ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

University Contract Negotiator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Walden University

Contracts Specialist

Columbia, MD · Hybrid

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org). Visit WaldenU ... Directly negotiating various contract terms with existing and potential affiliates. * Assisting ...

Walden University

Contracts Specialist

Lisle, IL · Hybrid

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org). Visit WaldenU ... Directly negotiating various contract terms with existing and potential affiliates. * Assisting ...

Howard

Contract Specialist-2

Washington, DC · On-site

$100K - $134K/yr

Howard University is seeking a Contract Specialist who has primary responsibility for the ... operational procedure and process associated with contractual arrangements/agreements for goods and ...

Covista

Contracts Specialist

Lisle, IL · On-site

$42K - $75K/yr

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org). Visit WaldenU ... Directly negotiating various contract terms with existing and potential affiliates. * Assisting ...

Tamus

Contract Specialist II - TEMP

Prairie View, TX · On-site

Job Title Contract Specialist II - TEMP Agency Prairie View A&M University Department Procurement ... negotiating, and consummating contract. * Maintain contract database systemfor use in status ...

Covista

Contracts Specialist

Columbia, MD · Hybrid

$42K - $75K/yr

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org). Visit WaldenU ... Directly negotiating various contract terms with existing and potential affiliates. * Assisting ...

Covista

Contracts Specialist

Columbia, MD · On-site

$42K - $75K/yr

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org). Visit WaldenU ... Directly negotiating various contract terms with existing and potential affiliates. * Assisting ...

previous pagenext page

Showing results 21-40

All JobsLegal JobsLegal Specialist JobsUniversity Contract Negotiator Jobs

University Contract Negotiator information

See salary details

$8

$38

$70

How much do university contract negotiator jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 12, 2026, the average hourly pay for university contract negotiator in the United States is $38.10, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $23.80 and $45.19 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a university contract negotiator?

A University Contract Negotiator is a professional responsible for reviewing, drafting, and negotiating contracts and agreements on behalf of a university. These agreements may include research collaborations, service contracts, licensing deals, and vendor agreements. Their primary goal is to ensure that the university's interests are protected while complying with applicable laws, regulations, and institutional policies. They often collaborate with faculty, administrators, legal counsel, and external partners to secure favorable terms and mitigate risks. Effective communication, attention to detail, and knowledge of contract law are essential skills for this role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a university contract negotiator?

To thrive as a University Contract Negotiator, you need expertise in contract law, negotiation strategies, and higher education policies, often supported by a bachelor's or law degree. Familiarity with contract management systems, compliance software, and relevant legal databases is essential. Strong interpersonal skills, attention to detail, and effective communication set top performers apart in this role. These skills ensure the university's interests are protected, agreements are compliant, and collaborations proceed smoothly.

What are some common challenges faced by university contract negotiators when working with faculty and external partners?

University Contract Negotiators often encounter challenges such as aligning the interests of faculty, university administration, and external partners, especially when it comes to intellectual property rights, publication timelines, and funding terms. Balancing compliance with university policies while ensuring agreements are attractive to external collaborators requires strong communication and negotiation skills. Additionally, negotiators must stay updated on regulatory changes and manage multiple contracts simultaneously, which can make effective time management essential in this role.

What is the difference between University Contract Negotiator vs University Procurement Specialist?

AspectUniversity Contract NegotiatorUniversity Procurement Specialist
CredentialsLegal or contract management certifications often preferredProcurement or supply chain certifications
Work EnvironmentFocuses on contract terms, negotiations, legal reviewHandles purchasing, vendor relations, procurement processes
Employer & Industry UsageUniversities, higher education institutionsUniversities, government agencies, educational institutions
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding contract roles in universitiesComparing procurement and contract roles in academia

The University Contract Negotiator primarily focuses on drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts to ensure legal compliance and favorable terms. In contrast, the University Procurement Specialist manages purchasing processes, vendor relationships, and procurement strategies. While both roles support university operations, the Contract Negotiator emphasizes legal and contractual aspects, whereas the Procurement Specialist concentrates on acquiring goods and services efficiently.

What are popular job titles related to University Contract Negotiator jobs?

For University Contract Negotiator jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various University Contract Negotiator job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 79% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $79,243 per year, or $38.1 per hour.

Sponsored Projects Grants & Contracts Officer

Salt Lake City, UT • Hybrid

University of Utah
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools • 10K+ employees
Learn more about University of Utahexternal

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 3 days ago

University Of Utah rating

6.9

Company rating: 6.9 out of 10

Based on 161 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

Details
Open Date 06/30/2026 Requisition Number PRN45509B Job Title Sponsored Projects Grants & Contracts Officer Working Title Sponsored Projects Grants & Contracts Officer Career Progression Track F Track Level FLSA Code Administrative Patient Sensitive Job Code? No Standard Hours per Week 40.0 Full Time or Part Time? Full Time Shift Day Work Schedule Summary
Hybrid Work Schedule: Minimum of 16 hours (2 business days) a week in the office. Regular Office Hours: Monday through Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
VP Area President Department 00644 - Office of Sponsored Projects Location Campus City Salt Lake City, UT Type of Recruitment External Posting Pay Rate Range $70,000 to $85,000 Close Date 09/30/2026 Priority Review Date (Note - Posting may close at any time) Job Summary
The Contracts Officer will draft and negotiate agreements with extramural partners (industry, state and federal government, foundations and non-profits, etc.) in support of sponsored project activity at the University. This position supports: faculty in their efforts to secure and manage extramural support; the University to meet program objectives and legal, ethical, and financial requirements; and partnerships with sponsors. The position is also responsible for managing the sponsored project activity reporting process.
The value of being an employee at the University of Utah goes far beyond your base salary, so we encourage you to carefully consider and compare our total package offer. This package includes a variety of excellent employee benefits, including health care coverage, retirement plans, and paid leave time as well as other valuable benefits, services, and programs such as tuition reduction. One example is the U's retirement benefits which amount to a 14.2% contribution in addition to your annual salary. You may view the U's total compensation estimator to calculate the approximate value of your total compensation at www.hr.utah.edu/comp/totalcomp.php. If you have any questions on how to use the estimator tool, please contact Human Resources at 801-581-7447.
Responsibilities
  • Work with faculty, staff, and a variety of external sponsors to create contracts for sponsored project activity at the University. Contract types include collaborations, subcontracts, clinical research, research, service, testing, data and material use and transfer, confidentially, and other agreement types, including amendments.
  • Assists faculty and staff in preparation of contract proposals.
  • Reviews and interprets sponsoring agency policies, rules, and regulations.
  • Performs pre-negotiation fact-finding to support negotiations.
  • Review, interpret, draft and negotiate sponsored agreements.
  • Track and manage agreement workflow through signing.
  • Ensure contracts meet legal, ethical, and financial standards of the University.
  • Establish and implement a system to regularly review all agreements and current multi-year gift agreements to ensure programmatic, legal, ethical, and financial compliance, including reporting.
  • Facilitate the regular collection of information and metrics related to the contracting and sponsored project management process, including preparing and submitting reports, analyzing and preparing data of work performed, compile reports, and other tracking and reporting tasks as identified.
  • Respond to faculty, staff, and sponsor inquires.
  • Act as OSP liaison with the University's Office of General Counsel on legal matters pertaining to sponsored contract agreements.
  • Act as an OSP liaison with University leadership and other research administration and compliance offices.
  • Use information systems to track and manage sponsored agreements through the project lifecycle. Record preliminary, contract, and award information in the sponsored project infrastructure, including financial and other compliance systems.
  • Serve as the primary resource for campus-wide research administration professionals and external interested parties and provide expert advice on University policies and procedures, work process and practice, the sponsored programs lifecycle, IT systems, contacting, compliance issues, reporting, and stewardship.
  • Ensure that University practice and policy related to sponsored contracts reflect current state and federal laws and regulations for sponsored program activity and provide training and updates to faculty, leadership, and research administration professionals across campus.
  • Other duties as assigned.
    Comments:
    This position provides support in highly specialized areas of Research Administration. The Office of Sponsored Projects is a customer service organization dedicated to supporting a diverse client set including University administration, faculty, support staff and sponsoring entities.
    Work Environment and Level of Frequency typically required
    Nearly Continuously: Office environment.
    Physical Requirements and Level of Frequency that may be required
    Nearly Continuously: Sitting, hearing, listening, talking.
    Often: Repetitive hand motion (such as typing), walking.
    Seldom: Bending, reaching overhead.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration or related field or equivalency required (one year of education can be substituted for two years of related work experience). Two years experience working with federal or private funding agencies on grants, contracts or other agreements required. The ability to work independently, effectively and efficiently under extreme pressure and demonstrated human relations and effective communication skills also required.
An advanced degree in Public Administration, Law or a related field and five years of increasingly responsible experience within an academic or higher education environment preferred. Computer literacy in data management, document preparation and management, spreadsheet creation and presentation software is also preferred.
Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.
Preferences
  • A juris doctor degree
  • An Advanced knowledge of contracting and related processes.
  • Demonstrated understanding of university research environment and policies.
  • Experience with university research administration or related experience preferred.
  • Demonstrated understanding of intellectual property and licensing issues as they pertain to academic research.
  • Communicate knowledge and ideas both verbally and in writing with clarity and effectiveness to internal and external audiences, client groups and all levels of management.
  • Make good independent decisions based on critical and analytical thinking, experience and judgment.
  • Deliver high quality service and work products that can be relied upon by clients and colleagues to meet business requirements.
  • Work well with colleagues and clients. Collaborate and work effectively in a distributed team environment.
  • Demonstrated curiosity and comfort with uncertainty and ambiguity.
  • Proactively Drive change and continuous improvement through individual contributions.
  • Strong service orientation, demonstrated ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, action-oriented, customer-focused service environment.
  • Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize a variety of tasks and demands.
  • Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite and ability to learn applicable university and departmental systems.
Type Benefited Staff Special Instructions Summary Additional Information
The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems ("URS"). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at (801) 581-7447 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS' post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or University Human Resource Management at (801) 581-7447 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.
This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.
The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education.
Veterans' preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.
Consistent with state and federal law, the University of Utah does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran's status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.
To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX (OEO). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator's office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at the: University of Utah NonDiscrimination page.
Online reports may be submitted at https://oeo.utah.edu

https://publicsafety.utah.edu/safetyreport/ This report includes statistics about criminal offenses, hate crimes, arrests and referrals for disciplinary action, and Violence Against Women Act offenses. They also provide information about safety and security-related services offered by the University of Utah. A paper copy can be obtained by request at the Department of Public Safety located at 1658 East 500 South.
As per University of Utah policy 5-108: Transfer of Benefits Eligible Staff Members, a new hire to the University of Utah who is still serving a 12 month probationary period will not be hired into another University of Utah job (a transfer) until the successful completion of the probationary period.

What University Of Utah employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

University of Utah logo

About University of Utah

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

The University of Utah is the state’s flagship institution of higher education, with 18 schools and colleges, more than 100 undergraduate majors and graduate programs, and an enrollment of more than 38,000 students. It is a member of the Association of American Universities—an invitation-only, prestigious group of 71 leading research institutions. The U is advancing a new national model for higher education that delivers societal impact through education, research, health care, and community service, while making social, economic, and cultural contributions that improve lives across Utah and around the world.

Industry

Colleges, universities, and professional schools

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Salt Lake City, UT, US

View All University of Utah Jobs

Apply