Application Open:
Full-Time
MBZUAI is seeking a Research Contract & Compliance Specialist who will draft, review, and negotiate research agreements (collaborations, MOUs, NDAs, funding/partnerships) to align with university strategy and protect confidentiality, data-sharing, and financial obligations. The role manages the end-to-end contract lifecycle, monitors performance, resolves issues, and ensures compliance with terms, University policies, and applicable laws in coordination with Legal Affairs. The Specialist maintains a centralized contract system, standardizes templates and clauses, and produces analytics-driven reports on performance, risk, and savings to inform decisions and identify improvements (e.g., process standardization, renegotiation, vendor consolidation).
The position also supports stakeholders on contracting practices, advises on liability/indemnity, dispute resolution, and confidentiality, aligns activities with procurement, risk, and compliance frameworks; and advances continuous improvement through modern tools, automation, and updated policies/SOPs.
Key Responsibilities
Contract Drafting and Negotiation
- Draft, review, and negotiate research-related contracts, including Research Collaboration Agreements, MOUs, NDAs, Funding Agreements, and partnership arrangements.
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders (faculty, researchers) and external parties (fund sponsors, industry partners, government entities, etc.) to understand business requirements and ensure contractual terms align with the university’s strategic objectives and interests.
- Ensure contracts reflect obligations related to IP ownership, data sharing, confidentiality, and financial commitments.
- Maintain a repository of standardized contract templates and clauses to streamline the contracting process.
Contract Administration and Compliance
- Oversee the complete contract lifecycle, from initiation to closeout, ensuring timely execution and efficient management of contractual obligations.
- Monitor contract performance and proactively identify and address any issues or disputes to ensure successful delivery.
- Implement robust internal control mechanisms to verify compliance with contractual terms, university policies, and applicable laws and regulations.
- Collaborate with the Legal Affairs department to address complex contractual matters and ensure the university’s interests are protected.
Contract Data Management and Reporting
- Maintain a centralized contract management system to facilitate the storage, retrieval, and analysis of all contractual agreements.
- Develop and generate comprehensive reports on contract performance, cost savings, and risk mitigation strategies to support data-driven decision-making.
- Leverage contract data analytics to identify optimization opportunities, such as standardizing processes, renegotiating terms, or consolidating vendor relationships.
Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration
- Serve as a trusted advisor to internal stakeholders, providing guidance and training on effective contract management practices.
- Advise on contractual risks, including liability, indemnification, dispute resolution, and confidentiality obligations.
- Develop standard contract templates to streamline processes and reduce negotiation time.
- Collaborate cross-functionally to align contract management strategies with the university’s overall procurement, risk management, and compliance frameworks.
Continuous Improvement and Innovation
- Identify and implement best-in-class contract management tools and platforms to improve data visibility, workflow automation, and risk mitigation.
- Spearhead the development and implementation of research contract management policies, procedures, and internal controls to ensure the university’s contractual obligations are met.
- Analyze industry trends, regulatory changes, and peer benchmarking to identify opportunities for process improvements and the implementation of leading practices.
Academic Qualifications Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Law, Business Administration, Contracts Administration or a related field.
- A postgraduate degree would be preferred.
Professional Experience Required
Essential:
- Minimum of 6 years of experience in contract management, or a related field.
- Demonstrated experience in drafting, negotiating, and administering a variety of commercial/Research contracts, including partnership agreements, and research agreements.\
- Proficiency in interpreting and applying contract law, risk management principles, and compliance requirements.
- Proven track record of implementing efficient contract management processes and leveraging technology to optimize workflow and data management.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to identify and mitigate contractual risks.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.
Preferred:
- Experience working in a higher education or research-intensive environment.
- Familiarity with the UAE legal and regulatory landscape related to contracts.
- Expertise in leading digital transformation initiatives and utilizing contract management software or platforms.
- Experience in providing training and capacity-building programs to enhance contract management skills across the organization
