Senior Contracts Manager

Cambridge; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 47,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An esteemed educational institution in the UK is seeking a Senior Contracts Manager to manage contract negotiations and lead a team within its Clinical School. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in drafting agreements and will excel at communication and leadership. Responsibilities include overseeing contracts for various research collaborations, protecting intellectual property, and ensuring compliance with university standards. This full-time role includes opportunities for hybrid working to support flexibility and work-life balance.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Hybrid work model

Supportive work environment

Qualifications

• Proven experience in drafting and negotiating agreements.
• Experience in a university or research-intensive organisation.
• Ability to communicate complex issues clearly to a diverse audience.

Responsibilities

• Lead the contracts function within the Clinical School-facing teams.
• Manage a team of Contracts Managers and administrative staff.
• Negotiate agreements to protect researchers' and the University's interests.

Skills

Leadership skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Project management

Diplomacy

Attention to detail

Education

Degree level education

Tools

Microsoft IT packages

Job description

# Senior Contracts ManagerWe are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated self-starter for the post of Senior Contract Manager within the Research Operations Office.The post holder will lead the contracts function within one of our Clinical School-facing teams at the Research Operations Office, managing a team of Contracts Managers as well as administrative staff. As a senior manager, the post-holder will take the lead on complex contract negotiations - providing support to a range of departments within the school, and will oversee and support the Contracts Managers with their portfolio of matters. As a member of the Senior Contracts Managers team the post-holder will work with colleagues to ensure an effective and coherent contracting function across the office. This will include matters such as providing contracts training, ensuring effective probation and appraisal processes are undertaken, and that administration of contracts is consistent and efficient.The post holder will act on behalf of the researchers and the University to negotiate agreements ranging from material transfers to multi-party research collaborations, funded by a range of sponsors including Research Councils, charities, the European Commission and a wide range of industrial sponsors.As a Senior Contract Manager, you will ensure both the researchers' and the University's interests are protected by agreeing terms that safeguard both the researchers' need to publish results and pursue further research and the University's charitable and academic position. You will also consider protection of results forpotential commercialisation, and appropriate access to intellectual property rights for sponsor and collaborators.You will ideally have gained extensive experience of drafting and negotiating agreements through working in either a university or a research-intensive organisation, including industry. Project management experience and a legal and/or scientific background would be an advantage. An understanding of the scientific research environment would also be desirable.You will be educated to a degree level or equivalent. Having excellent leadership and team management skills is a must. You will be well organised and able both to prioritise and work to deadlines. Able to work well independently and have a positive, can-do approach, you will have excellent verbal and written communication skills with an aptitude for developing positive working relationships. In particular, you will have the ability to communicate complex issues clearly and concisely to a wide range of people, including the highest levels of academic, corporate and government representatives. Diplomacy, tact, attention to detail and a calm approach are essential. You will be proficient in using Microsoft IT packages.Your application should clearly set out how you meet the criteria listed in the person specification (the skills and experience required for the role) along with relevant examples. Candidates will be shortlisted based on these criteria.Once an offer of employment has been accepted, the successful candidate will be required to undergo a basic disclosure (criminal records check) check and a security check.We welcome applications from individuals who wish to be considered for part-time working (minimum 80%) or other flexible working arrangements. The University is supportive of hybrid working, where some work is undertaken on University premises and some in a remote working environment. The aim of our approach is to enable as many staff as possible to work in a hybrid way if they wish and where their role allows, with the majority of time spent on-site. This arrangement is subject to change and will not form a part of the contractual terms of the role.This role requires onsite attendance at Greenwich House for a minimum of 2 days per week with additional onsite working according to business need.Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.Please ensure that you upload a covering letter and CV in the upload section of the online application. The covering letter should outline how you match the criteria for the post and why you are applying for this role. If you upload any additional documents which have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application. Please include details of your referees, including email address and phone number, one of which must be your most recent line manager.If you have questions about the application process, contact [e-mail] quote reference EW48486 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.### Department/location### Salary£47,389-£59,966### ReferenceEW48486### Category### Date published12 January 2026### Closing date8 February 2026