H-1B Visa Contracts Manager Jobs
Contracts Manager roles qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship as specialty occupations requiring a bachelor's degree in business, law, or a related field. Large federal contractors, defense firms, and multinational corporations file LCAs regularly for this title, making it one of the more sponsorship-active management roles in procurement and legal operations.
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Get Access To All JobsJob Title: Assistant Director of Contracts
Requisition Number: RE56355
Department Name: 40420:Office of Technology Commercialization
Work Location: Lexington, KY
Grade Level: 49
Salary Range: $73,861-121,888/year
Type of Position: Staff
Position Time Status: Full-Time
Required Education: MA
Required Related Experience: 5 yrs
Required License/Registration/Certification: None
Physical Requirements: Sitting for extended periods of time; repetitive motion related to computer work.
Shift: Monday – Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm
Job Summary
The Assistant Director of Contracts provides strategic and operational leadership for the technology commercialization contracting function within UK Innovate and the Office of Technology Commercialization. This position leads the development, negotiation, and execution of complex intellectual property and commercialization agreements and serves as a senior institutional advisor on contract structure, commercialization strategy, risk allocation, and emerging contracting models. The Assistant Director oversees the Contracts Team and is responsible for establishing contracting standards, developing agreement templates and negotiation strategies, managing contract workflows and performance expectations, and supporting the professional development of contracts staff. The position works closely with Commercialization Managers, University leadership, the Office of Legal Counsel, the Office of Sponsored Projects Administration, and other University offices to structure transactions that advance commercialization objectives while appropriately managing institutional legal, business, and compliance risks. In addition to leading complex license, option, inter-institutional, collaboration, consortium, data use, material transfer, and other commercialization-related agreements, the Assistant Director provides leadership for the University’s commercialization agreement compliance program and lifecycle management of executed agreements. The position also develops contractual and operational frameworks for new commercialization initiatives, advises University stakeholders on intellectual property and commercialization matters, and represents Technology Commercialization in cross-functional and University-wide initiatives involving innovation, research data, industry engagement, and emerging technologies. This position is well suited for an experienced contracting professional who can combine sophisticated contract negotiation and intellectual property knowledge with program leadership, sound business judgment, process improvement, and the ability to develop practical solutions for complex and nontraditional commercialization transactions.
Skills / Knowledge / Abilities
- superb organization and MS Word skills
Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? Yes
Preferred Education/Experience
- JD preferred.
- Experience with agreements preferred.
Deadline to Apply: 11/09/2026
Our University Community
We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.
The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.
Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.
Job Title: Assistant Director of Contracts
Requisition Number: RE56355
Department Name: 40420:Office of Technology Commercialization
Work Location: Lexington, KY
Grade Level: 49
Salary Range: $73,861-121,888/year
Type of Position: Staff
Position Time Status: Full-Time
Required Education: MA
Required Related Experience: 5 yrs
Required License/Registration/Certification: None
Physical Requirements: Sitting for extended periods of time; repetitive motion related to computer work.
Shift: Monday – Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm
Job Summary
The Assistant Director of Contracts provides strategic and operational leadership for the technology commercialization contracting function within UK Innovate and the Office of Technology Commercialization. This position leads the development, negotiation, and execution of complex intellectual property and commercialization agreements and serves as a senior institutional advisor on contract structure, commercialization strategy, risk allocation, and emerging contracting models. The Assistant Director oversees the Contracts Team and is responsible for establishing contracting standards, developing agreement templates and negotiation strategies, managing contract workflows and performance expectations, and supporting the professional development of contracts staff. The position works closely with Commercialization Managers, University leadership, the Office of Legal Counsel, the Office of Sponsored Projects Administration, and other University offices to structure transactions that advance commercialization objectives while appropriately managing institutional legal, business, and compliance risks. In addition to leading complex license, option, inter-institutional, collaboration, consortium, data use, material transfer, and other commercialization-related agreements, the Assistant Director provides leadership for the University’s commercialization agreement compliance program and lifecycle management of executed agreements. The position also develops contractual and operational frameworks for new commercialization initiatives, advises University stakeholders on intellectual property and commercialization matters, and represents Technology Commercialization in cross-functional and University-wide initiatives involving innovation, research data, industry engagement, and emerging technologies. This position is well suited for an experienced contracting professional who can combine sophisticated contract negotiation and intellectual property knowledge with program leadership, sound business judgment, process improvement, and the ability to develop practical solutions for complex and nontraditional commercialization transactions.
Skills / Knowledge / Abilities
- superb organization and MS Word skills
Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? Yes
Preferred Education/Experience
- JD preferred.
- Experience with agreements preferred.
Deadline to Apply: 11/09/2026
Our University Community
We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.
The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.
Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.
See all 268+ H-1B Visa Contracts Manager Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as a Contracts Manager
Align your degree to contract law
USCIS scrutinizes whether your degree field directly relates to contracts management. A business, supply chain, or legal studies degree strengthens your petition. If your degree is in an unrelated field, gather documentation showing how your coursework maps to contract administration.
Target federal contractors and defense primes
Federal contractors above a certain threshold must use E-Verify and routinely sponsor H-1B workers for procurement and contracts roles. Defense primes and large government services firms file LCAs for Contracts Managers far more consistently than mid-market commercial employers.
Search verified H-1B sponsors on Migrate Mate
Use Migrate Mate to filter Contracts Manager openings by employers with documented H-1B LCA filing history for this occupation code. That filing record tells you an employer already understands the process, cutting weeks of uncertainty from your job search.
Pull prevailing wage data before negotiating
Your H-1B LCA requires the employer to pay at least the prevailing wage for your location and experience level. Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up wage levels for Contracts Managers in your target metro before you enter salary discussions, so you know the DOL floor.
Request premium processing when timing is tight
If your OPT or current status expires within a few months of your start date, ask your employer to file with USCIS premium processing. Standard H-1B adjudication can run three to five months; premium processing cuts that to 15 business days.
Document contract value and complexity in your resume
USCIS evaluates whether your role genuinely requires a specialized degree. Quantify the contracts you've managed by type, value, and regulatory framework. FAR-regulated or international agreements carry more weight in a specialty occupation argument than routine vendor agreements.
H-1B Visa Contracts Manager: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Contracts Manager role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, but the employer must demonstrate the position normally requires at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field such as business administration, contract management, supply chain, or law. Generic management roles can draw USCIS scrutiny, so the job description should explicitly tie duties to a degree-level discipline. Roles involving FAR compliance, international trade, or complex subcontract management make a stronger specialty occupation case.
Which industries sponsor H-1B visas most consistently for Contracts Manager positions?
Federal defense contractors, aerospace and defense primes, large technology firms with government contracts, and multinational corporations with active procurement teams file LCAs for Contracts Managers regularly. These employers already have established H-1B processes and designated legal teams. You can confirm an employer's filing history for this occupation code by searching on Migrate Mate before applying.
How does the prevailing wage requirement affect a Contracts Manager's H-1B petition?
The DOL requires your employer to certify in the LCA that your offered compensation meets the prevailing wage for your specific job title, location, and experience level. Wage levels range from Level I through Level IV. A senior Contracts Manager role will typically require a Level III or IV wage certification. You can verify the applicable wage using the OFLC Wage Search before your offer is finalized.
Can a Contracts Manager change employers after an H-1B is approved?
Yes. Under H-1B portability rules, you can start working for a new employer as soon as the new H-1B transfer petition is filed with USCIS, provided your current status is valid and the new role also qualifies as a specialty occupation. You don't need to wait for USCIS approval to begin the new job. The new employer files a new I-129 petition and LCA for the Contracts Manager position.
What happens if USCIS issues an RFE on a Contracts Manager H-1B petition?
A Request for Evidence on this title typically challenges whether the role meets the specialty occupation standard or whether your degree directly relates to contracts management. Your employer's immigration attorney should respond with the O*NET occupation profile, internal job analysis documentation, and evidence that the role requires degree-level expertise. RFEs on management titles are common but regularly overcome with thorough supporting evidence.