Senior Business Contracts Officer (0345U), Office of Business Contracts - 86682

About Berkeley

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty, and staff. As a world-leading institution, Berkeley is known for its academic and research excellence, public mission, diverse student body, and commitment to equity and social justice.

Departmental Overview

The Office of Business Contracts is a service unit within Supply Chain Management that reviews, negotiates, and processes business contracts for the Berkeley campus.

Position Summary

The Senior Business Contracts Officer involves structuring and/or administrating contractual documents that establish business relationships with contractors, customers, and partners. This position collaborates with internal partners and legal staff to structure and draft contracts. The Senior Business Contracts Officer provides professional contracting services in compliance with system-wide and campus policies and procedures, and analyzes contracts to ensure compliance with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, and policies. Additionally, the Senior Business Contracts Officer advises management of contractual rights and obligations, provides interpretation of terms and conditions, and coordinates the negotiation of increasingly complex agreements involving intellectual property rights, licenses, sponsorships, and a broad range of business relationships.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: June 19, 2026.

Responsibilities

• Prepares, negotiates, and executes contract documents on behalf of the Regents, including drafting exceptions to agreement terms and conditions as required by campus guidelines, rules and regulations and maintains accurate and organized files documenting contractual transactions, including using the Business Contract Management System (BCMS) or other similar database.
• Counsels departments in the execution of highly complex, specialized agreements, and alerts departments to potential conflicts between the objectives of the University in undertaking the contracted activity, the policies/regulations of the University, and an external entitys business/commercial objectives.
• Collaborates and coordinates with key stakeholders, other campus contracting offices, as well as with internal control units, such as the Office of Legal Affairs and the Office of Risk Services to assess and minimize risks in proposed transactions, and to ensure that the proposed contracts are compliant with federal and state law and University policies.
• Analyzes impact to the campus of changes in regulations, policies and procedures that affect business transactions and/or intellectual property rights.
• Supports new Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) implementation and ongoing enhancements, including assessing and responding to campus user feedback, identifying improvement opportunities, and helping prioritize enhancements through established channels.
• Assists in campus adoption and effective use of CLM by delivering training and workshops, updating training materials, supporting end users, and serving as a campus resource for CLM processes and tool usage.
• Other duties as assigned, including participating in process improvement activities, participating in staff development, and providing mentorship to Contract Administrator 3 as needed.

Required Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of contracting principles and practices, methods and procedures used in transactional business contract development, especially associated with revenue generation.
• Advanced knowledge of contract law, especially related to foreign and domestic business relationships, intellectual property licensing, and other relevant rules, guidelines, policies and practices.
• Advanced written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills; advanced ability to deal with broad and diverse constituencies using advanced customer service orientation and skills.
• Advanced organizational, presentation and negotiation skills.
• Advanced listening, political acumen skills and problem recognition, avoidance and resolution skills.
• Advanced knowledge of the campus, including its infrastructure, goals, mission, rules, policies, guidelines, etc. and/or the ability to learn.
• Highly developed analytical skills, including analysis of relevant facts, knowledge of legal language needed to protect against anticipated risk, and seasoned experience researching, drafting, negotiating and preparing complex contracts.
• Advanced experience and knowledge of Federal and State laws associated with business contracts in academia.
• Advanced skill to apply, interpret, and implement complex policy, technical and legal concepts to a wide variety of situations, and to use mature judgment in resolving related issues and problems.
• Ability to exercise independent initiative and considerable judgment in advising both academic and administrative officers and staff.
• Ability to work independently while managing multiple projects.
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills and exceptional interpersonal skills.
• Advanced experience and proficiency with word processing software, including use of Microsoft Office Suite Adobe Acrobat, and Google Suite, for redlining and version-control.
• Advanced project management experience, including assisting with implementation of new Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) system, delivering training and workshops, updating training materials, supporting end users, and serving as a campus resource for CLM processes and tool usage.
• At least 5-8 years of experience drafting complex and novel agreements.

Education / Training

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• Law degree from accredited University (Preferred).

Licenses / Certifications

• Admission to California Bar (Preferred).