Job Details
Posting Number: PG194847EP
Internal Recruitment: No
Working Title: Contract Negotiator
Anticipated Hiring Range: $65,000 - $75,000
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm, additional hours as necessary to meet all obligatory deadlines
Job Location: Raleigh, NC
Department: ORI-Ofc of Sponsored Programs
About the Department
The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) is NC State’s central administrative hub for institutional research administration. OSP provides enterprise-level leadership and operational support across three core institutional areas:
- Institutional Pre-Award Services
- Institutional Contract Negotiations
- Institutional Research Systems & Reporting
OSP oversees all institutional pre-award and non-financial post-award activities, including proposal review, submission, negotiation, acceptance, and award management for more than 3,700 annual actions and over $500M in sponsored funding. The office leads the configuration, governance, and reporting infrastructure for the university’s research administration systems and partners closely with OPAFS, the Office of Research Commercialization, the Office of Information Technology, General Counsel, and academic units to ensure that NC State’s research enterprise operates with integrity, efficiency, and resilience.
Wolfpack Perks and Benefits
As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone.
What we offer:
- Medical, Dental, and Vision
- Flexible Spending Account
- Retirement Programs
- Disability Plans
- Life Insurance
- Accident Plan
- Paid Time Off and Other Leave Programs
- 12 Holidays Each Year
- Tuition and Academic Assistance
- And so much more!
Attain Work-life balance with our Childcare benefits, Wellness & Recreation Membership, and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community.
*Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found within each of the links offered.
Essential Job Duties
The Contract Negotiator will support NC State University’s sponsored research and other sponsored activities by developing and negotiating agreements with external sponsors. The position will work across a range of federal, state, local, nonprofit, and other organizations to help establish agreements that support the University’s research, instruction, and sponsored activities while aligning with institutional policies and applicable requirements. As the Contract Negotiator, you will apply subject-matter knowledge and sound judgment to navigate complex agreements, work with internal and external stakeholders, and help reach terms that support both the University and its research community. You will play an important role in identifying and addressing institutional risk while ensuring agreements are clear, accurate, and well organized.
Key responsibilities will fall within the following functional areas:
Contract Drafting & Negotiation:
- Draft sponsored project agreements using standard University templates for incoming and outgoing projects.
- Review and negotiate external sponsors’ agreements to ensure terms are acceptable and compliant.
- Identify non-conforming contract language and negotiate modifications to align with University, UNC System, and regulatory requirements.
- Prepare and negotiate subawards with external entities, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
Risk Assessment & Compliance Review:
- Analyze institutional risk tolerance and conduct subrecipient risk assessments.
- Interpret legal agreements and assess the impact of proposed terms.
- Consult with University compliance offices (Office of Regulatory and Institutional Compliance, Post Award Financial Services, Research Commercialization, General Counsel) to ensure negotiated terms support University and sponsor requirements.
Stakeholder Engagement & Communication:
- Provide guidance to University clients on proposals, contract terms, and negotiation considerations.
- Communicate negotiation progress to stakeholders and ensure accurate, timely information sharing.
- Explain reporting obligations and provide complete information needed for financial and technical reporting.
Training, Resources & Process Support:
- Develop training materials, update templates, and contribute guidance for the SPARCS website.
- Deliver classroom training or consultations to support research administrators across campus.
In this role, you will have the opportunity to contribute to research and sponsored activities while helping the University manage risk, support its research community, and build effective partnerships with external sponsors. If you are an analytical and collaborative professional who enjoys navigating complex agreements, building productive relationships, and finding solutions that balance institutional and sponsor needs, we invite you to bring your negotiation and problem-solving skills to NC State University.
Other Responsibilities
In addition to the core responsibilities of this role, there may be occasional opportunities to take on additional duties. This offers an opportunity to build on your skills, explore new areas, and gain a deeper understanding of the department’s operations.
Minimum Education and Experience
Require post-baccalaureate credentials or a bachelor’s degree plus alternative or equivalent professional training and experience may be substituted for the advanced degree on an exceptional basis.
All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.
Other Required Qualifications
- Collaborate effectively with colleagues while independently managing assigned work, addressing issues, and following through to resolution.
- Manage competing priorities and deadlines while maintaining accuracy, completeness, and attention to detail.
- Communicate complex information clearly and effectively in both written and verbal formats, adapting the message to the audience and purpose.
Preferred Qualifications
- Research administration experience within an institution of higher education.
- Knowledge of and ability to interpret and apply the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), and applicable North Carolina and U.S. laws, including intellectual property and copyright law.
- Contract negotiation experience, including familiarity with negotiation software tools such as Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat markup features and contract management platforms.
- Certified Research Administrator (CRA), Certified Federal Contracts Manager (CFCM), or comparable professional certification.
- J.D. or other relevant advanced legal or professional preparation.
Required License(s) or Certification(s)
N/A
Valid NC Driver's License required: No
Commercial Driver's License required: No
Job Open Date: 09/11/2026
Anticipated Close Date: 9/24/2026; if posting is still active we are accepting and reviewing applications.
Special Instructions to Applicants
Please include a resume, cover letter and contact information for at least three professional references.
This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future sponsorship.
Position Number: 00108150
Position Type: EPS/SAAO
Full Time Equivalent (FTE) (1.0 = 40 hours/week): 1.00
Appointment: 12 Month Recurring
Mandatory Designation - Adverse Weather: Non Mandatory - Adverse Weather
Mandatory Designation - Emergency Events: Non Mandatory - Emergency Event
Department ID: 060401 - ORI-Ofc of Sponsored Programs
EEO
NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.
If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu.
Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.
NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.
Organization
NC State: Think and Do
NC State was founded with a purpose: to create economic, societal and intellectual prosperity for the people of North Carolina and the country. We began as a land-grant institution teaching the agricultural and mechanical arts. Today, we're a pre-eminent research enterprise with 12 colleges excelling in all major academic fields.
Our 34,000 high-performing students take what they learn in the classroom and apply it in the real world by conducting research, working in internships and co-ops, and performing acts of world-changing service. That experiential education ensures that they leave here ready to lead the workforce. NC State's 13:1 student-faculty ratio is one of the reasons why we're the best college for your money in North Carolina (Money) and the No. 5 best value among public universities nationally (U.S. News & World Report).
Overcoming Challenges, Improving Lives
NC State is one of only two universities in the nation leading two National Science Foundation Engineering Research Centers — one developing wearable, self-powered health monitors, and the other researching smart-grid technology. We’re also leading interdisciplinary efforts to curb nuclear proliferation, help farmers confront climate change and build a new American manufacturing sector.
Our research doesn't just get published in a journal or sit on a shelf; it makes an impact. NC State is No. 6 nationwide in commercialization agreements based on university research, and we're No. 2 among universities without a medical school. Our Cooperative Extension Service provides research-based information to citizens in all 100 North Carolina counties. In addition, our industrial extension unit — Industry Expansion Solutions — has created an economic benefit for the state's manufacturers averaging $149 million per year since 2005.
Bright Minds Creating a Bold Future
NC State’s 9,000 faculty and staff are world leaders in their fields, bridging the divides between academic disciplines and training high-caliber students to meet tomorrow’s challenges. NC State students won two Goldwater scholarships, five Fulbright scholarships, one Churchill scholarship and a record-breaking 25 National Science Foundation graduate research fellowships in the 2016-2017 academic year. In addition, 25 faculty are members of the National Academies.
Our Centennial Campus, an award-winning public-private research campus, is home to more than 70 partner organizations working alongside more than 70 NC State research and academic units. Centennial is also the location of the innovative Hunt Library, which Time magazine has dubbed “the library of the future.”
In Raleigh and Around the World
It all happens in one of the best cities in America. A top spot for job-seekers and tech professionals, Raleigh is nationally recognized as a leading urban center:
- No. 2 hot spot for tech jobs (Forbes, 2016)
- No. 3 best city for young professionals (Forbes, 2016)
- No. 4 best city for jobs (Glassdoor.com, 2017)
- No. 4 best place to live (U.S. News & World Report, 2016)
- Best big city in the Southeast (Time, 2016)
- Selected as a Google Fiber expansion city
With Durham and Chapel Hill, Raleigh anchors the Research Triangle, a national hotspot for high-tech enterprise. The top companies in the region — including IBM, Cisco Systems, SAS Institute, Biogen Idec and GlaxoSmithKline — are among the country’s best employers. They also lead the way in hiring new NC State graduates.
More than 130 years after its creation, NC State continues to make its founding purpose a reality. Every day, our career-ready graduates and world-leading faculty make the fruits of learning and discovery available to people across the state, throughout the nation and around the world.
This is a Preview Listing…
You must sign in to see the full job description, and to apply.
Manage / Upgrade this job to a Full Job Listing.
Find Your Best Opportunity
Tell them AcademicJobs.com sent you!