Contracts Manager (Research and Innovation)

Ref Number

B09-01431

Professional Expertise

Research and Research Support

Department

Vice-Provost (Research, Innovation and Global Engagement) (B09)

Location

London

Working Pattern

Full time

Salary

£56,431-£66,437

Contract Type

Permanent

Working Type

Hybrid

Available for Secondment

No

Closing Date

27-Oct-2026

About us

UCL is a world-leading research-intensive university, with a thriving research and innovation community and an extensive portfolio of externally funded projects.

Research and Innovation Services (RIS) supports academics throughout the research and innovation lifecycle, from securing and managing funding through to providing specialist advice on collaborations and contracts. Within RIS, Contract Services provides a single point of contact for research and innovation-related contracts, helping ensure agreements meet UCL requirements, external regulations and funder and partner terms.

This is an opportunity to join a specialist team supporting research with real-world impact across UCL.

About the role

As a Contracts Manager, you’ll represent UCL in the review, drafting and negotiation of a broad range of research and research-related agreements. You’ll work closely with academics, departments and professional services colleagues, providing clear advice on contractual obligations, responsibilities and risks.

Your portfolio will include agreements covering research funding, collaborations, sub-contracts, studentships, confidential information, materials, data and equipment. You’ll negotiate commercially appropriate positions on areas such as intellectual property, publication rights, liability and indemnity, licensing and commercialisation, while helping ensure compliance with relevant legislation and contractual requirements.

Alongside managing your own portfolio, you’ll build effective relationships across UCL, contribute to the continuous improvement of processes and best practice, and support training and guidance for departments.

About you

We’re looking for someone with experience of reviewing, drafting and negotiating research contracts and/or legal agreements, together with a strong understanding of key contractual issues such as intellectual property, confidentiality, publication, liability and indemnity, data protection and governing law. A relevant degree-level qualification or equivalent is also required.

You’ll bring a commercial and pragmatic approach to negotiation, with the judgement to identify contractual risks and provide clear, practical advice. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are important, particularly the ability to explain complex information to non-specialist audiences and manage stakeholder relationships and expectations effectively.

The role requires someone comfortable taking ownership of a large and varied workload, balancing competing priorities and progressing multiple pieces of work at the same time. Experience or knowledge of research funding, support and contracts within higher education or a commercial research environment would be an advantage.

What we offer

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:

• 41 Days holiday (including 27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)

• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)

• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan

• On-Site nursery

• On-site gym

• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay

• Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service

• Discounted medical insurance

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent.

We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce.

These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.

You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here : https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/