Contracts Manager

JFF • Boston, DC

5d

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 teams, this role supports the end-to-end vendor contracting process and serves as a liaison between JFF and external vendors. The position supports compliance and risk management and ensures contracts progress through drafting, negotiation, review, approval, and execution. It also provides coaching to JFF staff on drafting and editing forms, templates, and agreements.

The role manages contract requests and documents, coordinates discussions about business terms and requirements, maintains contract tracking and reporting, and helps ensure responsive, high-quality administration that meets internal deadlines. The Contracts Manager also supports contracts process improvements, systems integration, and implementation of new contract administration platforms and initiatives.

Requirements

• Experience supporting contracts administration processes and working with various types of agreements, including Master Services Agreements (MSAs) and Non-disclosure Agreements (NDAs).
• Three to five years of professional experience across full-time, part-time, internship, and/or freelance roles is typical for new hires at the Manager level.
• Ability to edit contract clauses in response to changing terms.
• Strong client-support and customer-service skills, including a coaching approach and ability to seek others’ expertise when needed.
• Ability to collaborate with colleagues at different seniority levels, work independently, and prioritize with or without direction.
• Ability to manage up and across the organization to complete projects.
• Familiarity with governance and compliance for contracts supporting finance.
• Strong work quality, negotiation skills, ability to work with strong personalities, and judgment in interpreting business needs and legal limits while tracking details accurately.
• Self-starter who can apply knowledge from one contract to another and take ownership of the contract process.
• Ability to meet tight and evolving deadlines, manage stakeholder expectations, prioritize and multitask, and adapt in a rapidly changing environment.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to explain complex information clearly and attend to professional contract language.
• Excellent 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.
• Inclusive leadership and ability to work effectively with colleagues from different backgrounds and help foster fairness, connectedness, and inclusion.
• Curiosity, adaptability, openness to new information and perspectives, and commitment to continuous improvement.
• Willingness to travel 10% of the time, approximately six times per year, including trips to the Boston office and team or organizational retreats as needed.
• Energy, passion for JFF’s mission, and ability to apply JFF’s core values to work.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with 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 policies on contract content.
• Identify important issues and potential legal risks and raise them with the Senior Director of Contracts.
• Research vendors and conduct due diligence on vendors and contracts as needed.
• Run and distribute periodic reports using contract 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 and track them from request through execution.
• Manage the full cycle of internal service requests for contracts, subawards, and related legal documents.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to identify issues and requirements and facilitate discussions about 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 strong 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 their feedback.
• Track compliance with contract administration policies and processes and communicate trends to the Senior Director.
• Support cross-functional systems integration and contribute contract-management process experience.
• Assist the Senior Director with developing and implementing contract administration platforms and team initiatives.
• Adapt to changing demands and priorities while delivering high-quality service and work products.

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
• Access to JFF office space for in-person or hybrid work, with remote work also available

What This Job Offers

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