How to apply for Senior Consultant - Research Contract Negotiations

About Attainpartners

Attain Partners is a consulting firm that focuses on mission-driven sectors like education, healthcare, and government, aiming to make a positive social impact. They emphasize a flexible, inclusive culture and career growth, guided by their core values, 'The Attain Way.'

About the role

As a Senior Consultant for Research Contract Negotiations, you will be the key person ensuring research agreements are compliant and beneficial for the institution. Your work directly supports groundbreaking research by facilitating timely and effective contracts with sponsors and collaborators.

A typical day

A typical day might involve reviewing and drafting research agreements, emailing or meeting with faculty and sponsors to clarify terms, and collaborating with legal and compliance teams. You'll likely use virtual tools like Zoom and SharePoint, and spend time analyzing contract language to mitigate risks while ensuring research projects move forward smoothly.

Who Attainpartners is looking for

• Experienced in negotiating federal grants and contracts, with a deep understanding of Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) and other federal regulations.
• Skilled in drafting and reviewing agreements for non-profit and industry sponsors, with attention to risk mitigation and compliance.
• Able to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders, including faculty, principal investigators, and legal teams, to resolve complex issues.
• Possess strong analytical and communication skills, with a track record of managing multiple negotiations simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.

Tips for this application

• Tailor your resume to highlight specific contract negotiation experience, especially with research-related agreements, using keywords like 'federal grants,' 'subrecipient agreements,' and 'compliance.'
• In your cover letter, explicitly connect your experience to Attain Partners' mission of serving education, healthcare, and government clients, showing you understand their impact-driven focus.
• Mention any experience with remote work and collaboration tools, as this role is remote and requires effective virtual communication.
• Showcase your ability to work independently and manage your own schedule, as remote roles require self-discipline and proactive communication.
• Research Attain Partners' core values ('The Attain Way') and subtly align your application language with those values (e.g., 'innovation,' 'inclusion,' 'impact').

What to cover in your cover letter

["Highlight your specific experience negotiating research contracts with federal and non-profit sponsors, and how you've ensured compliance and mitigated risks.", 'Emphasize your ability to build relationships with faculty and researchers, facilitating smooth negotiations while maintaining institutional interests.', "Express enthusiasm for Attain Partners' mission and how your work in research administration contributes to their goal of 'changing the world' through supporting research.", 'Mention your adaptability to remote work and your track record of managing multiple projects in a virtual environment.']

Research before applying

• Learn about Attain Partners' recent projects or case studies in the education, healthcare, or government sectors to understand their consulting approach.
• Review their website's 'About' or 'Culture' section to understand 'The Attain Way' and core values, and be ready to discuss how you embody them.
• Look up any news or blog posts about their work in research administration or contract negotiations to see if they have specific insights or methodologies.
• Check their LinkedIn page for employee testimonials or insights into remote work culture and team dynamics.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How do you stay current with federal regulations like Uniform Guidance and their impact on contract negotiation?
• Describe a time you had to negotiate with a difficult sponsor or collaborator. How did you handle it?
• How do you prioritize and manage multiple negotiations with conflicting deadlines?
• Given Attain Partners' focus on mission-driven clients, how do you ensure your contract negotiations align with the client's research mission?
• What experience do you have with subrecipient agreements, and how do you ensure compliance flow-down provisions are properly included?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Don't submit a generic cover letter that doesn't mention research contracts or Attain Partners' mission.
• Avoid overlooking the remote aspect; emphasize your ability to work independently and communicate effectively in a virtual setting.
• Don't neglect to highlight your knowledge of federal regulations, as this is critical to the role; be specific about your experience.