Main Purpose of the Job

This post will work along side the Technology Transfer Team at the John Innes Centre and our current Contracts Managers (based within Norwich Bioscience Institutes) leading on drafting and negotiating sponsored research agreements, collaboration agreements, commercial contracts, confidentiality agreements, consultancy agreements, commercialisation agreements, commercial licence agreements, equity and revenue share agreements, material transfer agreements, and shareholder agreements. Working in support of the researchers and driven by business needs, they will need to provide a professional, effective, timely and responsive contracts service for the KEC Team.

Key Relationships

Internal: Reporting to the Head of Business Development, the Senior Contracts Manager will  be the legal expert for the KEC Department and will work closely with Directorate staff, all JIC academic staff as well as the Norwich Biosciences Institutes' Contracts and Finance Departments.
External: Funding agencies, Industrial Partners, Third Sector Organisation and Collaborators, e.g. BBSRC, Innovate UK, DSIT, the European Research Council, affiliated organisations part owned by JIC, charitable organisations, NGOs and commercial companies local, national and international including micro-businesses, small to medium enterprises and multinationals.
Legal: Accountants, Lawyers, Legal and para-legal Advisors, Patent Attorneys,

Main Activities & Responsibilities

Percentage

Contract drafting and negotiation
•Lead on the drafting and negotiation of a variety of research and commercial contracts and agreements on behalf of the John Innes Centre.
•Provide clear, pragmatic advice on the implications of contractual terms, and how to manage the activity in the context.
•Ensure that contractual terms meet the Centre's requirements, or that variations are highlighted and appropriately managed (in liaison with the Head of Business Development and Head of NBI Research Contracts).
•Ensure that contracts negotiations are completed in a timely manner.
•Ensure that institutional risk is identified and appropriately assessed within each contract.
•Liaise with the Head of Business Development, the Chief Operating Officer, and the relevant Project Managers to ensure that all aspects of an activity are covered in the contract, and that the Office and relevant scientist understands the contractual issues.
•Liaise with external stakeholders to negotiate relevant elements of agreements.
•Contribute to the creation and maintenance of a set of standard template agreements.

50

Liaison and Management
• Ensure, that the researchers, the KEC Team, Directorate and NBI Contracts (internal parties) teams, have a clear understanding of the context, aims and purpose of each contract, and that the terms are appropriate.
 •Ensure internal parties are kept regularly informed of the status of contract development/negotiation, and are appropriately involved with the process.
•Ensure that contract terms are appropriately explained to internal parties, and that any implications are understood.
•Interact with legal teams of external organisations, as appropriate, to communicate clearly and concisely the points of negotiation.
•Ensure a trusted good working relationship with both internal and external 'parties'.
•Liaise with KEC admin team

25

Policies
•Maintain a good understanding and implement of the JIC's policies as they relate to research, knowledge exchange, commercialisation and impact.
•Develop and maintain an understanding of critical regulatory requirements and/or policy issues.
•Contribute to the development of the policy environment around contracting IP.
 

10

Intellectual Property
•Facilitate and liaise with external patent agencies and other third party technology transfer company (if appropriate) to ensure the interests of the JIC are protected.
•Deal with on going IP protection and IP matters as they arise.
 

10

Training and Development
•Contribute to the development and delivery of training for researchers, Staff and students as required
•Maintain CPD.
 

5

As agreed with the line manager, any other duties commensurate with the nature of the post, for example, contributing to the work of Institute committees

Education & Qualifications

Requirement

Importance

Degree or equivalent in Biological Sciences and/or Law

Essential

Qualification in intellectual property law/processes

Essential

Specialist Knowledge & Skills

Requirement

Importance

Proven Experience in clear concise legal drafting skills

Essential

Possess commercial acumen

Essential

Competence using a broad range of IT packages, Word, Excel, Email, databases and Powerpoint

Essential

Ability to assimilate information from a wide variety of sources

Essential

Able to multi-task and manage diverse workloads and deliver to tight deadlines under pressure

Essential

Able to work independently within a broad framework and with minimal guidance

Essential

A problem solver prepared to propose solutions

Essential

Ability to take initiative and proactively promote ideas

Essential

Relevant Experience

Requirement

Importance

Significant experience of contract law and drafting and reviewing contracts

Essential

Significant experience of negotiating contracts

Essential

Experience of Intellectual Property management and protection

Essential

Working in a similar role in a university

Desirable

Working in a similar role in a research organisation

Desirable

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

Requirement

Importance

A team player able to work independently where necessary and to accept individual responsibility

Essential

Excellent communication skills

Essential

Strong negotiating skills

Essential

Committed, energetic, tenatious and results driven

Essential

Experience and aptitude for preparing and giving presentations

Essential

Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build good working relationships with colleagues

Essential

Additional Requirements

Requirement

Importance

Attention to detail

Essential

Promotes equality and values diversity

Essential

Willingness to work flexibly when coordinating agreements with international parties

Essential

Ability to see agreements through to timely completion

Essential

Willingness to work outside standard working hours when required

Essential

Willingness to embrace the expected values and behaviours of all staff at the Institute, ensuring it is a great place to work

Essential

Willingness to embrace the expected values and behaviours of all staff at the Institute, ensuring it is a great place to work

Essential

John Innes Centre

The John Innes Centre is an independent, international centre of excellence in plant and microbial genetics, carrying out fundamental and strategic research, to train scientists and making our findings available to society.

Our research makes use of a wide range of disciplines in the biological and chemical sciences including; cell biology, biochemistry, chemistry, genetics and molecular biology.

For more information about working at the John Innes Centre, please click here.

We pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive working environment for all. We have a diverse and multicultural scientific community and thrive on our European and international links, appointing staff from across the world. Any candidate who would like further information on current or anticipated immigration requirements can contact the HR Team on +44 (0)1603 450888 or nbi.recruitment@nbi.ac.uk.

We are proud to hold a prestigious Athena SWAN Gold award, recognising the impact of our work in promoting gender equality in science. We are also a proud member of the Stonewall Diversity Champion’s programme, a founding signatory of the Tecnician Commitment and, as a Disability Confident employer, guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.

The John Innes Centre is a registered charity (No. 223852), limited by guarantee (registered in England No. 511709).

Department

Directorate

Group Details

The Knowledge Exchange and Commercialisation (KEC) Department has two main functions: Knowledge Exchange and Commercialisation. Knowledge Exchange includes the processes, mechanisms, networks, and relationships that enable knowledge derived from research activity to move between organisations. The term is applied to the sharing of knowledge that has potential impact on innovation, and to change, transform, enhance, or generate new or improved professional practices, policies, technologies, products, services, and public perceptions. Commercialisation (which in some contexts is referred to as Technology Transfer) describes the process by which the outcomes of research activity are brought to the marketplace through the development of new products, processes, services, or technologies. There will be commercial return involved in the process relating to the potential value of the assets. The process involves the identification of research which has potential commercial interest and the designing of strategies for how to exploit this research. This will include the protecting and managing of the rights to intellectual property. Strategies can include the creation of licensing agreements or joint ventures, partnerships, or spin-out companies.

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KEC Contracts Manager
Salary:                £44,500 - £55,000 per annum depending on qualifications and experience.
Contract:           Full time, indefinite post
Location:           John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK.
Closing date:   12 February 2025
Reference:        1004819

We are seeking a KEC Contracts manager with commercial legal experience to oversee the full range of legal agreements underlying KEC activities at JIC. You will be joining a experienced Technology Transfer Team, at the John Innes Centre, a world leading academic research organisation at the forefront of innovation in plant and microbial science with a focus on AgriFood and Health.

About the John Innes Centre:

The John Innes Centre is an independent, international centre of excellence in plant and microbial sciences. We nurture a creative, curiosity-led approach to answering fundamental questions in bioscience, and translate that knowledge into societal benefits. Our strategic vision, Healthy Plants, Healthy People, Healthy Planet, sets out our ambitious long-term goals for the game changing impact of our science globally. 

Our employees enjoy access to state-of-the-art technology and a diverse range of specialist training opportunities, including support for leadership and management. Click here to find out more about working at the John Innes Centre.

About the Knowledge Exchange and Commercialisation (KEC) Department:

The Knowledge Exchange and Commercialisation (KEC) Department has two main functions: Knowledge Exchange and Commercialisation. Knowledge Exchange includes the processes, mechanisms, networks, and relationships that enable knowledge derived from research activity to move between organisations.

The term is applied to the sharing of knowledge that has potential impact on innovation, and to change, transform, enhance, or generate new or improved professional practices, policies, technologies, products, services, and public perceptions. Commercialisation (which in some contexts is referred to as Technology Transfer) describes the process by which the outcomes of research activity are brought to the marketplace through the development of new products, processes, services, or technologies. There will be commercial return involved in the process relating to the potential value of the assets.

The process involves the identification of research which has potential commercial interest and the designing of strategies for how to exploit this research. This will include the protecting and managing of the rights to intellectual property. Strategies can include the creation of licensing agreements or joint ventures, partnerships, or spin-out companies.

The role:

This post will work alongside the Technology Transfer Team at the John Innes Centre and our current Contracts Managers (based within Norwich Bioscience Institutes) leading on drafting and negotiating sponsored research agreements, collaboration agreements, commercial contracts, confidentiality agreements, consultancy agreements, commercialisation agreements, commercial licence agreements, equity and revenue share agreements, material transfer agreements, and shareholder agreements.

The appointee will act as KEC's commercial legal expert and will play an essential role in streamlining and accelerate contracts development and negotiation.
You will need to understand the purpose of legal agreements in the context of a Research Organisations and the balance between economic gain and impact.

The ideal candidate:

We are looking for an experienced individual, with expertise in drafting and negotiating sponsored research agreements, collaboration agreements, commercial contracts, confidentiality agreements, consultancy agreements, commercialisation agreements, commercial licence agreements, equity and revenue share agreements, material transfer agreements, and sharing holder agreements who can hit the ground running,

You will have a commercial legal background with experience in intellectual property.
You will need to rapidly integrate into the existing with TTO team and you will be required to manage relationships with Researchers and External Organisations.

This is a demanding role and requires professionalism and commitment to our aims and purpose. In return you will receive support in your professional development to expand your skills and knowledge and professional networks. You will have the opportunity to engage in all aspects of our TTO operations and to become a member of the community of TTO professionals based on the Norwich Research Campus and within the eight BBSRC Research Institutes.

Additional information:

Please note, this post does not meet UKVI requirements to provide visa sponsorship.

We are an equal opportunities employer, actively supporting inclusivity and diversity.  As a Disability Confident organisation, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy. We are proud to hold a prestigious Gold Athena SWAN award in recognition of our inclusive culture, commitment and good practices towards advancing of gender equality. We offer an exciting, stimulating, diverse research environment and actively promote a family friendly workplace. The Institute is also a member of Stonewall&rsq