GRI Contracts Advisor

• →To draft, negotiate and advise on research and related contracts, subcontracts, confidentiality agreements, studentships, collaboration agreements, etc.
• →To provide commercially focussed advice on developing partnerships, 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, eg Business & Enterprise, Finance, Governance & Legal Services, etc
• →To assist the Head of Legal and Senior Contracts Advisor 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. 

These are the criteria on which the short-listing and recruitment selection will be made:

Essential 

1. Educated to first degree level in law (LLB) or business with relevant legal content or equivalent practical experience in the workplace 
2. Experience of working within a similar environment as outlined above 
3. Competent in the use of relevant IT packages  
4. Proven relevant experience in commercial contracts which will have been acquired over a number of years, with a basic understanding of the relevant theory 
5. Good knowledge and understanding of intellectual property rights  
6. Excellent interpersonal, influencing and presentation skills, able to understand and communicate complex issues effectively 
7. Demonstrable excellent customer service  
8. Demonstrable ability to work quickly, flexibly and accurately in a dynamic, changing and pressured environment 
9. Experience of working closely with stakeholders across all levels of the organisation  
10. High level organisational skills with the ability to prioritise major developments and to function effectively in a pressured environment 
11. Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team  

Desirable 

1. Professional Qualification or membership of Professional body (Law Society)  
2. Experience of working in Higher Education  
3. Understanding of the different aspects of commercialisation in a university context  

Please submit via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment system (1) Cover letter describing your interest and suitability for the post; (2) Full CV

Applications can be submitted until 23:55 on Sunday 31st May 2026.

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. 

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/ . 

We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g. part-time working and job share options. 

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.