e.g. intellectual property,
publication, confidentiality,
VAT, indemnities, liabilities)
An in-depth understanding
and working knowledge of
the key issues relating to
costing and pricing
industrial research
contracts in the Higher
Education sector.
Experience of identifying
and managing risks
associated with negotiation
of research contracts
Experience of working for
industry, negotiating
research contracts with the
Higher Education sector
Communication
Strong interpersonal, verbal
and written communication
skills.
Ability to explain complex
contractual issues with
clarity to individuals internal
and external to UCL
Tact, diplomacy and the
ability to influence and
E
A
E
A/I/T
E
A/I/T
E
A/I/T
D
A
E
A/I/T
E
I
E
I
persuade a broad range of
individuals
A clear understanding for
the need and practice of
customer focus and
customer relationship skills
Management/General
skills
Demonstrated experience
of managing and leading a
group of professional staff
in a challenging and high
pressured environment
Ability to work effectively
under pressure, taking
ownership of tasks,
managing and responding
to shifting priorities,
progressing numerous
projects at any one time
Operational excellence - a
concern for detail, accuracy
and professionalism
Ability to foster a cooperative working
environment, supporting
the team whilst managing
an individual case load.
High level of competency
and knowledge of standard
software packages e.g.
Word, Excel , PowerPoint
E
I
E
A/I
E
A/I
E
A/I
E
I
E
A/I