Senior Advisor, Research Contracts and Agreements

Follow us on LinkedIn Posting Reason: Replacement of a regular position Job Type: Employee Anticipated Duration in Months (for contracts and temporary assignments): N/A Job Family: Research and Program Support # of Open Positions: 1 Faculty/Service

• Department: Contractual Research Services Campus: Main Campus Union Affiliation: SSUO Date Posted (YYYY/MM/DD): 2026/10/01 Applications must be received BEFORE (YYYY/MM/DD): 2026/10/12 Hours per week: 35 Salary Grade: SSUO Grade 11 Salary Range: $95,594.00 - $120,750.00 Position Purpose The Senior Advisor, Research Contracts and Agreements leads the planning, development, drafting, review, negotiation, execution, and handoff of research contracts and agreements. Reporting to the Director, Research Contracts and Agreements, the Senior Advisor evaluates and mitigates legal, financial, operational and reputational risks associated with the management of research contracts and agreements, and liaises with various internal and external partners to ensure compliance with institutional policies and sponsor requirements. The incumbent acts as a resource person and subject matter expert to the uOttawa research community on research contracting and agreement matters and provides strategic advice, resolves complex issues, and facilitates negotiations to strengthen research partnerships and advance research activities across the University. Specific Accountabilities
• Contract Negotiation: Negotiates, drafts, reviews, amends and prepares a broad range of research contracts and agreements, including but not limited to government, industry and international research contracts, collaborative research agreements, sub-agreements, research service agreements, and other research-related agreements. Leads complex negotiations to secure terms and conditions that protect the University's interests while enabling externally sponsored research and research partnerships. Reviews and prepares agreements of varying complexity and oversees institutional approval, submission and signature. Negotiation issues can be sensitive and complex and include financial arrangements, indirect costs and overhead provisions, ownership and disposition of intellectual property rights, data governance and privacy considerations, reporting obligations, publication rights, confidentiality obligations, liability and insurance requirements, indemnification provisions, and other contractual matters.
• Advisory Services and Contract Development: Provides researchers with expert advice and professional support in the development, negotiation, and management of research contracts and agreements and grant submission processes. Advises on contractual requirements, budget development, indirect costs and overhead provisions, sponsor requirements, and compliance with University policies and applicable regulations. Troubleshoots issues arising during the planning, development, and negotiation of research agreements and grant submission processes and develops practical solutions to facilitate successful outcomes. Identifies potential research security considerations and facilitates consultation with the Research Security Office, as required, to ensure compliance with institutional and federal research security requirements. Facilitates consultation with Innovation Support Services to identify potential intellectual property development and protection opportunities. Provides expertise and consultation on interinstitutional and multi-partner research initiatives, working collaboratively with partner institutions and stakeholders to ensure agreements align with institutional, sponsor, and regulatory requirements.
• Relationship Management and Contract Coordination: Acts as the primary point of contact for researchers and research teams throughout the contract development, negotiation, review, approval and execution process. Coordinates communications among researchers, research support services across the University, funding agencies, sponsorsand external partners to facilitate the timely review, negotiation, approval and execution of research contracts and agreements. Provides regular updates to researchers and stakeholders on the status of agreements, amendments, and changes in award parameters. Proactively identifies and addresses issues that may delay progress and coordinates appropriate actions to ensure their efficient resolution. Provides expert advice and guidance to researchers, faculty administrators, the Research Finance team and OVPRI staff on a broad range of research contract matters. Builds and maintains effective working relationships with researchers, faculty administrators, research support offices, procurement officers, research security office, legal counsel, finance, technology transfer, funding agencies, sponsors, and external partners to support efficient and effective research contracting processes.
• Operational Oversight, Process Improvements, and Training: Analyzes and interprets terms and conditions of research contracts and resolves complex and problematic administrative issues including financial and reporting issues, in a timely manner. Makes recommendations concerning exceptions to established policies and procedures where warranted to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. Makes recommendations on research account opening and fund advancement based on the interpretation of budget and contractual clauses. Verifies institutional contributions when required. Leads and contributes to the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of institutional policies, process workflow, procedures, tools, templates, electronic research administration and management systems, and business processes related to research contracting and agreement management. Prepares, organizes and delivers training material, workshops, training sessions and information sessions for researchers and research administrators to promote understanding of research agreements, institutional processes, sponsor requirements and to support effective contract management practices.
• Post-Award Compliance, Indirect Costs, and Reporting: Liaises with Sponsored Research Services, Research Finance, and faculties to support the transition of monetary research contracts to account opening and post-award administration including reporting obligations toward the sponsor. Verifies availability of funds for agreements with external fund transfers. Develops and implements processes, tools, and guidance to facilitate the handoff and administration of research contracts and agreements, ensuring that contractual obligations, reporting requirements, and compliance considerations are clearly communicated and effectively managed throughout the project lifecycle. Reviews, negotiates, and manages subcontracts with internal and external partners to ensure compliance with contractual terms and conditions. Provides expert advice on the development, negotiation, and application of indirect costs and overhead provisions within research agreements, ensuring alignment with sponsor’s requirements, institutional policies and financial objectives. Supports post-award teams, faculties, and researchers in the interpretation of contractual requirements and financial reporting obligations.
• Risk Assessment: Conducts comprehensive risk assessments of research contracts and agreements to identify legal, financial, operational, reputational, governance, and compliance-related risks to the University. Reviews and analyses complex research agreements to provide recommendations regarding risks associated with the advancement of funds, intellectual property ownership, academic freedom, liabilities and other contractual obligations while ensuring institutional requirements and sponsor obligations are met. Evaluates contractual provisions to ensure alignment with University policies, applicable legislations, and risk management standards. Identifies high-risk terms, ass