Contracting Officer

Become an integral member of an energetic team of intellectual property and legal professionals dedicated to supporting life sciences research. The J. David Gladstone Institutes, a nonprofit biomedical research organization located in San Francisco, CA, is seeking an experienced, resourceful, dependable, task-driven, and team-oriented individual to join its Intellectual Property & Legal Affairs Department as a Contracting Officer. (This position is full-time and can be effectively remote. Accordingly, interested individuals from across the country are encouraged to apply.)

The Contracting Officer will be mainly responsible for providing legal services to internal clients, particularly to the Grants Department, including drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contract and grant agreement terms related to government and nongovernment sponsors, including other research institutions, higher education, foundations, industry, and private individuals; serve as signing official for subawards; identify, interpret, summarize, and address contractual, policy, compliance, and conflict of interest provisions and issues for principal investigators, department administrators, and other personnel; handle other legal agreements and projects for IP & Legal Affairs Department; collaborate and develop close working relationships with Grants and Director of Compliance; perform work under general supervision of the Director of the Department, and with minimal assistance of other Department members; use independent judgment to address inquires, conduct projects, and generate work product; educate members of Department and Grants on federal research policies and compliance; take initiative to learn and keep up to date on relevant legal and compliance areas and Gladstone science, research, policies, processes, and business matters and operations.

In addition to excellent communication, writing, and organization skills, the successful candidate will operate as an independent professional while embracing a small department culture within an inclusive Gladstone team. This position requires the ability to: prioritize, manage, and execute multiple projects of varying complexity; interface with different types of stakeholders; and exercise practical and sound judgment.

Gladstone Perks & Benefits:

• People–work with talented, committed, and supportive teammates within an organization that values each member of its community.

• A meaningful place to grow and learn–whether it’s your professional skills or scientific knowledge, we have the resources and environment to advance either so you can better support Gladstone’s mission to drive a new era of discovery in disease-oriented science and to mentor tomorrow’s leaders in an inspiring and diverse environment.

• Healthy work/life balance–you are highly engaged and productive at work because you can have time to recharge and enjoy a vibrant life outside of work.

• Compensation–competitive salary and paid vacation.

• Excellent benefits–generous medical, dental, vision, retirement plan, and commuter benefits; access to free shuttle transportation.

General Responsibilities:

• Review, draft, and negotiate contract grant and funding agreements/provisions as assigned.


• Provide advice/counsel on federal research policies, as well as government, foundation, and institutional/academic policies, and interpret various research funding agreement terms, etc.


• Supply contract, grant, and funding information to Department and Grants in support of patent filings and sponsor reporting.

• Attend seminars, workshops, and programs to advance and broaden skills, in coordination with the Director

• Miscellaneous legal projects and assignments as distributed within the department.
  

Required Skills:

• Professional-level execution and interpersonal relationship management and communication skills, including excellent grammar, proofreading, and editing skills.

• Detail-oriented self-starter who is resourceful and can, or quickly become able to, work with minimal supervision.

• Excellent organization and independent problem-solving and analytical skills.

• Consistently uses good judgment, meets tight deadlines, and shows initiative.

• High level of professionalism and accountability.

Requirements:

• JD degree highly preferred. Other graduate degrees will be considered if accompanied by significant experience with federal grants, contracts, and sponsor funded agreements.

• Minimum of 4 years of experience with federal grants, contracts, and sponsor-funded agreements.

• At least 8 years of experience working in a professional, fast-paced office environment, such as a legal department, law firm, or in academic administration.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Word/Excel/PowerPoint and willingness to learn new software applications and systems as needed.

• Candidates who possess a J.D. must be a member of the Bar in good standing in at least one state in the U.S. (CA preferred).

• Title and salary will be commensurate with education and experience.
• Gladstone is an equal opportunity employer.