The Contracts Officer is part of the Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization (CTTC) at Vanderbilt University and is a key individual contributor who drafts, reviews, negotiates, finalizes and monitors performance for technology transfer-related agreements on behalf of the organization, under guidance and in collaboration with CTTC licensing officers and staff. Reporting directly to the Corporate Contracts Manager, the Contracts Officer negotiates various technology transfer agreements (including without limitation, materials license agreements, industry sponsored research agreements, material transfer agreements, confidentiality agreements, data use agreements, and similar transactions), tracks new agreements and agreements in process, conducts compliance reviews of existing agreements to ensure 3rd party compliance with their obligations thereunder, reviews contract work product of the licensing staff to insure integrity of CTTC technology transfer agreements, and maintains the integrity of the contract tracking database.

Vanderbilt Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization's mission is to provide professional commercialization services to the Vanderbilt community, thus optimizing the flow of innovation to the marketplace and generating revenue that supports future research activities, while having a positive impact on society.

We accomplish this by serving as an efficient and effective conduit for the transfer of promising intellectual property to industry; contributing to regional economic development by licensing locally and supporting new venture creation; and encouraging greater translational research collaborations between academia and industry.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Drafts and negotiates material transfer agreements, data use agreements and confidentiality agreements with academic institutions and for-profit companies to facilitate the advancement of research projects and programs.

• Drafts and negotiates materials license agreements and elements of industry research contracts with commercial partners to support R&D and product development.

• Reviews incoming contracts and manages docketing/record system for agreements.

• Works collaboratively with licensing officers to determine the impact of the aforementioned agreements on intellectual property and to negotiate practical resolutions that balance scientist and industry needs with the mission of CTTC.

• Aids in the contractual structuring of biobanks, to support large scale biomedical research investigation.

• Oversees the transfer of research tools in compliance with patient privacy laws, rules, statutes and guidelines.

• Coordinates reviews of incoming and outgoing research tool transfers with Export Control, legal affairs, and patient de-identification authorities.

• Oversees contract compliance for CTTC technology transfer agreements, and aids in collection of payments in arrears and in resolving 3rd party contract breaches, including renegotiation and termination duties.

• Creatively solves problems by analyzing and interpreting law and policies as well as information from other sources.

• Collaborates with and disseminates information to research staff to ensure that contractual terms accurately reflect the likelihood of intellectual property and publication and evaluates the effect of possible restrictions created by contract terms.

• Implements quality assurance and contracting strategies to achieve goals and assure compliance with all applicable requirements. Recommends changes to policies, procedures, or resources to support new strategy.

• Performs oversight and verification of, and maintains the integrity of, database entries.

• The responsibilities listed are a general overview of the position and additional duties may be assigned.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education is required.

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in science or engineering from an accredited institution of higher education is preferred.

• A Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school is strongly preferred.

• Excellent writing and verbal communication, project management, conceptual, and analytical skills are necessary.

• Proficiency with negotiating material transfer agreements, confidentiality agreements, and data use agreements is required.

• Experience with drafting and negotiating industry sponsored research agreements is required.

• Experience negotiating industry materials license agreements and similar transactional documents is required.

• Experience with drafting and interpreting technology license agreements is preferred.

• Knowledge of healthcare regulations and patient privacy statutes, including HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and the Common Rule in the U.S., and GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) in Europe, is required.

• Experience in interpreting statute sand regulations is preferred.

• Knowledge of technology transfer and the Bayh-Dole Act is preferred.

• Knowledge of contract compliance processes is preferred.

• An ability to work effectively and productively as a member of a team and with senior management is preferred

• Ability to promote a positive culture of support and compliance with internal and external regulatory requirements is preferred.

• Ability to prioritize and multi-task in a collaborative, fast-paced environment is preferred.

• Experience with campus academic & administrative platforms or other industry related software is preferred.

• Knowledge and experience with regulatory compliance guidelines in the postsecondary education industry or a related sector is preferred.

• Significant experience working with postsecondary institutions is preferred.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are. We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education.

Vanderbilt University is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Please note, all candidates selected for an offer of employment are subject to pre-employment background checks, which may include but are not limited to, based on the role for which they have been selected: criminal history, education verification, social media review, motor vehicle records, credit history, and professional license verification.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are. We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education. Vanderbilt University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities, and protected veterans are encouraged to apply.