Description Role: Contracts Advisor Grade and Salary: Grade 7, £37,174 - £46,735 per annum FTE and working pattern: 1 FTE, 35hrs per week, Monday - Friday Holiday Entitlement: 33 days annual leave plus 9 buildings closed days (and Christmas Eve when it falls on a weekday) Purpose of Role A Legal Contracts Advisor is essential for the Global Research Institutes to navigate the complexity of managing legal, ethical, and financial issues across healthcare and net zero technology research. The role ensures that the institutes’ partnerships, intellectual property, data usage, and funding arrangements are legally sound and compliant with relevant regulations enabling them to pursue their goals responsively and effectively. The purpose of the role is to prepare, negotiate and conclude commercial contracts, including confidentiality, research, collaboration & consultancy agreements for two of the University’s GRIs, viz Health & Care Technologies and iNetZ which is focussed on achieving net zero and beyond. Key Duties & Responsibilities To draft, negotiate and advise on research and related contracts, subcontracts, confidentiality agreements, studentships, collaboration agreements, etc. To provide commercially focussed advice on contract research, industrial sponsorship deals and commercial contracts. To draft and review software licences, patent and knowhow licences and associated documentation. To provide general intellectual property advice to academic and professional services colleagues. To provide general contractual advice to support other directorates within the university, Enterprise, Finance, Estates & Facilities, Governance & Legal Services, etc To assist the Head of Legal on a variety of contractual matters as required. To undertake any other duties required from time to time by the Head of Legal or the Director of Research Engagement. Essential & Desirable Criteria Essential Educated to first degree level in law (LLB) or business with relevant legal content or equivalent practical experience in the workplace Experience of working within a similar environment as outlined above Competent in the use of relevant IT packages Proven relevant experience in commercial contracts which will have been acquired over a number of years, with a basic understanding of the relevant theory Good knowledge and understanding of intellectual property rights Excellent interpersonal, influencing and presentation skills, able to understand and communicate complex issues effectively Demonstrable excellent customer service Demonstrable ability to work quickly, flexibly and accurately in a dynamic, changing and pressured environment Experience of working closely with stakeholders across all levels of the organisation High level organisational skills with the ability to prioritise major developments and to function effectively in a pressured environment Desirable Professional Qualification or membership of Professional body (Law Society) Experience of working in Higher Education Understanding of the different aspects of commercialisation in a university context How to Apply Applications can be submitted up to midnight (UK time) on Sunday 16th March 2025. Please submit your CV and covering letter via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment. We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g., part-time working and job share options. Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised, and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all. Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our university community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers https://disc.hw.ac.uk/. Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University. About the Team The Research Engagement Directorate consists of three linked divisions – Research Development, Legal, and Policy Strategy & Impact - spanning the breadth of research engagement from supporting researchers with the development of research proposals and bids, to collaborating with industry on research & development, as well as knowledge exchange projects, and public engagement. The Legal division’s mission is to protect the interests of the University in its research and knowledge exchange activities and support its Excelling in Research & Enterprise strategy. Heriot-Watt's Global Research Institutes (GRIs) are centres of excellence and collaboration, created to address global challenges by leveraging our global reach, our significant international collaborations and our long-standing connectivity to business and industry. The Global Research Institutes at Heriot-Watt University are at the forefront of advancing research, innovation, and development to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges. The Global Research Institute in Health & Care Technologies aims to be a leading centre of Translational Research Excellence, focusing on innovative solutions in health and care technologies to address global healthcare needs. By harnessing cutting-edge technologies such as digital health, artificial intelligence, and biomedical engineering, the institute strives to improve health outcomes, enhance care delivery, and create a meaningful societal impact, extending Heriot-Watt University’s global influence in healthcare technology. Simultaneously, the university’s commitment to leveraging its global reach and pioneering innovation is embodied in the newly established net zero-focused institute, iNetZ. This institute serves as a hub for researchers, academics, and students from across Heriot-Watt’s global campuses and various disciplines, uniting them in the pursuit of solutions to the climate emergency. iNetZ fosters collaboration and brings together leading minds to conduct groundbreaking research, develop sustainable technologies, and propose actionable solutions, supported by robust international partnerships and industry connections. Together, these institutes reflect Heriot-Watt University’s dedication to addressing critical societal and environmental challenges through impactful research and collaborative innovation. About Heriot-Watt University At Heriot-Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team. Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.