Description

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, 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 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 provide training to internal clients upon request; Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Experience: 

At least 5 years’ of job-related experience or combination of education and relevant experience in increasingly responsible roles.  Extensive experience negotiating complex agreements is strongly preferred. 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.