The Office of the University Counsel at the University of Virginia (UVA) seeks an individual to serve as a Contract Review Officer reporting to Deputy University Counsel, Rob Tyler. This full-time position will review proposed agreements arising within the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost and the Office of the Vice President for Finance.  University Counsel provides legal representation to the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia in all legal and regulatory matters and provides advice and counsel to the Board of Visitors, the President, executive officers, and other administrators, faculty, and staff in their official capacities.   

University Counsel engages in the active preventative practice of law, helps facilitate the accomplishment of larger institutional objectives, and aggressively advocates the University’s position in all administrative, state and federal litigation, and/or closely monitors efforts of the Virginia Attorney General’s Office and appointed special counsel.  

The ideal candidate will possess a demonstrated ability to recognize and weigh business and legal risks, think strategically, communicate effectively with stakeholders, and advance practical solutions. This candidate will have a deep knowledge and understanding of contracting processes, possess expertise in interpreting applicable policies, documenting complex contractual and non-traditional business arrangements, and have a keen ability to effectively manage a high volume of time-sensitive priority tasks across multiple stakeholder groups.  

The Contract Review Officer will be primarily responsible for:  

• Logging and tracking each request for contract review from initial request to final approval; 

• Reviewing and analyzing proposed agreements for compliance with applicable laws and University policies; 

• Revising documents to ensure conformity with applicable laws, policies, and client needs, and negotiating with external parties when needed to achieve a satisfactory result; 

• Addressing complex contract problems and providing resolutions for contract negotiations; 

• Assisting with the development of contract templates, alternative language for problematic clauses, and standard vendor service terms and conditions upon request; 

• Interfacing with the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost (including EVPP units and schools) and the Office of the Vice President for Finance to review and provide negotiation assistance for Academic Division procurement contracts (including purchasing agreements, information technology licenses, subscriptions and service agreements, non-disclosure agreements, and data use agreements) and academic program agreements (including contracts concerning inter-institutional academic collaboration, faculty or student exchange programs, visiting scholars, and academic service agreements); 

• Ensuring that contract terms are written in language that is legally binding and in accordance with the desires of the client; 

• Helping the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost and the Office of the Vice President for Finance make informed decisions by providing insight into contractual terms and conditions, identifying potential risks associated with accepting contract language, and mitigating or otherwise addressing identified risks through use of the appropriate contractual risk allocation provisions 

• Working with a high degree of autonomy, including spotting common legal issues and knowing when to consult an attorney in the Office of University Counsel for legal advice and guidance, and spotting common operational and business issues, and knowing when to flag for staff in the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost or Vice President for Finance; 

• Maintaining knowledge of how to effectively use available legal research tools to achieve the required results; 

• Assisting with the development and enhancement of educational materials, resources and guidance documents or provide training to internal clients upon request; 

• Other duties as assigned 

Qualified candidates must have a bachelor's degree with at least five years of job-related experience or a combination of education and relevant experience in increasingly responsible roles. A Juris Doctor (JD) degree, extensive experience negotiating complex agreements and/or eight years of experience with state and federal government contracts, procurement statutes, and regulations, including the Virginia Public Procurement Act and Restructured Higher Education Financial and Administrative Operations Act, is strongly preferred. 

Qualifications: 

• Superior written and oral English communication, drafting, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills. Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with University faculty, staff, counsel, and opposing parties. Active listening and professional presentation skills. 

• Expert-level knowledge of various contract types, procurement methods, and contract provisions. Experience with academic program agreements, data security standards, privacy laws, and legal/technical standards for digital accessibility (e.g., ADA, Section 508, WCAG) is strongly preferred 

• Proven ability to negotiate complex agreements that drive cost savings, while identifying, analyzing, and resolving problems creatively in a fast-paced environment. 

• Exceptional organizational, project management, multitasking, and time management skills. Ability to adapt to changing, high-volume environments while maintaining a focus on strategic business needs. Strong capacity to make balanced decisions, even under tight, time-sensitive deadlines and incomplete information. 

• Proven ability to partner effectively with colleagues across diverse teams, departments, and stakeholders, including University leadership, to support academic partnerships and revenue-generating opportunities. 

• Keen eye for detail, accountable for results, and dedicated to the highest standards of honesty, quality, and integrity. Organized in managing documents and information, with a logical, analytical approach to deriving conclusions and recommendations. 

This position will be remote or hybrid and is located in Charlottesville, VA 

Anticipated Hiring Range: $100,000-120,000 commensurate with education and experience. This is an Exempt level, benefited position.  For more information on the benefits at UVA, visit hr.virginia.edu/benefits.  

This position will remain open until filled.  This position will not sponsor applicants for work visas. The University will perform background checks on all new hires prior to employment.   

To Apply:  

Please apply through UVA job board and search for R0065906. Internal applicants must apply through their UVA Workday profile by searching 'Find Jobs'.   Complete an application online with the following documents: 

• CV 

• Cover letter 

Upload all materials into the resume submission field, multiple documents can be submitted into this one field. Alternatively, merge all documents into one PDF for submission.  Applications that do not contain all required documents will not receive full consideration.  

References will be completed via UVA’s standardized process Skill Survey.  A total of five references will be requested via SkillSurvey during the final phase of the interview process.