Manager of Contracts, Technology Development

Job Summary Manager Contracts – Technology Development provides strategic leadership for all contracts flowing through the Office of Technology Development (OTD), serving as the office’s guide on best practices in contract structure & policy. The role develops and maintains contract templates, clause libraries, playbooks, and workflows, and advises commercialization and research teams by articulating institutional positions, approved fallback options, and escalation thresholds. Leveraging a deep understanding of university policy, state regulations, and federal requirements, the Manager ensures agreements are consistent, compliant, and risk appropriate while enabling timely deal execution. The position partners closely with General Counsel, Sponsored Programs, Compliance, Business Development, and OTD leadership to triage issues, resolve ambiguities, and support effective decision making. Operating with high emotional intelligence and strong judgment, the Manager balances stewardship with pragmatic deal enablement, improving throughput, reducing friction, and safeguarding the institution’s interests. Benefits PPO medical plan, available day one at no cost for full‑time employee‑only coverage 100% coverage for preventive healthcare – no copay Paid Time Off, available day one Retirement Programs through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) Paid Parental Leave Benefit Wellness programs Tuition Reimbursement Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Qualified Employer Learn more about these and other UTSW employee benefits! Required Experience and Education Education: Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school Experience: 8 years in a legal environment or general business with primary responsibility for reviewing, drafting, analyzing, and negotiating complex contracts Preferred Experience in Life Science contracting or Venture Capital contracting Job Duties Lead drafting and reviewing of complex, high‑risk, and high‑profile contracts with various companies, stakeholders, and agencies while coordinating with staff. Provide guidance, assistance, and training to staff and team members within OTD as necessary for the implementation and negotiation of contracts for: Confidentiality / Non‑Disclosure Agreements (CDAs/NDAs) Material & Data Transfer Agreements (MTAs/DTAs/DURCs, DUAs/NDAs for data) Inter‑Institutional Agreements (IIAs) and Consortium/Participation Agreements Intellectual Property (IP) Agreements: options, evaluation agreements, license agreements (exclusive/non‑exclusive, field‑limited), software licenses, end‑user licenses, background IP/access rights Sponsored Research / Collaboration Agreements and unfunded research/collaboration MOUs SBIR/STTR subawards and related research commercialization agreements Clinical/Translational research support agreements (where TTO touchpoints exist) Industry‑university master agreements and template side letters Revenue distribution, assignment, and royalty administration addenda (in coordination with Finance/OTL Ops) Lead development of processes and procedures, including process improvement, for the area of expertise related to overall contract drafting and management activities. Monitor status of contracts for completion; ensure contracts move through the process from negotiated intake to execution in a timely manner. Draft internal and external correspondence related to contracting activities. Accurately spot issues, interpret complex contract terms and conditions, and engage attorneys in the Office of Legal Affairs and UT System OGC as the office’s point of contact, as needed. Apply extensive knowledge of the entire contracting lifecycle to meet business needs. Create and implement KPIs on contracts team performance. Draft, negotiate, and complete revenue‑generating contracts. Act as the point of contact for COI, Legal Affairs, and UT System OGC offices. Partner closely with General Counsel (for legal interpretation and negotiation strategy) and Sponsored Programs (for research agreements interfacing with IP/industry). Model proactive ownership and high emotional intelligence, especially when mediating between faculty urgency, industry timelines, and public‑institution constraints. Communicate crisply and respectfully to defuse conflict and build trust across faculty, counsel, and industry counterparts. Maintain high situational awareness, knowing when to escape, offer a fallback, and keep momentum without over‑negotiating. Perform other duties as needed. Security and EEO Statement Security: This position is security‑sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code 51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information. EEO: UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status. #J-18808-Ljbffr UT Southwestern Medical Center