Contracting Officer

Filled: No Position Type: Permanent Staff (EHRA NF) Working Title: Contracting Officer Appointment Type: EHRA Non-Faculty Position Number: 00060649 Vacancy ID: NF0010136 Full Time/Part Time: Full-Time Permanent FTE: 1 Hours per week: 40 Position Location: North Carolina, US Hiring Range: $71,000-$84,000 Proposed Start Date: 11/30/2026 Be a Tar Heel! A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation’s top public universities . Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package , paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance. Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit: The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) partners with the research community to support and advance the University’s research mission by providing leadership and expertise in research administration. OSP facilitates and manages all aspects of sponsored research administration for over $1B in sponsored awards each year while developing and maintaining strong relationships with campus partners and external sponsors. OSP is responsible for the following primary functions: (1) proposal review and submission, (2) award negotiation, (3) award management, (4) financial reporting and cash management, (5) F&A rate development, negotiation, and review, (6) cost analysis and research service center (recharge) rate development, (7) monitoring and oversight of time and effort reporting, (8) oversight of regulatory compliance, (9) training and development for research administration personnel, and (10) Project closeout and final reporting requirements. OSP provides complete sponsored project life cycle support (sometimes known as pre-award and post-award services) to faculty and staff. There are four functional areas of responsibility within the Office of Sponsored Programs, which have the following types of positions: (1) program administration; (2) accounting, financial reporting, and cash management; (3) data management reporting and analysis; and (4) financial compliance, effort reporting, cost studies, and cost accounting standards (CAS). OSP serves as the official institutional signatory for the Chancellor and is responsible for reviewing and authorizing proposal submissions, as well as negotiating and administering awards on behalf of the University. These activities include monitoring institutional compliance for research and training activities, pre-award services, billing and financial reporting, cash management, cost analysis and compliance of research-related activities, verification of technical report and patent & invention report submissions by principal investigators (PIs), award closeout, and the implementation of information technology into research administration activities. OSP’s centralized administrative functions facilitate the development and implementation of standardized policies & procedures across the University. They also provide training opportunities to improve University-wide efficiencies and communication to increase the quality of research administration. Position Summary: The Contracting Officer is responsible for supporting Principal Investigators (PIs) and sponsors in a fast paced, high volume team environment for administrative, financial, and compliance aspects on all sponsored programs award negotiations/setups on behalf of UNC. Duties include, but are not limited to, the following: negotiating and/ or drafting funded contracts, agreements, subcontracts and amendments with both industry and non-industry partners/ sponsors as well as other unfunded sponsored project agreements, and actively participating in negotiation of complex contracts and agreements with other institutions of Higher Education (IHE), non-profit organizations, federal sponsors, foreign entities, industry partners, and various other types of entities; drafting technical contract language in regards to intellectual property rights, cost sharing, fiscal/ procedural constraints, data use, material transfer and other complex terms and conditions; negotiating terms and conditions that impact all financial aspects, including the budget, payment schedules, financial resources in the event of breach, and financial/ compliance audits; financial review of allowability and compliance with state, federal, and sponsor specific requirements; and providing thorough explanations to diverse customer inquiries. The Contracting Officer will be the central point of contact for all assigned contracts, agreements, subcontracts, amendments, or unfunded agreements for UNC-Chapel Hill. This position also interacts with departmental administrators, external sponsor personnel, sponsor research administration staff or legal teams, and PIs to ensure timely and compliant processing of all agreements types. The principal function of this position is to facilitate the negotiations of various sponsored projects at UNC with an emphasis on providing the highest level of customer service to campus and sponsors while considering all applicable federal regulations and state laws, and University guidelines and policies. The Contracting Officer will have knowledge of award management and be able to be a source of guidance for a variety of sponsors as well as knowledge of standard templates and other contract formats; appropriate flow-down of award terms and conditions when required, including changes to contract format during the negotiations stage; and working knowledge of the various sponsor requirements for all types of sponsors. The Contracting Officer works independently to conduct risk assessments for all assigned contracts/subcontracts, including consulting with PIs and department staff regarding the nature of each project and the impact of unique aspects of the project on the legal language contained in the contracts/ subcontracts, representing the best interests of the University and the PI. For incoming funded contracts and agreements, this position will review the scope of the work or protocol and compliance considerations to appropriately draft and/or review funding mechanism accurately. The Contracting Officer must keep abreast of new developments in research administration policies and requirements to serve as an up-to-date source of information, guidance, and training for the campus and research community. The Contracting Officer will provide accurate and timely documentation of the status of contract negotiations in the appropriate document tracking systems throughout the lifecycle of the drafting process, negotiation, and final execution until such time as the executed document is set up in our financial system. The position will monitor for accuracy as amendments are issued throughout the award life cycle to ensure continued programmatic correctness and compliance with various regulatory requirements including OSP policies and procedures. The position will work to maintain OSP’s high customer service standards for service to faculty and sponsors, which includes supporting OSP’s target times for task turnaround. Minimum Education and Experience Requirements: Mid- to late-career with Masters and 2- 4 yrs experience; Bachelors and 3-5 yrs experience Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience: The selected candidate must demonstrate the following: Ability to utilize critical thinking skills, assess risk, make independent decisions based on risk assessment, and collaborate with others to problem solve and facilitate timely execution of agreements. Ability to work effectively as part of a team. Ability to interpret, explain, and apply complicated rules, regulations, and policies. Ability to prioritize and balance a shifting workload in a deadline-driven work environment. Strong communication, interpersonal, and customer service skills. Strong analytical skills and ability to work with a consistent degree of accuracy. Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience: JD, MBA, or experience negotiating contracts in a university setting. Understanding of non-fiscal compliance areas such as conflict of interest regulations, human subjects, and animal care policies. Understanding of copyright law, publication policy, intellectual property rights, data ownership, material transfer, and other legal terms and conditions. Campus Security Authority Responsibilities: Not Applicable. Organization The nation’s first public university is at the heart of what’s next, preparing a diverse student body to become creators, explorers, innovators and leaders in North Carolina and throughout the world. Carolina’s nationally recognized, innovative teaching, campus-wide spirit of inquiry and dedication to public service continue the legacy that began in 1795 when the University first opened its doors to students. Here, in one of America's most beautiful college settings, we offer exceptional careers in richly diverse fields. Come explore what UNC-Chapel Hill has to offer you. Undergraduate Enrollment: 19,117 Graduate/Professional Enrollment: 10,894 Total Student Enrollment: 30,011 Founded: 1789, as the first state university in the United States Type of Institution: Public, four-year Undergraduate Admission: 15,961 Graduate/Professional Enrollment: 10,039 Total Student Enrollment: 26,000 Faculty: 3,000 Percentage of faculty who hold Ph.D.s or the highest degrees in their field: 94 percent Faculty/student ratio: 1/14 Location: UNC is located in the heart of Chapel Hill, the best college town in America! It's a friendly town of about 40,000 in the geographical center of North Carolina. Chapel Hill is at the western point of the Research Triangle, an area of about one million people, comprised of Chapel Hill, the cities of Durham and Raleigh, and the Research Triangle Park, home of many corporate offices and scientific research centers. Carolina is about 30 miles from the state capital, Raleigh, and 20 minutes from Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Chapel Hill's main street, Franklin Street, borders the campus and offers shops, coffee houses, cafés, movie theaters and houses of worship. The town has a historic district, museum, library, parks, malls, and many recreational facilities. Origins of Carolina's students: 82 percent of UNC's freshmen are from North Carolina and 18 percent are from out-of-state. Our students come from 42 different states and our international students represent 37 countries. Size of freshman class: Approximately 3,400 Class size: Barely five percent of undergraduate classes contain more than 100 students; two-thirds of undergraduate classes have fewer than 30 students. Forty-one percent have fewer than 20 students, including First Year Seminars, in which first-year students work closely with professors. Sports and athletic programs: UNC is an NCAA Division I school with 28 varsity teams. Carolina is the proud home of the Dean Smith Center, Kenan Stadium, Carmichael Auditorium, Koury Natatorium, and many other fine athletic facilities. Students join more than 60 intramural and club sports, which include baseball, bowling, crew, golf, lacrosse, rock climbing, rugby, tae kwon do, and ultimate frisbee. The Student Recreation Center offers weight training, aerobics, stair machines, and all the equipment you would expect to find at a great health club! Carolina offers a newly renovated outdoor pool and indoor pools, a golf course, tennis courts, and the longest zipline in America! Number of residence halls: Incoming undergraduates will live in one of Carolina's 29 residence halls, which are wired for Internet access and cable television. housing.unc.edu Scholarships and financial aid: About 40 percent of UNC-Chapel Hill students receive scholarships and/or some form of financial aid. studentaid.unc.edu Special research institutes: Institute for Research in Social Science, Institute of Outdoor Drama, Morehead Planetarium, Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise, Institute of Government, Institute of African American Research. Career services: On-campus counseling, job fairs, résumé writing service, internships, placement services. www.unc.edu/depts/career Technological facilities: Students find multiple uses for Carolina's state-of-the-art technological resources. They can access Carolina's computer services through Academic Technology and Networks, which manages academic computing, e-mail, microcomputing labs, interactive media presentation, video and classroom support, and a help desk. The MetaLab oversees the development of SunSITE, one of the world's busiest digital library and electronic publishing projects. Students may open e-mail accounts, and many use campus computer resources to construct personal Web pages. Students in residence halls have hardwired network connections to the Internet and cable television in their rooms. At the ATN Training center, students may take classes on software packages and utilities. Computer labs are available for student use all over campus. Carolina Computing Initiative: Beginning with the freshman class of 2000, undergraduates must purchase laptop computers. The University has arranged for IBM to offer computers at excellent prices. Students, faculty, and staff will enjoy cost savings, higher quality compatible equipment, and better technical support through CCI. www.unc.edu/cci The Study Abroad program allows students to live and learn in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Rim, Africa, and the Americas. www.unc.edu/depts/abroad The Honors Program offers special seminars, research programs, and the chance to design your own independent studies. www.unc.edu/depts/honors Carolina students spend time in public service through student organizations, the Campus Y, the Carolina Center for Public Service, and courses that incorporate community service. UNC's chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, a national collegiate honor society, is the oldest in North Carolina, dating from 1904. There are many other honorary societies at Carolina. UNC offers ROTC programs in all branches of national military service. Through the First Year Seminars program, first year students will understand what it means to study at a premier research university. They will learn from faculty members and share in their research in seminars of no more than 20 students. Life outside the classroom: More than 370 clubs, teams, and student organizations offer something for everyone! You can choose from among musical and dramatic performing groups, publications, ethnic and religious clubs, the Campus Y and other service organizations, fraternities and sororities, and pre-professional organizations. Whatever your interests, you will find others at Carolina who share them! www.unc.edu/depts/union/student/listintr.htm