Senior Contract Administrator

University of Maryland • College Park, MD

112d • $102,680 - $123,216

About The Position

The University of Maryland is seeking a highly skilled contracting professional to join the department of Procurement & Strategic Sourcing. The Senior Contract Administrator will serve as the dedicated procurement lead for all Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS) research procurements, managing the full “cradle to grave” life cycle, from original business need identification through contract award, administration, and closeout. The Senior Contract Administrator will be expected to navigate complex requirements, including federal sponsor regulations, conflict of interest considerations, and intricate federal flow-down clauses, while reconciling them with University policies and procedures and implementing compliant solutions with limited oversight. Responsibilities include procuring highly complex and cutting-edge research contracts that may involve services, capital equipment, and advanced information technology (hardware and software). Many of these procurements may have confidential or classified components requiring heightened discretion. The Senior Contract Administrator will manage all facets of competitive and non-competitive solicitations, applying a wide range of procurement methods in compliance with University, State of Maryland, and federal regulations. The position is a high-level individual contributor role responsible for evaluating and negotiating terms and conditions, interpreting sponsor flow-downs, and coordinating with key offices including the Office of Research Administration, University Counsel, and Central Administration on unique or non-standard agreements. The Senior Contract Administrator will serve as the primary point of contact with ARLIS leadership, research faculty, and other external partners, addressing and resolving contractual performance issues such as cure notices, suspensions, terminations, or stop-work orders. Dependent upon the project and issue this may require interaction with sponsors and/or subrecipients and the Office of Research Administration representative. Importantly, this position is embedded on-site with ARLIS, requiring the ability to independently assess risk, resolve complex procurement challenges, and advance critical research contracts without direct day-to-day supervision from Procurement leadership. This independence, combined with the complexity of federal research contracting, positions the role at the Senior level within the University’s contracting framework.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Five (5) years of professional procurement or contract administration experience.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local procurement regulations.
• Knowledge of risk assessment and mitigation techniques.
• Skill in preparing, reviewing, and editing complex contract documents.
• Skill in negotiating contract terms and resolving disputes.
• Ability to operate independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.

Nice To Haves

• Master's or Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management or related field.
• Seven years of progressively responsible experience in procurement and contract administration.
• Professional procurement certification such as C.P.M., CPCM, CPPO, or PMP.
• Background in technology and sponsored programs contracting.
• Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information clearance.

Responsibilities

• Manage the full life cycle of research procurements from identification to closeout.
• Navigate complex federal sponsor regulations and reconcile them with University policies.
• Procure complex research contracts involving services, capital equipment, and IT.
• Manage competitive and non-competitive solicitations in compliance with regulations.
• Evaluate and negotiate contract terms and conditions.
• Interpret sponsor flow-downs and coordinate with key offices on agreements.
• Serve as the primary contact for ARLIS leadership and research faculty.
• Address and resolve contractual performance issues.
• Independently assess risk and resolve procurement challenges.

Benefits

• Salary range: $102,680.00 - $123,216.00
• Regular Exempt benefits as per university policy.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree