Research Contracts Officer

Skilled in contract negotiation and ready to hit the ground running? Enjoy navigating detail, risk, and stakeholder needs with confidence? Looking for a hybrid role where your input makes real impact from day one? Signature Recruitment is looking for a Research Contracts Officer on behalf of a respected London university.

This full-time hybrid role is offered on a 3-6 month basis, requiring three days a week on site and the remainder remote. You’ll step into a high-impact role with autonomy, managing your own contracts portfolio and supporting key research activity.

This is an excellent opportunity to strengthen your experience in a fast-paced, research-focused environment. You’ll gain exposure to a wide range of agreements and build valuable skills in contract negotiation, compliance, and research administration.

• Draft, review, and negotiate NDAs, Material Transfer Agreements, and Data Sharing Agreements using internal templates
• Provide clear advice on key terms including confidentiality, intellectual property, risk, and licensing
• Liaise with internal teams, legal advisors, and external stakeholders to progress contracts efficiently
• Use contract management systems to track progress and ensure timely completion
• Align agreements with institutional policy and funder terms (e.g. UKRI, charities, industry)
• Support improvements to contract templates, processes, and documentation consistency

• Experience in contracts, legal support, or research administration, ideally in Higher Education
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex terms clearly
• Confident managing multiple agreements independently and meeting deadlines
• Familiarity with research funders such as UKRI, industry partners, or charitable bodies
• Detail-oriented with excellent organisational and time management abilities
• Comfortable using contract management systems and working with established templates

Sound like the right fit? Apply today or reach out to the Signature team to find out more.

While we aim to respond to every applicant, the volume of applications may result in delayed communication. If you do not receive a response within a week, your application may not have been successful on this occasion. However, we will keep your details for potential future opportunities.

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