Senior Contract Administrator

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine•Town of Johnstown, NY

7d•$92,040 - $126,550•Hybrid

About The Position

Supports the administration of an assigned portfolio of federal, private sector, state, and local government contracts, grants (including cooperative agreements), and subawards within the Office of Contracts and Grants (OCG) in the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO). Manages the full lifecycle of sponsored agreements, including proposal review, award negotiation, contract administration, modifications, and closeout activities. May receive delegated signature authority. Reviews and negotiates contractual documents and standard terms and conditions, and provides guidance to program staff regarding award requirements, institutional policies, and sponsor regulations. Coordinates administrative actions necessary to ensure compliance with contractual policies, and procurement requirements. Serves as a primary point of contact for assigned sponsors, vendor, and internal stakeholders, exercising independent judgment in the administration of routine contractual and procurement matters while escalating complex or high-risk issues, as appropriate.

Requirements

Knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circulars A-110, A-122, A-133, Cost Accounting Standards, and the Uniform Commercial Code.
Ability to communicate complex procurement and financial issues in simple, understandable terms.
Seasoned negotiation skills with extensive knowledge of general corporate business practices and principals.
Understanding of legal issues and processes including arbitration, termination for default, and order of precedence.
Must be skilled in analyzing contracts to ensure compliance to company policy, sponsor specifications, and other requirements.
Expertise in dealing with non-routine, and/or highly complex projects.
Ability to solve intellectual problems of substantial variety and complexity using originality and ingenuity.
Experience working in complex environments with a high degree of organizational effectiveness.
Ability to develop relationships with co-workers and employees in other National Academies’ departments.
Demonstrated ability to work independently, assess priorities, and manage a variety of activities across a broad spectrum with attention to detail.
Excellent communication skills with a proven ability to effectively interact with all levels of employees.
Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration or related field or equivalent knowledge.
Five years of related professional experience.
Ability to work at a computer for extended periods of time.

Responsibilities

Reviews and negotiates terms and conditions of contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements with government and private sector sponsors, including providing any necessary certifications, approvals, and other supporting documentation.
Administers agreements for assigned program units, including items such as no-cost extensions, supplemental funding requests, and closeout. Conducts post award administration, including changes, approvals, problem resolution, reporting and data synthesis.
Responds to procurement requests from across the National Academies. Works with customers to determine the appropriate procurement instrument and to ensure that policies and procedures are followed. Interacts with staff to troubleshoot workflow problems.
Serves as point-of-contact for processing a variety of procurement requests within the National Academies, including purchase orders, consulting letter agreements, subcontracts, fellowship grant awards, service level agreements, and other special arrangements as necessary.
Coordinates estimates of service, material, equipment, production costs, performance requirements, and delivery schedules. Establishes vendor relationships; researches new vendors. Obtains competitive bids and selects vendors in accordance with institutional policies and procedures.
Develops and integrates contract management tools, templates, methods, and processes required to support contract operations. Reviews and coordinates proposals and Request for Proposals for institutional risks, completeness, and conformity to National Academies’ policies and procedures. Prepares cost/price analyses.
Prepares all paperwork to completely process the appropriate procurement instrument for an assigned portfolio. Plans, organizes, and manages all contract relationships and contract documents.
Serves as a liaison between the National Academies and sponsors, vendors, and subcontractors regarding National Academies’ institutional policies, procedures, and operations. Represents the Academies to our customers and has significant internal liaison responsibilities to both staff and executives.
Special projects as assigned.