Contract Manager, Office of Research Administration

Engineering a world of possibilities Mines Office of Research Administration is seeking our next Contract Manager. This leadership position is responsible for the management of research and other sponsored agreements through the Office of Research Administration (ORA) at Colorado School of Mines. This position is a key member of the Contract Administration unit and serves as a resource to faculty and a liaison for Mines and sponsoring research organizations. The Contract Manager will oversee the administration of all sponsored research, including interpreting and negotiating sponsored project agreements. As our Contract Manager, you will lead the team of Contract Administrators and maintain an accurate database of research agreements accessed by ORA and other campus entities. The role requires critical thinking skills to review and interpret terms and conditions, sponsor expectations, and ensure agreements are ready for execution. This position operates in a hybrid work environment with campus presence required weekly. The incumbent must be able to commute to campus in Golden, Colorado, on a regular basis. Primary Responsibilities Contract and Grant Review and Negotiation Identify issues and present solutions and approaches for resolution; develop creative solutions to complex contract issues. Assist with special projects related to Mines’ large‑scale and strategic initiatives. Review sponsored agreements, including initial and modification agreements from external organizations; analyze terms and conditions for compliance with federal and state regulations. Negotiate unacceptable terms with research sponsors by suggesting or insisting on alternative language or deletion of certain agency terms and conditions. Determine if additional Mines personnel need to be advised of terms and conditions of an award and if their approval is required. Review and evaluate intellectual property (IP) terms in sponsored agreements and make determinations on the appropriate IP approach, working with faculty to protect institutional and sponsor interests. Contract and Grant Management Determine if changes to a research project require prior approval from the project’s sponsor and coordinate change requests with faculty. Submit and approve requests for no‑cost time extensions, budget deviations, and pre‑award spending based on sponsor requirements. Perform initial reviews on deficit spending requests (currently At‑Risk Spending Requests) to determine if the financial risk to Mines is acceptable under current policy and practices. Resolve concerns that arise during project performance by working with faculty, ORA staff, other departments, and/or sponsors. Subcontracts Initiate, negotiate and manage research subcontracts, including review of subcontractor proposals, selection of appropriate subcontract templates, negotiation of contract language, and maintenance of subcontract documentation to meet audit requirements. Work with applicable departments to establish payment mechanisms for subcontractor invoices. Contract Team Manager Supervise the Contract Administration unit (4‑8 full‑time employees) with authority to hire, evaluate performance, and resolve personnel concerns. Prioritize work by evaluating workloads, deadlines, complexity, policy, and resources; build standard and ad‑hoc reports to provide performance metrics. Create a working environment that fosters participation, respect, and excellence. Promote and manage professional relationships and open communication across departments, facilitating team building and a collaborative culture. Resolve complex administrative or legal questions and coordinate with the Assistant Director and/or ORA Director as needed. Develop and maintain efficient policies and procedures for the contracting unit, continuously evaluating processes, researching best practices, analyzing contracting data, and performing risk assessments. Provide expertise on regulatory and policy issues to ORA staff, departmental administrators, and faculty. Maintain knowledge of current federal regulations, OMB Circulars, FAR, Colorado state regulations, and school policy. Assist with maintenance of ORA’s Research Management software and the school’s financial system, developing training materials and coordinating process changes with campus offices and faculty. Institutional Data Repository Work with the data repository team to implement and maintain software regarding contracts unit. Ensure accurate data entry into the repository. Upload fully executed agreements, modifications, and sponsor prior approvals into the system. Communication & Outreach Maintain communication with faculty to outline all information required for sponsored research agreements and the negotiation process. Interpret and explain federal, state, and Mines regulations and policies to faculty and other Mines personnel. Maintain ongoing contact with sponsoring agencies and external personnel for agreement negotiation and management, outlining Mines policies and regulatory requirements. Training & Process Improvement Provide formal and informal training to faculty and departmental staff regarding school policy, sponsoring agency rules, and the contracting process. Support the Contract Administration unit with university initiatives and special projects. Participate in office‑wide process evaluation and reengineering efforts, recommending improvements and leading projects when approved. Minimum Qualifications Bachelor’s Degree in business or a related field. Eight or more years of research administration experience. Working knowledge of federal and state regulations related to research administration. Excellent oral and written communication skills, capable of discussing complex contract issues with a variety of stakeholders. Strong problem‑solving and analytical skills with proven ability to make independent decisions. Demonstrated customer‑service skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituents while meeting competing deadlines. Preferred Qualifications Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree. Ten or more years of contract negotiation experience. Experience with data analysis. Thorough knowledge of federal regulations governing sponsored research. Familiarity with university policies regarding contracting, procurement, or research funding. Salary and Benefits Salary range: $96,400 — $107,200 annually. This range is based on a combination of education, training, experience, position scope and complexity, discretion required, and market benchmarks. Benefits include: Flexible health and dental care options. Generous sick/vacation time: 13 paid holidays per year, including a week‑long winter break for all campus staff. Fully vested retirement plan on the first day of employment with generous employer contributions. Tuition benefits: 6 credits per year for employees, 50% discount for dependents. Free RTD Ecopass. Background Check Successful completion of a background investigation is required for this position. Equal Opportunity Colorado School of Mines is committed to equal opportunity for all persons. Mines does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), ancestry, creed, marital status, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, or current military service. Mines does not retaliate against community members for filing complaints regarding or implicating any of these protected statuses. Reasonable Accommodation Requests It is the intent of Mines to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and its Amendments. To meet this goal, Mines will make reasonable accommodations during the employment selection process and within the working environment. Qualified individuals with a disability or a disabled veteran may request a reasonable accommodation if unable to access job openings or apply for a position on our site. Requests may be directed to the Human Resources team. #J-18808-Ljbffr