Location
Stirling | United Kingdom
Job description
Post Details
Full time
Open ended
The closing date for applications is midnight on Wednesday 20 March 2024.
There is an expectation that work will be undertaken in the UK.
For the purposes of sponsorship, this is a role under SOC code 3543.
The University of Stirling recognises that a diverse workforce benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers and welcome applications from those who would contribute to further diversification of our staff and ensure that equality, diversity and inclusion is woven into the substance of the role. We strongly encourage applications from people from diverse backgrounds including gender, identity, race, age, class, and ethnicity.
The Post
The Contracts Officer will provide support and advice to our research and innovation community on the contractual obligations and requirements for research and related business activity.
This role will be part of a team delivering on legal and compliance requirements within Research, Innovation and Business Engagement (RIBE), supporting the delivery of a more resilient and responsive service to cope with the rapidly growing volume of research, innovation, international and other university agreements.
The role holder will work in close partnership with professional services colleagues within RIBE and with academic colleagues across the University.
Description of Duties
- To draft, review and negotiate research and innovation contracts with the support of the Contracts Manager, including but not limited to collaboration agreements, confidentiality agreements, data sharing and processing agreements, service and consultancy agreements, studentships and material transfer agreements
- To provide clear, pragmatic advice on the implications of contractual terms within the context of the research, using a working knowledge of contract issues, such as confidentiality, publication requirements, intellectual property, liability and other related issues
- Act as a specialist contact point on a day-to-day basis for all queries relating to contracts, providing robust, yet proportionate guidance. Putting forward recommendations, within specific parameters/professional guidelines, to support informed decision making
- To support the Contracts Manager in maintaining a suite of draft standard contracts and providing guidance and training to colleagues across the University
- Required to proactively and reactively liaise with internal and external stakeholders, such as third sector organisations and commercial partners and networks of relevant professional staff within other Universities in order to build relationships, disseminate information and co-ordinate activities in a timely and effective manner
- Identify gaps in and contribute to the development of contracts processes at the University in response to researchers needs and external requirements
- Engage in own professional development activities to keep on top of rapidly evolving legislative and regulatory requirements relating to research contracts, including data protection and intellectual property
- Manage and maintain records to ensure easy and accurate reporting and information handling, while also supporting and implementing best practices in administrative processes related to research contracts
- Undertake such other duties, commensurate with the nature and grade of the role, as may be required
Essential Criteria
- Educated to degree level or equivalent (where no formal qualifications are held, additional, relevant experience is required) or employment experience across a range of roles with increasing levels of responsibility
- Experience of working successfully in the area of contracts support with relevant practical experience
- Experience of working successfully within complex regulations / frameworks
- Ability to initiate processes and procedures to resolve new problems. Anticipates possible implementation difficulties and identifies practical ways of overcoming or preventing them
- Proven ability to formulate clear advice and guidance relevant to research support and summarise complex ideas or information which may be highly detailed, technical or specialist
- Highly organised with the ability to work with strong attention to detail, accuracy, and within specified deadlines
- Ability to consider the broader impact, assess outcomes with limited data, and recognise when to decide or defer
- Excellent skills in communicating effectively at all levels both orally and in writing, with the ability to communicate using a wide range of styles appropriate to different individuals, groups and situations
- Ability to work independently and with initiative but to also operate successfully in team and wider collaborative contexts
- Ability to build proactively productive and enduring relationships between internal and/or external bodies to benefit the University
- Advanced knowledge, understanding and competence using a variety of IT systems
Desirable Criteria
- Knowledge of the current research landscape and of the wider context relevant to Higher Education, along with the capability to understand the impact on the ongoing operation and development of the role’s area of responsibility
- Experience of using research management systems, such as Worktribe
- Professional training, ideally a formal qualification delivered by a professional body, such as ARMA
- Experience working as a solicitor or paralegal in private practice, or as a research contracts professional in the HEI sector
Behaviours and Competencies
The role holder will be required to evidence that they can meet the qualities associated with the following behavioural competencies, as detailed within the AUA Competency Framework.
- Managing self and personal skills
Being aware of your own behaviour and mindful of how it impacts on others, enhancing personal skills to adapt professional practice accordingly. - Delivering excellent service
Providing the best quality service to external and internal clients. Building genuine and open long-term relationships in order to drive up service standards. - Finding solutions
Taking a holistic view and working enthusiastically to analyse problems and to develop workable solutions. Identifying opportunities for innovation. - Embracing change
Being open to and engaging with new ideas and ways of working. Adjusting to unfamiliar situations, shifting demands and changing roles. - Using resources effectively
Identifying and making the most productive use of resources including people, time, information, networks and budgets. - Engaging with the wider context
Enhancing your contribution to the organisation through an understanding of the bigger picture and showing commitment to organisational values. - Developing self and others
Showing commitment to own ongoing professional development. Supporting and encouraging others to develop their professional knowledge, skills and behaviours to enable them to reach their full potential. - Working together
Working collaboratively with others in order to achieve objectives. Recognising and valuing the different contributions people bring to this process. - Achieving Results
Consistently meeting agreed objectives and success criteria. Taking personal responsibility for getting things done.
About Us
The Directorate of Research, Innovation & Business Engagement (RIBE) is the central professional services office at the University of Stirling which provides integrated research development, and innovation, enterprise and business engagement support to academic researchers, working in partnership to deliver University strategic priorities. RIBE provides professional support across a broad range of functions including:
- Research Funding & Development
- Research Performance, including support for our Institute for Advanced Studies
- Research Systems
- Ethics, Governance & Integrity
- Contracts
- Innovation
- Business engagement
- Entrepreneurship
- Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal
Across all our teams, we seek out opportunities to grow and make a significant contribution to the University’s strategic vision. Our research grants and contracts income has been around £14M per annum, with a significant increase expected this year. Investment in our research systems provides professional support for our ethics process, PGR applications and research management. Our dedicated Innovation & Enterprise structure enables support for business development linked to the commercialisation of our research, as well as delivery of our Enterprise Programme which provides start-up and scale-up support for businesses led by our students, alumni and staff.
Within the Innovation & Enterprise context, we also coordinate the University’s engagement within The Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal, which is a £214 million investment in the future of the region, unlocking potential to drive economic growth, productivity and prosperity. This initial funding has potential to leverage additional private investment in excess of £640 million over the next 10 to 15 years, delivering more than 5,000 new jobs across a range of sectors. Research and innovation is central to achieving this vision. Working closely with partners, the University can understand the challenges businesses are facing and pioneer new solutions, creating high-value jobs and supporting greater productivity.
The University
The University of Stirling is committed to providing education with a purpose and carrying out research which has a positive impact on communities across the globe – addressing real issues, providing solutions, and helping to shape society. Stirling is 4th in Scotland and 43rd in the UK for research impact, with 87% of its research having an outstanding or very considerable impact on society – and more than 80% rated either world leading or internationally excellent (Research Excellence Framework 2021).
The University of Stirling is ranked among the top 30 UK universities for student satisfaction (National Student Survey) and top 30 in the UK for postgraduate student experience (Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey), and has an overall five-star rating in the QS Stars University Ratings.
More than 17,000 students study with the University of Stirling globally, with over 140 nationalities represented on its scenic central Scotland campus alone. The University – also home to 1,700 staff – is ranked first in the UK and top three in the world for its campus environment (International Student Barometer 2022, wave two). Ranked first in the UK and top five in the world for its sports facilities (International Student Barometer 2022, wave two), Stirling is Scotland's University for Sporting Excellence. Its world-class facilities provide the perfect training environment for the University’s sports scholars – many of whom compete at the highest level, including at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games – and for students, staff, and the wider community.
The University has twice been recognised with a Queen's Anniversary Prize – the first for its Institute for Social Marketing and Health (2014) and the second for its Institute of Aquaculture (2019).
The University is a signatory to the £214 million Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal and a central partner of the Forth Valley University College Health Partnership.
www.stir.ac.uk @stiruni
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