E-3 Visa Contract Specialist Jobs
Contract Specialist roles in procurement, federal contracting, and vendor management qualify as E-3 specialty occupations when tied to a relevant bachelor's degree. Australian professionals can secure E-3 visa sponsorship without competing in the H-1B lottery, making U.S. contract management roles genuinely accessible year-round.
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Get Access To All JobsJob Type: Officer of Administration
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Hours Per Week: 35
Salary Range: $100,000 - 125,000
The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.
Position Summary
Reporting directly to the Associate Director of Contracts (the “Director”) of the Clinical Trials Office (the “CTO”) of Columbia University’s Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons (“VP&S”). The Senior Contract Specialist will administer agreements (such as clinical trials, research services, and confidentiality agreements) from inception through termination, which includes, but is not limited to, negotiation, providing consultation & advice, which will best meet the needs of the research community at VP&S. One of the main objectives of this position is to have the necessary skill set to support the contracting processes.
The CTO assists investigators and academic/research staff in developing clinical trials at VP&S and provides administrative resources and infrastructure to build and sustain clinical trials and clinical research at VP&S. The successful candidate will work with Sponsors in negotiating contracts for clinical trials in accordance with all applicable regulatory and legal requirements and institutional policies and procedures.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities include, but not limited to the following:
- Collaborate with the Director, the Executive Director of the CTO, General Counsel, VP&S faculty and administration, and New York-Presbyterian Hospital (“NYPH”) administration to meet the institutional needs regarding clinical trial negotiations and execution. The role of the Contract Specialist includes being skilled and qualified to negotiate and develop contracts using knowledge of applicable Institutional policies and procedures, as well as various laws, statutes, guidelines and requirements.
- Liaise with internal departments such as Sponsored Projects Administration, Columbia Technology Ventures, Institutional Review Boards (IRB), Procurement, and the Office of Research Compliance and Training.
- Negotiate Clinical Trial Agreements (CTAs) with sponsors, ensuring alignment with budgetary considerations and institutional policies and procedures.
- Assist the Director in the development and implementation of policies and procedures that ensure Clinical Trial Agreements comply with applicable federal and state regulations, including those promulgated from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the Joint Commission.
- Draft, negotiate, and distribute subcontracts on behalf of the research community.
- Prepare agreements for execution in accordance with institutional policies and procedures.
- Maintain and update activity databases and workflow trackers.
- Collaborate with pre-award, post-award, and regulatory colleagues within the CTO to provide seamless support to the research community.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for Principal Investigators and study teams regarding the status of contract negotiations.
- Performs related duties & responsibilities as assigned/requested.
Minimum Qualifications
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree with at least 3 years of experience in a related field.
Preferred Qualifications
- 3+ years of experience in contract negotiation and administration, with a solid understanding of contracting principles, risk management, and their application to clinical research and clinical research lifecycle.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently, with prior project management experience.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Excellent interpersonal and presentation skills.
- Strong computer skills required, including Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint), DocuSign, AdobeSign, Teams, Zoom.
Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran
Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.
Job Type: Officer of Administration
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Hours Per Week: 35
Salary Range: $100,000 - 125,000
The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.
Position Summary
Reporting directly to the Associate Director of Contracts (the “Director”) of the Clinical Trials Office (the “CTO”) of Columbia University’s Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons (“VP&S”). The Senior Contract Specialist will administer agreements (such as clinical trials, research services, and confidentiality agreements) from inception through termination, which includes, but is not limited to, negotiation, providing consultation & advice, which will best meet the needs of the research community at VP&S. One of the main objectives of this position is to have the necessary skill set to support the contracting processes.
The CTO assists investigators and academic/research staff in developing clinical trials at VP&S and provides administrative resources and infrastructure to build and sustain clinical trials and clinical research at VP&S. The successful candidate will work with Sponsors in negotiating contracts for clinical trials in accordance with all applicable regulatory and legal requirements and institutional policies and procedures.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities include, but not limited to the following:
- Collaborate with the Director, the Executive Director of the CTO, General Counsel, VP&S faculty and administration, and New York-Presbyterian Hospital (“NYPH”) administration to meet the institutional needs regarding clinical trial negotiations and execution. The role of the Contract Specialist includes being skilled and qualified to negotiate and develop contracts using knowledge of applicable Institutional policies and procedures, as well as various laws, statutes, guidelines and requirements.
- Liaise with internal departments such as Sponsored Projects Administration, Columbia Technology Ventures, Institutional Review Boards (IRB), Procurement, and the Office of Research Compliance and Training.
- Negotiate Clinical Trial Agreements (CTAs) with sponsors, ensuring alignment with budgetary considerations and institutional policies and procedures.
- Assist the Director in the development and implementation of policies and procedures that ensure Clinical Trial Agreements comply with applicable federal and state regulations, including those promulgated from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the Joint Commission.
- Draft, negotiate, and distribute subcontracts on behalf of the research community.
- Prepare agreements for execution in accordance with institutional policies and procedures.
- Maintain and update activity databases and workflow trackers.
- Collaborate with pre-award, post-award, and regulatory colleagues within the CTO to provide seamless support to the research community.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for Principal Investigators and study teams regarding the status of contract negotiations.
- Performs related duties & responsibilities as assigned/requested.
Minimum Qualifications
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree with at least 3 years of experience in a related field.
Preferred Qualifications
- 3+ years of experience in contract negotiation and administration, with a solid understanding of contracting principles, risk management, and their application to clinical research and clinical research lifecycle.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently, with prior project management experience.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Excellent interpersonal and presentation skills.
- Strong computer skills required, including Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint), DocuSign, AdobeSign, Teams, Zoom.
Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran
Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.
See all 62+ E-3 Visa Contract Specialist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new E-3 Visa Contract Specialist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding E-3 Visa Sponsorship as a Contract Specialist
Verify your degree supports contract specialist duties
An E-3 visa requires your degree field to relate directly to the role. Business administration, supply chain, law, or finance degrees typically align. A general arts degree paired with contract management experience needs documentation showing the theoretical connection.
Target federal contractors over direct agencies
Private federal contractors like defense and aerospace firms sponsor E-3 visas for contract specialists far more routinely than federal agencies, which cannot hire non-citizens directly. Focus your search on companies holding active government contracts.
Use Migrate Mate's E-3 filing service for LCA and paperwork
The LCA must be DOL-certified before your consulate appointment, and contract specialist roles require precise prevailing wage documentation. Migrate Mate's E-3 filing service manages the entire process from offer to consulate appointment, reducing employer friction at the offer stage.
Clarify sponsorship before accepting an offer
Ask whether the employer has sponsored E-3 visas previously and whether their HR or legal team handles LCA filings in-house. Employers unfamiliar with the E-3 sometimes conflate it with H-1B and assume a lottery is involved, which can stall or kill the offer.
Search Migrate Mate for contract specialist roles
Migrate Mate filters jobs by E-3 sponsorship history, so you're only seeing employers who have actively filed for Australian workers. Search by role type and location to find contract specialist openings with verified sponsorship willingness.
Prepare a credentials packet before active outreach
Assemble your degree transcripts, any Australian professional certifications, and a summary of your contract management experience before you start applying. USCIS and the consular officer need clear evidence your qualifications meet specialty occupation requirements.
E-3 Visa Contract Specialist: Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find Contract Specialist jobs with E-3 visa sponsorship?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for this search. It surfaces Contract Specialist roles where employers have a track record of E-3 sponsorship, so you're not wasting time on postings from companies unfamiliar with the visa. Filter by location, industry, and role type to narrow results to positions that fit your background and target state.
How much does it cost to get an E-3 visa?
Migrate Mate's E-3 filing service covers the entire process for $499, including the Labor Condition Application, visa document preparation, and consulate appointment guidance. Traditional immigration lawyers charge $2,000–$5,000+ for the same work. The E-3 has less paperwork than most work visas, so paying thousands for legal help is usually unnecessary.
Does a Contract Specialist role qualify as a specialty occupation for the E-3?
Yes, provided your job duties require at least a bachelor's degree in a related field such as business administration, supply chain management, law, or finance. Roles that involve drafting, reviewing, and managing contracts within a regulated or commercial environment consistently meet the USCIS specialty occupation standard. General coordinator titles with no degree requirement are harder to qualify.
How does the E-3 compare to the H-1B for Contract Specialist roles?
The E-3 has no lottery and no annual cap for individual applicants, so you can apply any time of year and begin work once your visa is issued. The H-1B has an 85,000-slot annual cap with a lottery that left most registrants unselected in recent years. For Australian contract specialists, the E-3 is the direct path, and it's renewable indefinitely as long as you hold a qualifying role.
Can I switch Contract Specialist employers on an E-3?
You can, but each employer change requires a new LCA and a new visa stamp at a consulate before starting with the new employer. There is no portability mechanism like the one available under H-1B. Australians who are already in the U.S. on E-3 status sometimes travel back to Australia for a same-day or next-day appointment rather than waiting for a local consulate slot.