Queens University
Kingston, ON, Canada
A Brief Overview
As a member of the Grants and Contracts team in Research Services, Vice Principal Research portfolio (the Portfolio), the Research Contracts Officer plays a critical role in supporting the research mission at Queen's University by reviewing, drafting, and executing research contracts between Queen's University and external partners/collaborators. With direction from and reporting to senior management in Research Services, the incumbent will also hold responsibility for supporting and collaborating with in-house Legal Counsel. Working in close collaboration with faculty members to deliver research contracts that support their research program goals, the Research Contracts Officer ensures contract terms and conditions align with Queen's policies, legal requirements, and funder guidelines. The Research Contracts Officer will lead the end-to-end process of timely contract development, review and execution, and will escalate high risk or complex agreements. The Research Contract Officer works in a team environment alongside members of the Grants and Contracts team and supports colleagues across the Portfolio in the shared mission to deliver high quality customer service. The Research Contracts Officer is a key leader who provides expertise on triaging contractual issues, and is a central resource that provides training and mentorship for other Research Services staff while keeping their own training up-to-date for emerging issues impacting the research enterprise.
This position drafts and reviews research agreements, ensuring that contracts align with university policies, ethical standards and applicable laws and regulations. This position liaises with affiliated hospital partners, research centers, institutes and groups and supports principal investigators and staff in understanding contractual terms, university policies and risks. This position also identifies and contributes to internal processes and provides strategic operational guidance and project management to ensure efficient contract execution.
What you will do
Drafts and reviews research agreements for the university, escalating contractual clauses of concern, complex or high risk files to Legal Counsel or senior leadership.
Liaises with affiliated hospital partners, research centers, institutes and groups to ensure all contracts and processes are aligned with expectations, compliance, legal and funding term requirements.
In collaboration with Legal Counsel, advise principal investigators and staff on contractual terms, university policies, and risks while ensuring appropriate protections for intellectual property, publication rights, liability, and confidentiality.
Maintains accurate use of contract management systems while ensuring review turnaround, signature deadlines and service delivery expectations are met.
Reports on progress and proactively identifies potential risks to reporting timelines and deliverables.
Ensures contracts align with university’s policies, ethical standards and applicable laws and regulations, formatting agreements for consistency, clarity and accuracy.
Identifies and contributes to internal processes regarding the development, revision, and implementation of standard operating procedures, workflows, and checklists to promote compliance and improve process quality.
Provides strategic operational guidance and project management to ensure efficient contract execution, including delegation of tasks as needed.
Contributes to national working group initiatives promoting best practices in research contract review and administration.
Other duties as required in support of the department and/or unit.
Required Education
Four-Year Bachelor Degree or equivalent. In addition, requires trade certification, qualification, or on-going learning to remain ahead of changes in technology or emerging fields.
Required Experience
More than 5 years of experience.
Experience working in a general legal environment considered an asset
Experience in contract management including one or a combination of drafting, negotiating, executing, and/or amending contracts is considered an asset.
Knowledge of relevant laws, regulations, policies, standards and/or guidelines considered an asset.
Experience in writing, interviewing, reviewing, editing and/or proofreading internal and/or external communications and documents considered an asset (e.g., social media, policy manuals, newsletters, handbooks, legal documents, forms/templates, blogs, training/reference materials, technical documents, webinars, etc.).
Consideration may be given to an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Job Knowledge and Requirements
Knowledge of concepts and principles in a specialist field that is typically acquired through a combination of advanced professional or academic qualifications and/or significant work experience.
Provide expert advice, guidance and consultation on highly complex issues and/or where the outcome may be contentious.
Interaction with others requires highly developed interpersonal skills to effectively persuade, negotiate, counsel, and/or consult.
Adapt messages to meet the different needs of different audiences.
Prioritize and distribute work to deliver objectives on time and to the highest standard.
Identify in advance when the intended results may not be achieved and develops a plan to address the gaps.
Lead team and project meetings and develop team/unit and departmental project plans.
Lead procedural or technological change within a unit or across broader university functions.
Identify opportunities to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of work processes.
Anticipate complex challenges to ensure activities are completed on time.
Effectively leverage relevant data as input to making decisions.
Appropriately assess risks before making a decision.
Comprehensive understanding of what sexual violence, harassment and discrimination are, and their varying effects on diverse members of the community.
Question and take appropriate steps to address attitudes, macroaggressions and other behaviours which are discriminatory. Acknowledges and respects diverse cultural traditions, abilities and beliefs.
A Brief Overview
As a member of the Grants and Contracts team in Research Services, Vice Principal Research portfolio (the Portfolio), the Research Contracts Officer plays a critical role in supporting the research mission at Queen's University by reviewing, drafting, and executing research contracts between Queen's University and external partners/collaborators. With direction from and reporting to senior management in Research Services, the incumbent will also hold responsibility for supporting and collaborating with in-house Legal Counsel. Working in close collaboration with faculty members to deliver research contracts that support their research program goals, the Research Contracts Officer ensures contract terms and conditions align with Queen's policies, legal requirements, and funder guidelines. The Research Contracts Officer will lead the end-to-end process of timely contract development, review and execution, and will escalate high risk or complex agreements. The Research Contract Officer works in a team environment alongside members of the Grants and Contracts team and supports colleagues across the Portfolio in the shared mission to deliver high quality customer service. The Research Contracts Officer is a key leader who provides expertise on triaging contractual issues, and is a central resource that provides training and mentorship for other Research Services staff while keeping their own training up-to-date for emerging issues impacting the research enterprise.
This position drafts and reviews research agreements, ensuring that contracts align with university policies, ethical standards and applicable laws and regulations. This position liaises with affiliated hospital partners, research centers, institutes and groups and supports principal investigators and staff in understanding contractual terms, university policies and risks. This position also identifies and contributes to internal processes and provides strategic operational guidance and project management to ensure efficient contract execution.
What you will do
Drafts and reviews research agreements for the university, escalating contractual clauses of concern, complex or high risk files to Legal Counsel or senior leadership.
Liaises with affiliated hospital partners, research centers, institutes and groups to ensure all contracts and processes are aligned with expectations, compliance, legal and funding term requirements.
In collaboration with Legal Counsel, advise principal investigators and staff on contractual terms, university policies, and risks while ensuring appropriate protections for intellectual property, publication rights, liability, and confidentiality.
Maintains accurate use of contract management systems while ensuring review turnaround, signature deadlines and service delivery expectations are met.
Reports on progress and proactively identifies potential risks to reporting timelines and deliverables.
Ensures contracts align with university’s policies, ethical standards and applicable laws and regulations, formatting agreements for consistency, clarity and accuracy.
Identifies and contributes to internal processes regarding the development, revision, and implementation of standard operating procedures, workflows, and checklists to promote compliance and improve process quality.
Provides strategic operational guidance and project management to ensure efficient contract execution, including delegation of tasks as needed.
Contributes to national working group initiatives promoting best practices in research contract review and administration.
Other duties as required in support of the department and/or unit.
Required Education
Four-Year Bachelor Degree or equivalent. In addition, requires trade certification, qualification, or on-going learning to remain ahead of changes in technology or emerging fields.
Required Experience
More than 5 years of experience.
Experience working in a general legal environment considered an asset
Experience in contract management including one or a combination of drafting, negotiating, executing, and/or amending contracts is considered an asset.
Knowledge of relevant laws, regulations, policies, standards and/or guidelines considered an asset.
Experience in writing, interviewing, reviewing, editing and/or proofreading internal and/or external communications and documents considered an asset (e.g., social media, policy manuals, newsletters, handbooks, legal documents, forms/templates, blogs, training/reference materials, technical documents, webinars, etc.).
Consideration may be given to an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Job Knowledge and Requirements
Knowledge of concepts and principles in a specialist field that is typically acquired through a combination of advanced professional or academic qualifications and/or significant work experience.
Provide expert advice, guidance and consultation on highly complex issues and/or where the outcome may be contentious.
Interaction with others requires highly developed interpersonal skills to effectively persuade, negotiate, counsel, and/or consult.
Adapt messages to meet the different needs of different audiences.
Prioritize and distribute work to deliver objectives on time and to the highest standard.
Identify in advance when the intended results may not be achieved and develops a plan to address the gaps.
Lead team and project meetings and develop team/unit and departmental project plans.
Lead procedural or technological change within a unit or across broader university functions.
Identify opportunities to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of work processes.
Anticipate complex challenges to ensure activities are completed on time.
Effectively leverage relevant data as input to making decisions.
Appropriately assess risks before making a decision.
Comprehensive understanding of what sexual violence, harassment and discrimination are, and their varying effects on diverse members of the community.
Question and take appropriate steps to address attitudes, macroaggressions and other behaviours which are discriminatory. Acknowledges and respects diverse cultural traditions, abilities and beliefs.
Queen's University
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Reporting to General Counsel and taking direction from the Senior Legal Counsel, the Legal Counsel is an in-house position located in the Office of the University Secretariat and Legal Counsel. The Legal Counsel will support the work of the Office of Legal Counsel. This position will provide counsel, legal advice and guidance on a broad range of complex issues to many diverse stakeholders across the University, including: academic Faculties, Schools, Departments and Units; the Office of Advancement; Budgeting & Planning; Financial Services; Human Resources Services; Facilities; Research Services; Risk & Safety Services; and, other university clients and stakeholders, while protecting the legal interests of the University. Legal Counsel will provide timely and effective advice to multiple university participants about compliance in key areas of university responsibility, with demonstrated expertise in administrative law and litigation matters, as this position has a particular emphasis on supporting university operations related to academic and non-academic issues such as student appeals, human rights, accommodations, student placement and affiliation agreements, academic integrity, student conduct, insurance matters and issues related to workplace law. This will include providing a full range of legal and policy advice to senior management, academic administrators, faculty and staff, and to academic and non- academic decision-makers. The incumbent will work with senior administrators, faculty and staff to contribute in developing and updating a broad range of policies and procedures regarding operational issues pertaining to the University and its affiliated entities, and may include workplace issues, trademark and other IP protection and other matters within the scope of University Counsel’s service level commitments.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Work closely with Counsel in the unit to provide sound strategic legal advice to the university community, based on subject- matter expertise in administrative, human rights, insurance, litigation and labour and employment law, as well as other areas affecting university operations.
Monitor, review and provide practical and unbiased advice and representation on procedural and contractual arrangements.
Ensure the provision of expert, timely, practical, effective and consistent legal advice to clients within the university community and ensure consistency in decision-making processes.
Serve as a trusted partner with General Counsel and with senior management, Departmental leaders, and academic administrators.
Engage in meaningful efforts to understand the diverse academic, research and operational needs of the University.
Provide clear, accurate assessment of legal issues and risks while respecting business judgment and decision-making authority of university administrators.
Represent the university’s interests on procedural and substantive matters.
Provide strategic advice concerning dispute and conflict resolution.
Conduct thorough and objective research, providing information and effective recommendations to Counsel and other university clients.
Participate on committees and working groups as assigned, representing the Office of the University Secretariat and Legal Counsel in a professional manner that builds relationships, encourages inter-departmental collaboration and promotes the University’s strategic goals.
Determine the need for, develop and deliver, training programs to university clients as appropriate.
Liaise with external counsel, provide litigation support and management.
As appropriate, represent the university’s interests before courts and administrative tribunals.
Participate in professional development to maintain knowledge of changes to relevant laws and regulations, working with key stakeholders to understand the operational and procedural impacts such changes may have on the university.
Perform other duties as assigned.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
A law degree (LLB or JD), from an accredited Canadian university, and member in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario.
A minimum of 5 years of experience practicing law, including at least 3 years’ prior experience in administrative law, working with a variety of public and private sector clients, with some experience with the not-for-profit and charitable sector.
Previous exposure to human rights, litigation, insurance, and labour and employment law would be an asset.
A breadth of general legal knowledge across a variety of fields.
Proven success in providing fair and impartial legal guidance regarding complex issues.
Prior experience in developing policies and procedures/guidelines in a private or public sector organization.
Experience in dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration, and enforcement of policies and procedures/guidelines.
Prior legal experience in a post-secondary education setting would be an asset.
An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered for this role.
SPECIAL SKILLS:
Ability to cultivate and maintain productive and collaborative relationships with the University Secretariat and Legal Counsel team, with a broad range of university clients including academics, students, staff, senior administrations, and with external legal consultants.
Excellent facilitation and mediation skills, with the ability to use these skills to develop solutions that ethically, tactfully and diplomatically respond to the needs and expectations of diverse groups at all levels.
Sound judgment and discretion when dealing with confidential and sensitive issues, and the ability to recognize when it is necessary to escalate issues.
Ability to swiftly prioritize matters and to and manage multiple, competing short and long-term projects, and to shift quickly between substantive areas of law.
Excellent communication skills: listening, written and verbal, and the ability to adjust communication style to specific audiences.
Possess high standards of ethics and integrity as demonstrated by having the ability to make and communicate difficult decisions and the ability to deliver difficult messages in sensitive situations, while maintaining trust and strong working relationships with colleagues and clients.
Exceptional ability to draft accurate, complete contracts and persuasive legal documents such as legal opinions and responses, position statements, legal briefs and correspondence.
Proven record of commitment to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion.
Strong administrative, organizational and time management skills.
Ability to work with a variety of software tools including spreadsheets, databases, document management tools, and internet/legal search engines.
DECISION MAKING:
Facilitates complex decision-making processes, leveraging all identified clients and stakeholders.
Determines type and level of information required to support decision-making.
Makes effective recommendations to Counsel in the unit and others concerning university policies and procedures.
Provides expert advice and effective recommendations to university decision-makers.
Set and direct own work, ensuring task due dates are aligned with portfolio and unit priorities and/or deadlines.
Make decisions on completeness of all related process tasks aligned with portfolio and unit priorities.
Determines appropriate learning strategy when developing training documents or delivering training programs.
Assign work to administrative support staff as appropriate.
Reporting to General Counsel and taking direction from the Senior Legal Counsel, the Legal Counsel is an in-house position located in the Office of the University Secretariat and Legal Counsel. The Legal Counsel will support the work of the Office of Legal Counsel. This position will provide counsel, legal advice and guidance on a broad range of complex issues to many diverse stakeholders across the University, including: academic Faculties, Schools, Departments and Units; the Office of Advancement; Budgeting & Planning; Financial Services; Human Resources Services; Facilities; Research Services; Risk & Safety Services; and, other university clients and stakeholders, while protecting the legal interests of the University. Legal Counsel will provide timely and effective advice to multiple university participants about compliance in key areas of university responsibility, with demonstrated expertise in administrative law and litigation matters, as this position has a particular emphasis on supporting university operations related to academic and non-academic issues such as student appeals, human rights, accommodations, student placement and affiliation agreements, academic integrity, student conduct, insurance matters and issues related to workplace law. This will include providing a full range of legal and policy advice to senior management, academic administrators, faculty and staff, and to academic and non- academic decision-makers. The incumbent will work with senior administrators, faculty and staff to contribute in developing and updating a broad range of policies and procedures regarding operational issues pertaining to the University and its affiliated entities, and may include workplace issues, trademark and other IP protection and other matters within the scope of University Counsel’s service level commitments.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Work closely with Counsel in the unit to provide sound strategic legal advice to the university community, based on subject- matter expertise in administrative, human rights, insurance, litigation and labour and employment law, as well as other areas affecting university operations.
Monitor, review and provide practical and unbiased advice and representation on procedural and contractual arrangements.
Ensure the provision of expert, timely, practical, effective and consistent legal advice to clients within the university community and ensure consistency in decision-making processes.
Serve as a trusted partner with General Counsel and with senior management, Departmental leaders, and academic administrators.
Engage in meaningful efforts to understand the diverse academic, research and operational needs of the University.
Provide clear, accurate assessment of legal issues and risks while respecting business judgment and decision-making authority of university administrators.
Represent the university’s interests on procedural and substantive matters.
Provide strategic advice concerning dispute and conflict resolution.
Conduct thorough and objective research, providing information and effective recommendations to Counsel and other university clients.
Participate on committees and working groups as assigned, representing the Office of the University Secretariat and Legal Counsel in a professional manner that builds relationships, encourages inter-departmental collaboration and promotes the University’s strategic goals.
Determine the need for, develop and deliver, training programs to university clients as appropriate.
Liaise with external counsel, provide litigation support and management.
As appropriate, represent the university’s interests before courts and administrative tribunals.
Participate in professional development to maintain knowledge of changes to relevant laws and regulations, working with key stakeholders to understand the operational and procedural impacts such changes may have on the university.
Perform other duties as assigned.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
A law degree (LLB or JD), from an accredited Canadian university, and member in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario.
A minimum of 5 years of experience practicing law, including at least 3 years’ prior experience in administrative law, working with a variety of public and private sector clients, with some experience with the not-for-profit and charitable sector.
Previous exposure to human rights, litigation, insurance, and labour and employment law would be an asset.
A breadth of general legal knowledge across a variety of fields.
Proven success in providing fair and impartial legal guidance regarding complex issues.
Prior experience in developing policies and procedures/guidelines in a private or public sector organization.
Experience in dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration, and enforcement of policies and procedures/guidelines.
Prior legal experience in a post-secondary education setting would be an asset.
An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered for this role.
SPECIAL SKILLS:
Ability to cultivate and maintain productive and collaborative relationships with the University Secretariat and Legal Counsel team, with a broad range of university clients including academics, students, staff, senior administrations, and with external legal consultants.
Excellent facilitation and mediation skills, with the ability to use these skills to develop solutions that ethically, tactfully and diplomatically respond to the needs and expectations of diverse groups at all levels.
Sound judgment and discretion when dealing with confidential and sensitive issues, and the ability to recognize when it is necessary to escalate issues.
Ability to swiftly prioritize matters and to and manage multiple, competing short and long-term projects, and to shift quickly between substantive areas of law.
Excellent communication skills: listening, written and verbal, and the ability to adjust communication style to specific audiences.
Possess high standards of ethics and integrity as demonstrated by having the ability to make and communicate difficult decisions and the ability to deliver difficult messages in sensitive situations, while maintaining trust and strong working relationships with colleagues and clients.
Exceptional ability to draft accurate, complete contracts and persuasive legal documents such as legal opinions and responses, position statements, legal briefs and correspondence.
Proven record of commitment to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion.
Strong administrative, organizational and time management skills.
Ability to work with a variety of software tools including spreadsheets, databases, document management tools, and internet/legal search engines.
DECISION MAKING:
Facilitates complex decision-making processes, leveraging all identified clients and stakeholders.
Determines type and level of information required to support decision-making.
Makes effective recommendations to Counsel in the unit and others concerning university policies and procedures.
Provides expert advice and effective recommendations to university decision-makers.
Set and direct own work, ensuring task due dates are aligned with portfolio and unit priorities and/or deadlines.
Make decisions on completeness of all related process tasks aligned with portfolio and unit priorities.
Determines appropriate learning strategy when developing training documents or delivering training programs.
Assign work to administrative support staff as appropriate.
