Contracts Specialist, Legal Services

Description

Legal Services in the Office of General Counsel and People and Culture invites applications for a Contracts Specialist. This Full-time Fixed Term position is for approximately 6 months (based on length of grant funding), with the possibility of extension.

The Legal & Intellectual Property (IP) Division in Research Legal Services plays a vital role in the research process at the University, helping University faculty members prepare, negotiate and finalize research agreements with industry, governments, and other funding agencies. With almost 300 active files at any given time, the Legal Unit is under constant pressure to provide a high level of customer service and to complete work in a timely and professional manner.

As a Contract Specialist, reporting to the Director, Research Agreement, you will play a central role in the Legal & IP Division - managing a portfolio of files, drafting agreements, negotiating changes and communicating with faculty members, external funders, external counsel and other internal units, as part of a high-energy team that is expected to produce top-quality results. Contract Specialists will be required to develop a strong understanding of the University's mission/goals and how this role supports the mission and goals.

Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

• Manage all steps in the research agreement process, from information gathering, strategy development, drafting agreements, revising, negotiation, communication with external counsel and obtaining signatures with minimal supervision;
• Accountable for the content in agreement, and will interpret content, propose alternate language, and determine when necessary to engage Director, Research Agreement or internal Legal Counsel;
• Review agreements from external partners and determine if content is appropriate, escalating to Director, Research Agreement or internal Legal Counsel as necessary;
• Identify and work to minimize legal and reputational risks to the University and its staff/faculty members;
• Independently manage conflict and balance the competing interests of faculty members, external partners and the University under constant time pressure;
• Direct faculty members on the most suitable strategy and persuading external partners to follow such strategy for completing transactions;
• Develop and maintain long-term, trustworthy and productive working relationships with all stakeholders, including University faculty members, University departments, and external sponsors. This may require leading one-on-one meetings with faculty members or making group presentations to other departments;
• Manage and finalize a diverse portfolio of active legal files to ensure both individual and unit through-put goals are achieved.

Qualifications / Requirements:

• An undergraduate degree will be preferred, but will consider a combination of extensive work experience demonstrating the core abilities above and education;
• Specialized training in contract management or negotiation will be considered an asset;
• 4 to 7 years of specialized work experience in a professional environment supporting legal transactions or in a contract management role, but a combination of education and work experience drawing upon negotiation and problem-solving skills will be considered;
• Experience working in a major University will be an asset;
• Exhibits a professional, client-oriented attitude combined with proven ability to work as part of a team will be considered extremely valuable;
• A strong working knowledge of MSOffice Suite and comfort with database use is required.

Application Deadline:  December 6, 2024

We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.

This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Specialist/Advisor Job Family, Phase 3.

For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website. 

About the University of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion ([email protected]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources ([email protected]).

Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role. 

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.