Principal, Research Contracts and Commercialization

Union: Non-Union
Number of vacancies: 1
New or Replacement Position: New
Site: Mars/Hybrid
Department: Commercialization
Reports to: Ernest Ho
Salary Range: $115,730 to $165,730 per annum
Hours: 37.5 hr/week
Shifts: Days
Status: Temporary Full-Time (approximately 12 months)
Closing Date: October 12, 2026
Position Summary
The Principal, Research Agreements and Commercialization will play a key role in supporting UHN's research enterprise through the efficient negotiation, execution, and management of industry-sponsored research agreements including Sponsored Research Agreements (SRAs), licensing agreements, confidentiality agreements, collaboration agreements, service agreements, and other research-related contracts across an assigned portfolio, primarily within Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.
The successful candidate will serve as a critical liaison between researchers, industry sponsors, legal counsel, and institutional stakeholders to facilitate research collaborations while ensuring compliance with UHN policies and risk management requirements and is responsible for facilitating and enabling research partnerships through the effective negotiation, execution, and management of research-related agreements while supporting UHN's broader commercialization objectives.
This role requires a highly organized and results-oriented professional with significant experience reviewing, negotiating, and processing research agreements in complex academic, healthcare, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or research environments. While supporting broader commercialization objectives, the primary focus of the position is enabling research partnerships through timely, high-quality contract negotiation and execution.
The Principal will work closely with investigators, Research Legal, Commercialization, IP Management, Operations, and external partners to improve contracting efficiency, reduce turnaround times, and support the successful launch and management of industry-sponsored research programs.
Duties
Serve as the primary point of contact for the negotiation, review, and execution of Sponsored Research Agreements and other research-related contracts within the assigned portfolio.
Manage a high volume of research agreements, ensuring timely review, negotiation, tracking, execution, and stakeholder communication throughout the contract lifecycle.
Lead negotiations for Sponsored Research Agreements, Confidential Disclosure Agreements, Data Use Agreements, Inter Institutional Agreements, Licensing Agreements, Service Agreements, and other research-related contracts.
Coordinate with principal investigators, research administrators, legal counsel, sponsors, and industry partners to facilitate efficient agreement execution.
Identify and resolve contractual issues relating to intellectual property, publication rights, confidentiality, indemnification, data sharing, and research funding terms.
Monitor agreement turnaround times and proactively implement process improvements that increase contracting efficiency.
Provide guidance to investigators and research teams regarding contractual obligations and agreement requirements.
Maintain accurate contract records and ensure adherence to institutional policies and regulatory requirements.
Support commercialization and industry partnership initiatives by providing contract expertise and transactional support where appropriate.
Work collaboratively with Legal, IP Management, Operations, and Commercialization teams to facilitate successful research partnerships.
Minimum 10 years of experience managing, negotiating, and executing research, licensing, commercialization, or industry partnership agreements in an academic, healthcare, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, legal, technology transfer, or research organization.
Demonstrated experience negotiating and executing Sponsored Research Agreements (SRAs) and other research-related contracts.
Strong understanding of contract structure, legal terminology, risk allocation, intellectual property provisions, publication rights, confidentiality, indemnification, and regulatory requirements applicable to research agreements.
Proven ability to independently review, analyze, negotiate, and manage complex contractual documents.
Experience coordinating multiple stakeholders and advancing agreements through legal and institutional approval processes.
Strong attention to detail and ability to manage a large portfolio of agreements while meeting deadlines.
Experience in research administration, technology transfer, contract management, research partnerships, commercialization, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or related research environments is required.
Familiarity with commercialization pathways, licensing, startup formation, or industry partnerships would be considered an asset.

Employment type
Contract

Work arrangement
No