Contract Review Officer, Office of the University Counsel

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, Matthew Connors. This full-time position will review proposed agreements arising within the Office of the Executive Vice President for Health Affairs and Medical Center. 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, document 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 and Medical Center 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 UVA Health, Medical Center, and department leadership to review and provide negotiation assistance for Medical Center procurement contracts (including purchasing agreements, information technology licenses, subscriptions and service agreements, non-disclosure agreements, and data use agreements) and clinical and administrative services agreements with internal and external partners
• Ensuring that the terms of contractual agreements are written in language that is legally binding and in accordance with the desires of the client
• Helping UVA Health, Medical Center, and department leadership 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
• Working with a high degree of autonomy, including spotting common operational and business issues, and knowing when to flag for staff in the Office of the Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, UVA Health, Medical Center, or applicable department
• 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 providing training to internal clients upon request
• Other duties as assigned
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree
• Experience: Five years of grant and contract experience. Four additional years of experience may be accepted in lieu of degree. Extensive experience negotiating complex agreements is strongly preferred.
• Licensure: Certified Research Administrator (CRA) certification is preferred

Desired Skills

• Knowledge of the law related to commercial contracts and public procurement and contracting, including contract interpretation and negotiation
• Superb organizational and time management skills, strong interpersonal skills, and a keen eye for detail
• Ability to effectively manage a high volume of time-sensitive tasks across multiple stakeholder groups
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with University faculty and staff, counsel, and opposing parties
• Expert-level knowledge of different contract types and contracting methods used in procurement transactions
• Demonstrated ability to support Medical Center partnership agreements and revenue-generating opportunities that fall outside of traditional procurement guidelines and require complex collaboration and broad considerations of diverse stakeholder groups, including University leadership, faculty and staff
• Proven ability to lead process improvement initiatives, including the improvement of templates, processes, and cross-functional workflows and staff training and development
• Experience creatively and pragmatically negotiating complex agreements that lead to cost savings
• Superior written and oral English communication, drafting, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills with a deep understanding of contract provisions and contract structures
• Proven ability to partner effectively with colleagues and clients in a team environment, working across many diverse internal groups, teams, and departments, and adjusting as necessary to adapt to work patterns and processes
• Confidence and ability to quickly identify, analyze, and develop creative and smart solutions to difficult problems and challenges in a demanding, fast-paced environment
• Ability to adapt to a changing environment and focus on the strategic needs of the business
• Exceptional organizational, project management, and multitasking skills with a proven ability to operate independently with limited supervision
• Able to organize documents and electronically stored information in a concise, logical, and analytical manner and to derive conclusions and recommendations that involve subtle and sophisticated judgments

Preferred Qualifications

• A Juris Doctorate degree
• At least 8 years' experience with state and/or federal government contracts law, including procurement statutes and regulations
• Experience with laws related to academic medical centers, health care providers, and public institutions of higher education/Virginia state agencies/state educational agencies
• Experience with fundamental subjects in law including facility and individual health care provider licensure, risk management, third party reimbursement, patient privacy laws, health information technology, bioethical issues, health care fraud and abuse laws, health care transactional matters and services agreements, Medicare and Medicaid compliance, institutional review board matters involving human subject research, FOIA, FERPA, Title IX, constitutional rights, intellectual property, data management, and real estate
• Experience with applicable data security and information assurance standards from a contractual perspective
• Experience with technical and legal standards regarding digital accessibility (e.g., ADA, Section 508, WCAG) from a contractual perspective
• Robust ability to develop and refine contract sourcing strategies and logically interpret diverse data sets to make informed decisions

Desired Competencies

• Ascribe to highest standards of honesty, diligence, quality, and integrity
• Serve as a technical expert and advisor
• Detail-oriented and thorough
• Accountable for results
• Balanced decision-making, making effective decisions and acting appropriately in a timely manner, sometimes with incomplete information and under tight deadlines and pressure
• Strategic focus
• Develop trusted relationships, using diplomacy and conflict-resolution skills
• Think proactively and problem-solve innovatively
• Listen actively, write effectively, and deliver professional presentations

Physical Demands

This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.

The anticipated hiring range is $100,000-$120,000, commensurate with education and experience.

This is an exempt-level, benefited position. Learn more about UVA benefits.

This position is based in Charlottesville, VA, and is eligible for a hybrid schedule, in accordance with UVA's remote work guidelines.

To learn more about UVA and the Charlottesville area, visit UVA Life and Embark CVA.

Application review will begin after January 21, 2026. The anticipated start date is February/March 2026.

Background checks will be conducted on all new hires prior to employment.

This position will not consider candidates who require immigration sponsorship now or in the future.

How to Apply

Please apply online, by searching for requisition number R0079819. Complete an application with the following documents:

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Upload all materials into the resume submission field. You can submit multiple documents into this one field or combine them into one PDF. Applications without all required documents will not receive full consideration.

Internal applicants:Search and apply for jobs on theUVA Internal Careers website.

Reference checks will be completed by UVA's third-party partner, SkillSurvey, during the final phase of the interview. Five references will be requested, with at least three responses required.

For questions about the position, please contact Matt Connors, mconnors@virginia.edu.

For questions about the application process, please contact Jessica Russo, Senior Recruiter, sxv9zv@virginia.edu.

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Click here to read more about UVA's commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.