Contracts Manager

JFF • Washington, DC

5d • $68,000 - $80,000

About The Position

The Contracts Manager reports to the Senior Director of Contracts and manages JFF’s contracts administration process. Working closely with Program, Organizational Services, Finance, senior leadership, and other internal teams, the role coordinates the end-to-end vendor contracting process and serves as a liaison to external vendors. The position supports compliance and risk management and moves contracts through drafting, negotiation, review, approval, and execution. It also provides guidance to JFF staff on drafting and editing forms, templates, and agreements.

The role manages contract requests, subawards, and related legal documents; coordinates stakeholders on business terms, timelines, and deliverables; tracks contract status and compliance; and supports reporting, due diligence, and process improvements. The Contracts Manager also supports the Senior Director with incoming requests, escalated questions, document revisions, and development or implementation of contract administration systems and initiatives.

The position is open to employees working remotely or from JFF offices in Boston, Oakland, or Washington, DC, including hybrid arrangements. The role requires approximately 10% travel, around six times per year, including travel to the Boston office and participation in team and organizational retreats as needed.

Requirements

• Deep understanding of contracts administration processes and experience supporting different types of agreements.
• Comfort editing contract clauses in response to changing terms.
• Commitment to client support, with a coaching and guidance-oriented approach and strong customer service skills.
• Ability to work effectively as a team member with colleagues at different seniority levels and independently, prioritizing with or without direction.
• Ability to manage up and across the organization to complete projects.
• Familiarity with governance and compliance for contracts in support of finance.
• Strong work quality and ability to negotiate with strong personalities, interpret needs and legal limits, and track details accurately.
• Self-starter who can apply knowledge across contracts and take ownership of the contract process.
• Ability to meet tight and evolving deadlines, manage stakeholder expectations, prioritize, multitask, and adapt in a rapidly changing environment.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to explain complex information clearly and attention to professional contract language.
• Outstanding organizational skills and ability to track multiple moving pieces and identify efficiency improvements.
• Comfort using multiple software applications, including AI tools; high proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, form creation in Word or Adobe, and database management concepts.
• Ability to model inclusive leadership, work effectively with people from different backgrounds, and foster fairness, connectedness, and inclusion.
• Curiosity, adaptability, willingness to incorporate new information, perspectives, and data, and a growth mindset.
• Willingness to travel approximately 10% of the time, around six times per year.
• High energy, passion for JFF’s mission, and ability to apply JFF’s core values to work.
• New hires at the Manager level typically bring 3–5 years of professional experience across full-time, part-time, internship, and/or freelance roles.

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting Cost-reimbursable Subawards or domestic subgrants.
• Familiarity with technology-enabled or technology-based process management systems.

Responsibilities

• Draft, negotiate, and revise agreements using templates, tools, and guidelines.
• Promote consistent use of contract templates and adherence to content policies.
• Identify important issues and potential legal risks for the Senior Director of Contracts.
• Conduct vendor and vendor-contract research and due diligence as needed.
• Run and distribute periodic reports using tracking tools.
• Translate JFF’s business needs into contract structures while managing stakeholder expectations.
• Provide responsive, high-quality contract administration that meets internal deadlines.
• Develop, draft, and review contract documents, tracking them from request through execution.
• Manage the full cycle of service requests for contracts, subawards, and related legal documents from internal teams.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to identify issues and client requirements and facilitate discussions of business terms, timelines, and deliverables.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on contract review inquiries and guidance, and as a liaison between JFF and external vendors.
• Build effective working relationships with JFF colleagues to support program and business operations.
• Collaborate with the Senior Director on incoming contract requests; refer questions and contracts as appropriate and prepare document revisions based on feedback and guidance.
• Track compliance with contract administration policies and processes and communicate trends to the Senior Director.
• Support cross-functional systems integration by applying contracts management process experience.
• Assist the Senior Director with development and implementation of contract administration platforms and team initiatives.
• Adapt to changing demands and priorities while delivering high-quality service and work products.
• Travel approximately 10% of the time, including to the Boston office and team or organizational retreats as needed.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Retirement benefits through a 403(b) plan, including employer contributions for eligible employees
• Paid time off and paid leave benefits
• Professional development opportunities
• Office equipment as needed for new employees

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed