Research Contracts Specialist

Job summary

As a Research Contracts Specialist, you be part of a dedicated team of contracts negotiators, within the Joint Research Office (JRO) at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.

You will negotiate a range of contracts on behalf of the Trust in support of a diverse portfolio of research projects. You will be liaising with relevant stakeholders within a fast-paced environment. You will be providing guidance and advice, managing expectations, and ensuring contractual coverage is established and maintained whilst supporting research timelines.

You can expect to receive in-role training and support from experienced colleagues and the Research Contracts Manager, and to work in a collaborative environment geared towards supporting cutting edge research.

Candidates with strong communication skills, excellent time management capabilities, and a thirst for learning and development, can expect to flourish in this role.

The successful candidate will be joining at a pivotal time, contributing to vital work, and will be given the opportunity to develop their professional skills and capabilities.

Main duties of the job

• Responsible for a workload of research contracts, to carry out the review and negotiation on behalf of Imperial College healthcare NHS Trust.
• To apply legal knowledge gained through qualification and work experience in drafting and reviewing research and innovation related contracts with a full appreciation for the impact that clauses could have on the Trust.
• Draft, review and negotiate various types of research and research-related contracts including Clinical Trial Agreements, Research Collaboration Agreements and Material Transfer Agreements.
• To have and deploy good working knowledge of contractual issues such as intellectual property, confidentiality, publications and other related issues within the context of NHS (and where applicable College) policies
• Provide advice to other staff within JRO with respect to contractual issues across a broad range of sponsors (commercial and non-commercial).
• Input and ensure that study performance data is kept up to date at all times by the team and internal database, EDGE and other relevant performance management databases are updated regularly.

About us

At Imperial College Healthcare you can achieve extraordinary things with extraordinary people, working with leading clinicians pushing boundaries in patient care.

Become part of a vibrant team living our values - expert, kind, collaborative and aspirational. You'll get an experience like no other and will fast forward your career.

Benefits include career development, flexible working and wellbeing, staff recognition scheme. Make use of optional benefits including Cycle to Work, car lease schemes, season ticket loan or membership options for onsite leisure facilities.

We are committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and will consider applications to work flexibly, part time or job share. Please talk to us at interview.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required.

For both overviews please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.

Job description
Job responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required.

For both overviews please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.

Person Specification

Education/ qualifications

Essential

• Bachelors Degree; either in law, life sciences or associated discipline

Desirable

• LL.B or equivalent post-graduate legal qualification

Experience

Essential

• Legal/compliance work, contracts work, or work within research, medical, or life sciences environment

Desirable

• Research contracts negotiations, or work within legal department within life sciences

Skills/knowledge/ abilities

Essential

• Understanding of the research process in order to negotiate with sponsors on contract terms.
• Ability to use model agreement templates as updated and provided by the HRA.
• Consolidating all relevant information that would have impact on the contract in order to advise PIs and Divisional Research managers on financial risks accordingly
• Building and maintaining strong working relationships with Trust staff, industry partners, speciality group leaders and research active investigators and potentially research active clinicians, all internal and external stakeholders.

Desirable

• Ability to draft bespoke agreements, in cases where there are no templates.
• Skill in drafting and reconfiguring clauses to address novel situations
• Ability to assess contractual risks and explain these with clarity to facilitate efficient escalations

Person Specification
Education/ qualifications

Essential

• Bachelors Degree; either in law, life sciences or associated discipline

Desirable

• LL.B or equivalent post-graduate legal qualification

Experience

Essential

• Legal/compliance work, contracts work, or work within research, medical, or life sciences environment

Desirable

• Research contracts negotiations, or work within legal department within life sciences

Skills/knowledge/ abilities

Essential

• Understanding of the research process in order to negotiate with sponsors on contract terms.
• Ability to use model agreement templates as updated and provided by the HRA.
• Consolidating all relevant information that would have impact on the contract in order to advise PIs and Divisional Research managers on financial risks accordingly
• Building and maintaining strong working relationships with Trust staff, industry partners, speciality group leaders and research active investigators and potentially research active clinicians, all internal and external stakeholders.

Desirable

• Ability to draft bespoke agreements, in cases where there are no templates.
• Skill in drafting and reconfiguring clauses to address novel situations
• Ability to assess contractual risks and explain these with clarity to facilitate efficient escalations

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the .

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. .

Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the .

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. .

Employer details

Employer name

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Address

Hammersmith Hospital

London

W12 0HS

Employer's website