Associate Director, Contracting

Open Society Foundations • Washington, DC

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Director, Contracting oversees the Contracting team, comprising internal and external resources, and contributes directly to transaction processing, compliance checks, procurement, learning delivery, and contract system management and reporting. The role leads end-to-end contracting services to ensure efficient, compliant, and risk-informed contract management that maximizes value, mitigates risk, and supports organizational objectives.

The position develops and improves contract management frameworks, policies, procedures, templates, controls, and governance practices. It oversees compliance with applicable policies and legal and regulatory requirements, including OFAC regulations, and provides strategic advice on complex contractual matters, negotiations, contract performance, and risk mitigation. The role leads and develops the team, manages contracting operations, systems, workflows, and data, and produces reporting and insights for portfolio management and data-driven decisions. It also partners across the organization to resolve complex issues and drive consistent practices and continuous improvement.

The position is based in Washington, DC or Mexico City, Mexico, with a hybrid workstyle. Travel is required, with frequency dependent on role requirements. The successful candidate will support the Open Society Foundations’ mission and values, including inclusion, antiracism, and social justice.

Requirements

• Degree-level education or equivalent.
• Proven experience leading and developing high-performing contracting teams within complex international matrix organizations, including attracting, engaging, mentoring, and retaining talent and fostering collaboration, accountability, and professional growth.
• Knowledge of contracting activities within nonprofit organizations, private foundations, and/or 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations, including their legal, governance, and compliance requirements.
• Critical thinking, sound judgment, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to analyze complex issues, assess risk, balance competing priorities, and develop practical recommendations.
• Effective written, verbal, and listening communication skills, as well as interpersonal and organizational skills; ability to exercise discretion and handle confidential issues.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships across diverse cultures, backgrounds, and functions and foster strategic partnerships and alignment in a complex global organization.
• Commitment to supporting the Open Society Foundations’ mission and principles and its values of humility, commitment, collaboration, respect, inclusivity, and integrity.
• Commitment to continuous learning and growth, including in inclusion, antiracism, and social justice.
• Excellent knowledge of English.
• Willingness to travel as required; travel frequency depends on role requirements.

Nice To Haves

• MBA (Master of Business Administration), JD (Juris Doctor), or LLM (Master of Laws).
• Experience with Coupa, Power BI, Workday Adaptive Insights, Salesforce, NetSuite, and other Open Society Foundations systems.
• Knowledge of languages other than English.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee end-to-end contracting services, ensuring efficient, compliant, and risk-informed contract management that maximizes value, mitigates risk, and supports organizational objectives.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve contract management frameworks, policies, procedures, templates, controls, and governance practices.
• Ensure compliance with applicable policies and legal and regulatory requirements, including OFAC regulations and compliance, through oversight, reporting, assurance, and risk management.
• Provide strategic advice on complex contractual matters, negotiations, contract performance, and risk mitigation.
• Lead, develop, and manage a high-performing team through coaching, performance management, workload oversight, and professional development opportunities.
• Manage contracting operations, systems, workflows, and data to support service excellence, operational effectiveness, and continuous improvement.
• Develop reporting, metrics, and insights to support portfolio management, performance evaluation, and data-driven decision-making.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to resolve complex issues, strengthen contract governance, and promote consistent contracting practices across the organization.
• Drive process improvement, standardization, and change initiatives to enhance the efficiency, effectiveness, and user experience of contracting services.
• Contribute directly to transaction processing, compliance checks, procurement, learning delivery, and contract system management and reporting.

Benefits

• Generous annual professional development allowance, onsite training, and learning conversations with visiting experts.
• Generous time off and flexible work arrangements.
• Employer-paid health insurance and dental plans for individuals and families, with no employee contribution required.
• Non-contributory retirement savings plan for employees.
• Life insurance.
• Paid parental leave and reproductive and family planning support.
• Other benefits and perks to promote well-being and work-life balance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager