Contracts and Publications Licences Officer

Post Details

Full time, Open ended

The closing date for applications is midnight on Thursday 18 November 2021

For the purposes of sponsorship, this is a role under SOC code 3543

The University of Stirling recognises that a diverse workforce benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers and welcome applications from those who would contribute to further diversification of our staff and ensure that equality, diversity and inclusion is woven into the substance of the role. We strongly encourage applications from people from diverse backgrounds including gender, identity, race, age, class, and ethnicity

The Post

Combining an understanding of standard research agreements, with an awareness and a knowledge of open access policy and requirements, the role of Contracts and Publication Licences Officer will provide support and advice to our research community on the contractual obligations and requirements for both research activity and support our growth in an open science research environment.

This role will be part of a team delivering on legal and compliance requirements within Research, Innovation and Business Engagement (RIBE), supporting the delivery of a more resilient and responsive service to cope with the rapidly growing volume of research, innovation, international and other university agreements.

The role holder will work in close partnership with professional services colleagues within RIBE and with Information Services, in particular the Library to ensure that we deliver on commitments to open science and open access.

Description of Duties

• To provide support in the preparation, negotiation and review of research and innovation contracts
• To provide clear, pragmatic advice on the implications of contractual terms within the context of research and publication, using a working knowledge of contract issues, such as confidentiality, publication requirements, intellectual property, and other related issues
• To maintain and disseminate expert, current knowledge of open science and open access including plan S policy, practice and strategy
• To provide expert advice to researchers in their understanding of open access and open science, through the delivery of guidance, training and production of resources
• To work closely with other professional colleagues within the Library, on APC funds and associated publication requirements
• Represent the University externally at sector groups/committees that focus on contractual and open science matters, and participate in professional and practice-based networks

Such other duties as required by the Contracts Manager.

Essential Criteria

• Educated to degree level or equivalent, or employment experience across a range of roles with increasing levels of responsibility
• Significant experience of working successfully in the area of research management, either in a research contracts team or in research policy or in a research librarian role with at least 2 years of practical experience
• Experience of working successfully within complex regulations / frameworks
• Knowledge of the current research landscape and of the wider context relevant to Higher Education, along with the capability to understand the impact on the ongoing operation and development of the role’s area of responsibility
• Competence and experience to provide professional, expert research support, advice and services to staff
• Ability to initiate processes and procedures to resolve new problems. Anticipates possible implementation difficulties and identifies practical ways of overcoming or preventing them
• Proven ability to formulate clear policy, advice and guidance relevant to research support
• Proven ability to summarise complex ideas or information which may be highly detailed, technical or specialist
• Highly organised with the ability to work with strong attention to detail, accuracy, and within specified deadlines
• Proven experience of effective delivery of projects and initiatives to deadlines within a complex and diverse workload
• Ability to consider the wider impact of decisions and assesses likelihood of possible outcomes and use judgement to make decisions with limited or ambiguous data and taking into account multiple factors. Distinguishes between the need to make a decision, when to defer and when not to take a decision
• Excellent skills in communicating effectively at all levels both orally and in writing, with the ability to communicate using a wide range of styles appropriate to different individuals, groups and situations
• Ability to work independently and with initiative but to also operate successfully in team and wider collaborative contexts
• Ability to build proactively productive and enduring relationships between internal and/or external bodies to benefit the University
• Ability to command the confidence of members of staff both within the team, the Directorate and across the University
• IT skills, including proficiency in the use of the Microsoft Office suite and operational knowledge of research funding systems

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of using research management systems, such as Worktribe
• Professional training, ideally a formal qualification delivered by a professional body, such as ARMA
• Participation within external HE research funding networks, groups and bodies