Contract & Compliance Advisor

International Rescue Committee•New York, NY

20h•Remote

About The Position

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the leading providers of high-quality programming for refugees, immigrants, and asylees. The Resettlement, Asylum and Integration (RAI) division creates opportunities for refugees and other vulnerable migrants to survive and thrive in the United States and in Europe. As the volume of donor-issued contracts within the RAI portfolio has grown significantly, so too has the need for dedicated contract management expertise. Unlike grants, contracts carry distinct compliance obligations, risk profiles, and management requirements. RAI currently administers an estimated $30–50 million USD in active service contracts across multiple U.S. states and government levels, including federal funding streams such as WIOA and HHS as well as various state mechanisms. The Resource Acquisition and Management (RAM) team, which sits within RAI, is seeking a Contract & Compliance Advisor to establish and lead a dedicated contract management function within the division. This role will own the full contract lifecycle — from pre-award RFQ evaluation and risk assessment through active contract administration, compliance monitoring, and close-out — while developing the policies, tools, and organizational capacity needed to support consistent, compliant contract management across the RAI network. The Contract & Compliance Advisor will report to the RAM Business Development Director and will work in close collaboration with finance, program, and field office teams across the RAI U.S. network, with limited engagement with RAI’s European operations.

Requirements

Minimum eight (8) years of progressive experience in contract management, grants management, or a closely related field.
Demonstrated expertise in federal contracting regulations, including deep familiarity with Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200).
Experience managing or administering state-level service contracts across multiple jurisdictions.
Knowledge of WIOA, HHS, or comparable federal funding streams, including associated compliance and reporting requirements.
Proven ability to develop and implement contract management policies, procedures, and tools in a complex organizational environment.
Experience with RFQ/RFP processes, including development of evaluation criteria and documentation standards.
Strong analytical and risk assessment skills, with the ability to identify compliance vulnerabilities and implement effective mitigations.
Demonstrated experience working across finance, program, and operational teams to align priorities and drive adoption of new practices.
Proficiency developing and managing contract tracking tools and workflows in platforms such as Monday.com, Airtable, or Asana.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex regulatory requirements into accessible guidance for diverse audiences.

Nice To Haves

Experience in the nonprofit or humanitarian sector, particularly with organizations managing a mix of contracts and grants.
Familiarity with refugee resettlement, asylum, or immigration-related programming in the United States.
Experience leading organizational change management initiatives, particularly in decentralized or multi-office environments.
Familiarity with European contracting standards or experience supporting contract functions across U.S. and European offices.
Certification in contract management (e.g., CPCM, CFCM) or grants management (e.g., CGMS).

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary point of accountability for contract management across the RAI portfolio, overseeing select active contracts from award through close-out.
Conduct risk assessments for new and existing contracts, identifying compliance vulnerabilities and implementing mitigations in coordination with program and finance teams.
Monitor contract performance, deliverables, and reporting deadlines, ensuring timely and compliant submission of all donor-required reports and documentation.
Lead or support donor communications on contract compliance matters, escalating complex issues through appropriate channels.
Develop and maintain a contract management policy framework tailored to RAI’s context, aligned with organizational policies, federal regulations including Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), and applicable state requirements.
Draft and continuously improve standard operating procedures, contract templates, and guidance documents to support consistent contract administration across offices.
Maintain and update an annual contract management calendar outlining key milestones, reporting deadlines, and compliance touchpoints across the RAI portfolio.
Adapt and apply standardized risk assessment frameworks appropriate to RAI’s contract types and funding sources.
Ensure RAI’s contract policies and practices remain current with evolving federal, state, and donor requirements; proactively identify and communicate changes affecting the portfolio.
Lead the design, piloting, implementation, and ongoing management of contract tracking dashboards and workflows within RAI’s project management platforms, including Monday.com, Airtable, and Asana.
Develop and maintain dashboard tools that provide real-time visibility into contract status, milestones, deliverables, and compliance requirements across the portfolio.
Continuously refine platform-based tools based on user feedback and evolving portfolio needs, ensuring systems remain practical and accessible for both HQ and field staff.
Evaluate platform performance and recommend improvements or transitions as needed to support the long-term contract management function.
Facilitate cross-functional coordination between finance, program, and field office teams to build shared understanding and aligned practices around contract administration.
Develop and deliver training materials and onboarding resources to increase organizational literacy on contract compliance, reporting obligations, and risk management.
Build field office capacity to manage locally-held contracts in compliance with applicable regulations, providing ongoing coaching and technical assistance.
Support organizational change management as new contract policies and tools are introduced, ensuring buy-in and adoption across the RAI network.
Maintain a comprehensive and current inventory of all RAI contracts under implementation, including key terms, deadlines, risk ratings, and compliance status.
Produce regular portfolio-level reports for RAM leadership on contract performance, compliance trends, risk exposure, and upcoming milestones.
Identify systemic issues or patterns across the portfolio and recommend structural or process improvements to address them.
Support internal and external audits related to contract compliance, coordinating documentation and responses in collaboration with finance and program teams.

Benefits

10 sick days
10 US holidays
20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure
medical insurance starting at $163 per month
dental starting at $6.50 per month
vision starting at $5 per month
FSA for healthcare and commuter costs
a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching
disability & life insurance
an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.