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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):
2026/09/17
Applications must be received BEFORE (YYYY/MM/DD):
2026/09/28
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, assesses potential institutional exposure, and recommends mitigation strategies or revised language to protect the University’s interests while supporting research activities and sponsor relationships. Provides strategic advice to the Director on institutional risks, complex contractual matters, and risk mitigation strategies, and makes recommendations regarding contract approval and execution.
- Reporting, Analysis, and Strategic Advice: Monitors and analyzes trends in research contracting, sponsor requirements, regulatory developments, and institutional activity. Compiles and interprets data, metrics, and other information to support operational decision-making, risk management, service improvement, and strategic planning. Prepares reports, briefing materials, and recommendations for management and senior leadership.
- Special Project Management: Leads and manages special projects and strategic initiatives related to research contracting, policy development, process improvement, contracts lifecycle workflow, compliance, and service delivery. Defines project scope, objectives, timelines, and deliverables, coordinates stakeholders, monitors progress, and ensures effective communication and successful project outcomes.
Knowledge, Experience and Skills
- Knowledge and experience in theories and practices of business management normally acquired through a Master’s degree in a relevant field, or an equivalent combination of education and work experience.
- Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in research administration, research contracts, grants management, legal contracts, technology transfer, or a related field.
- Excellent knowledge of research contracts and agreements principles, including experience developing, managing, and negotiating research contracts and agreements; the ability to interpret complex terms and conditions; and the ability to assess and evaluate institutional risk.
- Excellent knowledge of the university research environment, research administration practices, pre- and post-award administration processes, the life-cycle of research grants and awards, compliance requirements, and financial management practices within complex decentralized environments.
- Substantial knowledge of Canada's research funding landscape, federal funding agencies and Tri-Agency policies, frameworks and guides.
- Demonstrated negotiation, relationship management, and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build consensus and maintain effective working relationships with researchers, administrators, sponsors, and external partners.
- Knowledge of research security requirements, frameworks and best practices applicable to research partnerships and externally sponsored research.
- Excellent organizational, leadership, problem-solving and analytical skills, with demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and meet strict deadlines.
- Demonstrated project management experience, including the ability to coordinate multiple stakeholders, manage competing priorities, and deliver results within established timelines.
- Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills, with the ability to work with researchers, administrators, faculties, staff, students, administrators from other institutions and sponsors.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in both official languages, including the ability to draft, review, negotiate, and explain complex contractual and administrative documents.
- Computer skills to aid in research, analysis, and data presentation.
- Experience developing and delivering workshops.
- Experience using computer systems and applications such as Windows, word processing software, spreadsheets, databases, presentation software, financial systems, the internet. and email.
Key Competencies at uOttawa:
Here are the required competencies for all or our employees at uOttawa:
Planning: Organize in time a series of actions or events in order to realize an objective or a project. Plan and organize own work and priorities in regular daily activities.
Initiative: Demonstrate creativity and initiative to suggest improvements and encourage positive results. Is proactive and self-starting. Show availability and willingness to go above and beyond whenever it is possible.
Client Service Orientation: Help or serve others to meet their needs. This implies anticipating and identifying the needs of internal and external clients and finding solutions on how to meet them.
Teamwork and Cooperation: Cooperate and work well with other members of the team to reach common goal(s). Accept and give constructive feedback. Able to adjust own behaviour to reach the goals of the team.
The University of Ottawa embraces diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We are passionate about our people and committed to employment equity. We foster a culture of respect, teamwork and inclusion, where collaboration, innovation, and creativity fuel our quest for research and teaching excellence. While all qualified persons are invited to apply, we welcome applications from qualified Indigenous persons, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, women and LGBTQIA2S+ persons. The University is committed to creating and maintaining an accessible, barrier-free work environment. The University is also committed to working with applicants with disabilities requesting accommodation during the recruitment, assessment and selection processes. Applicants with disabilities may contact [email protected] to communicate the accommodation need. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
Note: if this is a union position: The hiring process will be governed by the current collective agreement related to the union affiliation noted above; you can click here to find out more.
If this is a front-line position with responsibilities to interact with students, selected candidates must be rated at the Low Advanced proficiency level or higher for both oral comprehension and reading comprehension in their second official language. The rating is determined by a proficiency test designed by the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute.
Prior to May 1, 2022, the University required all students, faculty, staff, and visitors (including contractors) to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as defined in Policy 129 – Covid-19 Vaccination. This policy was suspended effective May 1, 2022 but may be reinstated at any point in the future depending on public health guidelines and the recommendations of experts.
