Contract Specialist

• Draft, review, and support negotiation of contracts for goods and services for the university in compliance with institutional, state, and federal requirements under moderate guidance.
• Support the full contract life-cycle, including preparation, review, renewal, and termination activities to ensure optimal outcomes and regulatory compliance.
• Under moderate guidance, analyze contract terms, provisions, and regulatory requirements to identify and resolve legal, financial, and operational risks affecting university operations.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders , including legal, finance, procurement, and departmental teams, to develop contractual solutions supporting institutional goals.
• Serve as a point of contact with suppliers, vendors, and external partners to facilitate contract implementation and ensure deliverable expectations are met.
• Support supplier management and performance review processes to monitor compliance, resolve disputes, and contribute to continuous improvement in service delivery.
• Ensure compliance with university policies, Arizona Board of Regents codes, and procurement laws while maintaining accurate, audit-ready documentation and records.
• Recommend process improvements to enhance the efficiency, transparency, and effectiveness of contract management operations and strategic sourcing initiatives.
• Support contract tracking and reporting activities by utilizing university contract management systems and related enterprise platforms to monitor key milestones, renewal dates, and compliance requirements.
• Provide support and informal guidance to stakeholders on contract administration procedures, templates, and university procurement policies to promote consistent application of contract management practices.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (KSAs):

• Knowledge of public higher education procurement and contracting laws and regulations, including state statutes, administrative rules, and institutional policies.
• Knowledge of federal regulations governing sponsored research and grant-funded contracts, including Uniform Guidance and applicable agency requirements.
• Knowledge of complex contract types and agreements common at R1 institutions, such as research collaboration agreements, subawards, clinical trial agreements, technology and data use agreements, and high-value service contracts.
• Knowledge of competitive solicitation processes and exceptions applicable to research and specialized acquisitions.
• Knowledge of risk management, intellectual property, data security, export controls, and confidentiality requirements in a research environment.
• Knowledge of audit, transparency, and records retention requirements applicable to public research universities.
• Skill in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex and non-standard contracts with sponsors, vendors, research partners, and academic collaborators.
• Skill in interpreting and applying federal, state, and institutional requirements to research-related and operational procurements.
• Skill in collaborating with faculty, principal investigators, research administration, legal counsel, and compliance offices.
• Skill in analyzing risk and negotiating terms related to intellectual property, data ownership, publication rights, indemnification, and liability.
• Skill in managing multiple, high-value procurements and contract actions with competing deadlines and regulatory requirements.
• Skill in maintaining thorough documentation to support audits, sponsor reviews, and public records requests.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment in complex, high-risk contracting situations while ensuring compliance with public-sector and sponsor requirements.
• Ability to balance academic research needs with statutory, regulatory, and institutional constraints.
• Ability to communicate complex contractual concepts clearly to faculty and researchers with varying levels of procurement expertise.
• Ability to identify and mitigate financial, legal, and compliance risks throughout the contract lifecycle.
• Ability to function effectively in a fast-paced, decentralized research environment.
• Ability to adapt to evolving research regulations, funding agency requirements, and institutional priorities.