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.