Contract Manager, Office of Research Administration

Engineering a world of possibilities Mines Office of Research Administration is seeking our next Contract Manager. This leadership position is responsible for the management of research and other sponsored agreements through the Office of Research Administration (ORA) at Colorado School of Mines (Mines). This position is a key member of the Contract Administration unit and serves as a resource to faculty and a liaison for Mines and sponsoring research organizations. The Contract Manager will serve as a lead resource to faculty and administrators in the administration of all sponsored research, specifically in interpreting and negotiating sponsored project. As our Contract Manager, youll oversee our team of Contract Administrators. Youll also be responsible for maintaining an accurate database of research agreements which will be accessed by ORA and other organizations on campus, including individual faculty members, department heads, deans and central administration. This position requires critical thinking skills to review and interpret terms and conditions, policies and procedures, sponsor expectations and is responsible for determining that a research agreement is ready for execution. This position currently operates in a hybrid work environment, with campus presence required weekly. The incumbent must be able to commute to campus in Golden, Colorado, on a regular basis. Primary Responsibilities Contract and Grant Review and Negotiation Identify issues and present solutions and approaches for resolution; develop creative solutions to complex contract issues Asist with and work on Special Projects based on Mines large-scale and strategic initiatives Review sponsored agreements, both initial and modifications from external organizations. Analyze the agreement to determine if the terms and conditions meet federal and state regulations. Negotiate unacceptable terms with research sponsor by suggesting or insisting on alternative language or deletion of certain agency terms and conditions. Determine if additional Mines personnel need to be advised of terms and conditions of an award and if their approval is required in order to accept the award. Review and evaluate intellectual property (IP) terms in sponsored agreements and make determinations on the appropriate IP approach, working with faculty to protect institutional and sponsor intellectual property interests. Contract and Grant Management Determine if changes to a research project require prior approval from the projects sponsor. If prior approval is required, this position will coordinate with the faculty member to create and submit the change request. Submit and approve requests for no-cost time extensions, budget deviations, and pre-award spending based on sponsor requirements Perform initial reviews on deficit spending requests (currently, At-Risk Spending Requests) to determine if the financial risk to Mines is acceptable under current policy and practices. If issues arise during the performance of a research project, this position will work with the applicable faculty members, ORA staff members, other departments and/or project sponsor, as applicable, to address such concerns. Subcontracts Responsible for initiating, negotiating and managing research subcontracts. This includes a review of the subcontractors proposal; determining which subcontract template is applicable, determining the applicable prime contract flow-down terms and conditions; negotiating, if necessary, the drafted subcontract; maintaining subcontract documentation to meet audit requirements; and manage annual review of subrecipients. Work with applicable departments to establish the payment mechanisms for subcontractor invoices. Contract Team Manager With support from the Assistant Director, the Contract Manager will have direct supervision of the Contract Administration unit, 4-8 Full Time Employees, with the authority to hire, evaluate performance, and resolve personnel concerns. Determine work prioritization by evaluating workloads, deadlines, complexity of the work load, School policy and staff resources. To facilitate these functions, this position will build standard and ad hoc reports to provide performance metric data. Establish a work environment in which participation, respect and excellence are fostered. Establish and promote and manage professional relationships and open communications among all departments. Promote team building, strong collaborative and people-oriented environment with a strong work ethic among team members. Acts to resolve complex administrative or legal questions or issues that arise and coordinates with and escalates to Assistant Director and/or ORA Director on resolution, as needed and as appropriate. Responsible for creating and maintaining efficient policies and procedures for the Contracting unit. This will require continuous evaluation of processes, researching best practices, analyzing contracting data and statics and performing regular risk assessments. Provides expertise and consultation related to regulatory and policy issues for successful management of research projects to ORA staff, departmental administrators and faculty. Remains knowledgeable about current federal regulations, pending changes, OMB Circulars, Federal Acquisition Regulations, state of Colorado regulations and school policy. Assist in the maintenance of ORAs Research Management software and the Schools financial system; specifically, with regards to contractual and legal information. Ensure there are adequate training materials and coordinate with other campus offices and faculty on process changes. Institutional Data Repository Work with the data repository team to implement and maintain the software with regards to contracts unit Responsible for ensuring accurate data is entered into the data repository Upload all fully executed agreements, modifications, and sponsor prior approvals into the system. Work with the data repository team to implement and maintain the software with regards to contracts unit Communication & Outreach Maintain communication with faculty to ensure all information for sponsored research agreement is outlined along with the process to negotiate the agreement. Effective communication is critical to success of this position. Interpret and explain federal, state, and Mines regulations and policies to faculty and other Mines personnel in order to help them understand the contracting process and how the regulations apply to individual agreements. Ongoing contact with sponsoring agencies and other external personnel for the purpose of agreement negotiation and management including outline of Mines policies, business practices, and other applicable regulations. Training & Process Improvement Provide formal and informal training to faculty members and departmental staff regarding school policy and procedures and sponsoring agency rules and regulations in relation to negotiating and accepting a sponsored research agreement. Provide support to Contract Administration unit, particularly regarding University initiatives and Special Projects Actively participate in office wide process evaluation and reengineering efforts. Critically evaluate process and procedures with a goal of efficiency and optimal resource utilization. Make recommendations for improvements to management and lead improvement efforts if approved. Minimum Qualifications Bachelor's Degree in business or other related field 8 or more years research administration experience Working knowledge of federal and state regulations related to research administration Excellent communication skills (oral and written) with the ability to discuss complex contract issues with a multitude of stakeholders Problem solving and analyzation skills with prove ability to critically analyze information in order to make independent decisions Demonstrated customer service skills, the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a campus community and ability to meet multiple, competing deadlines Preferred Qualifications Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree Significant (10+ years) contract negotiation experience Experience with data analysis Thorough knowledge of federal regulations governing sponsored research Familiarity with university policies regarding contracting, procurement, or research funding Salary and Benefits $96,400 - $107,200 annually Mines takes into consideration a combination of candidates education, training and experience as well as the positions scope and complexity, the discretion and latitude required in the role, work location, and external market and internal value when determining a salary level for potential new employees. Colorado School of Mines offers a robust portfolio of benefits for all employees. For this role, that includes: Flexible health and dental care options Generous sick/vacation time: 13 paid holidays per year including a week-long winter break for entire campus. Fully vested retirement plan on first day of employment, with generous employer contribution Tuition benefits (6 credits per year for employees, 50 percent discount for dependents) Free RTD Ecopass All Mines employees also have access to discount programs through the State of Colorado and free tickets for Mines Athletics home games, as well as access to the state of the art Recreation Center (fitness classes and training, swimming pool and more) and equipment rentals through the Outdoor Rec Center. We are proud to have recently opened an on campus daycare center. For more details about benefits at Mines, visit mines.edu/human-resources/benefits. How to Apply Complete an online application (personal information, demographic information, veteran status) Upload a resume or CV Upload a cover letter Candidates must be currently authorized to work in the United States. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. This posting may be used to fill more than one vacancy based on business needs. References will not be contacted until later in the selection process and you will be informed before that contact is made. Application review will begin April 27, 2026. This posting will remain open until filled and may close without notice. For best consideration, apply by April 26, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. as applications received after that date may not be reviewed. Successful Completion of a Background Investigation is Required for this Position. About Mines & Golden, CO When the world looks for answers, the world looks to Mines. Colorado School of Mines is a top-ranked public university solving the grand challenges facing our society, particularly those related to the Earth, energy and the environment. Founded in 1874 with specialties in mining and metallurgy, Mines scope and mission have continually expanded to meet the needs of industry and society. Today, we are the No. 36 public university in the nation, recognized for our innovation and undergraduate teaching in science, technology engineering and math (U.S. News and World Report, 2025). Mines graduates are change makers, boundary breakers and problem solvers. Since our earliest days, a Mines education has been and continues to be a transformational opportunity, with one of the strongest returns on investment out there for talented STEM students of all backgrounds. At the same time, Mines faculty members are pushing their fields in new directions, whether thats manufacturing, space resources, quantum engineering, carbon capture or more. Mines was recently classified as a R1 Very High Activity research institution by Carnegie, a notable feat for any university but particularly one of our size. That size roughly 8,200 undergraduate and graduate students also translates to a close-knit campus community, where employees have opportunities to get involved in multiple ways, continued professional learning is valued and everyone can make an impact. Community Alliance groups bring together employees for professional development, networking, and community involvement, and all Mines employees also have access to the wealth of activities happening every day on campus nationally-renowned speakers, special events and Mines traditions like Engineering Days, just to name a few. And dont get us started on our hometown. We are located in the heart of Golden, Colorado --with its charming historic downtown and nearby hiking trails and in close proximity to all that Denver and the Rocky Mountains have to offer. That includes the sunny, high-altitude climate and outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities that make the Denver area an ideal place to live, work and play. Are you looking for an inspiring, mission-driven workplace where you can contribute to solving the worlds problems and educating the next generation of change makers? Are you an individual who values a community where our individual perspectives and experiences enrich the educational and work experience? Look to Mines. Additional Information and Reasonable Accommodation Requests It is the intent of Mines to comply with the applicable requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008, and their implementation rules and regulations, in support of equal opportunities for qualified applicants with disabilities. To meet this goal, Mines will make reasonable accommodations during the employment selection process and within our working environment. If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on our site as a result of your disability. You can request a reasonable accommodation by contacting our Human Resources team at hr@mines.edu or 303.273.3250 for assistance. Successful completion of a background investigation is required for this position. Equal Opportunity Colorado School of Mines is committed to equal opportunity for all persons. Mines does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), ancestry, creed, marital status, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status or current military service. Further, Mines does not retaliate against community members for filing complaints regarding or implicating any of these protected statuses. Mines commitment to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and equal access is reflected in the administration of its policies, procedures, programs and activities and in its efforts to achieve a talented student body and workforce. Through its policies, procedures and resources, Mines complies with federal law, Colorado state law, administrative regulations, executive orders and other legal requirements to prevent discrimination (including harassment or retaliation) within the Mines campus community and to address potential allegations of inequality or concerns for safety. Colorado's premier engineering and applied science university for 150 years and counting We are pleased that you have interest in exploring career opportunities at Mines. Founded in 1874, Mines has an international reputation for excellence in engineering and applied sciences. We are committed to serving the people of Colorado, our nation and the global community in the development and stewardship of the Earths resources. WHY CHOOSE MINES? Mines is consistently ranked among the top engineering colleges in the United States and ranks number one as the best public school in the state for best value colleges. Mines is located in the heart of Golden, Colorado, a western suburb of Denver. The campus location offers a small-town ambiance with close proximity to all that the Denver metropolitan area has to offer with an abundance of cultural events, museums, theaters and sporting venues. An arid climate and an average 300 days of sunshine per year make the area an ideal place to live, work and play. We seek individuals who value a diverse and inclusive community offering different perspectives, experiences, and cultures that enrich the educational and work experience. Come explore the possibilities!