Vice President, Contracts, Grants and Procurement

American Institutes for Research•Chicago, IL

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

AIR is seeking a strategic and experienced Vice President, Contracts, Grants and Procurement to lead and evolve our Contracts, Grants, and Procurement (CGP) Team. CGP provides support to program staff throughout the entire award lifecycle, from pre-award operations and negotiations through post-award contract and subcontract compliance, administration and closeout. CGP also provides full procurement support for the organization. In addition to full award lifecycle support, administration and compliance, this role is responsible for driving process improvement and enabling operational excellence in support of AIR’s mission-driven work. This position reports to the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. The Vice President will lead a high-performing team, collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, and play a key role in the implementation and optimization of AIR’s enterprise business systems. This role is critical to ensuring the integrity, efficiency, compliance, and strategic alignment of AIR’s contract- and grant-related administration processes and operations as well as vendor management and procurement of materials and services. The Vice President will be focused on managing the lifecycle of AIR’s externally funded contracts and awards from a wide range of sources including federal, state, and local governments as well as private foundations and non-governmental organizations. Compliance requirements include those pertaining to the Federal Acquisition Regulation and Uniform Grant Guidance. This position offers flexibility to be fully remote within the United States (does not include U.S. territories) or to work in a hybrid capacity from AIR’s offices in Crystal City, VA or Chicago, IL with occasional travel required for meetings and training sessions. About AIR: Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, the American Institutes for Research (AIR) is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to address some of the most pressing challenges in the United States and globally. We generate evidence and apply data-driven solutions that expand opportunities and improve lives for all.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, law, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
Minimum of 20 years of progressive experience in contracts and grants administration, including at least 5 years in leadership and team management roles.
Extensive knowledge of federal contracting regulations ( including the FAR, Uniform Guidance), grants management, and compliance frameworks.
Proven experience implementing or working with modern procurement and contract management software (ERP, e-sourcing tools) and a track record of automating manual processes .
A proven record of initiating and carrying out productivity or process improvement programs that directly resulted in enhanced capabilities or mission success, not just cost savings.
Deep knowledge of the regulatory landscape and experience interpreting evolving regulations but, as importantly, possessing the ability to navigate and leverage flexibilities within regulations to drive innovation.
Adept at managing multiple high-stakes projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery, regulatory compliance, and alignment with organizational objectives .
Strong analytical and decision-making capabilities, with a focus on translating data-driven insights into actionable strategies.
Exceptional communicator, skilled at conveying complex contractual , business and regulatory concepts to diverse stakeholders with clarity and influence.
Resilient under pressure, consistently maintaining accuracy, responsiveness, and ethical standards in contract /subcontract administration and grant and vendor management.
Committed to integrity, accountability, and continuous improvement in all aspects of contracts , grants and procurement leadership.
Proficien cy in Microsoft 365 tools including OneDrive, SharePoint, Advanced Excel, and Word as well as Adobe Acrobat Pro is required .
Experience in leveraging AI tools to drive efficiency and informed decision-making is essential .

Nice To Haves

Federal Contract Manager ( CFCM ) certification is desired .
Experience with Microsoft Dynamics365 is preferred, but not required.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Team Development Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing contracts, grants, and procurement team, fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous learning while managing change to align with evolving organizational needs.
Foster a culture within the department and across the organization that encourages experimentation, intelligent risk-taking, and learning from 'smart failures' without fear of retribution.
Mentor and develop staff to approach the negotiation and administration of contracts with the strategic mindset and strong technical knowledge needed to contribute to strong business performance.
Establish and drive team performance and growth, setting clear goals, providing ongoing feedback, and supporting professional development through coaching, training, and succession planning.
Represent AIR in high-level negotiations with clients, partners, and funders, ensuring strategic alignment and effective collaboration across all aspects of contract and grant management.
Operational Leadership & Process Optimization Lead a team of contract and grant negotiators, ensuring full compliance with funder requirements and effectively representing AIR’s capabilities to government, foundation and commercial contracting officers.
Oversee the complete contract and grant lifecycle, implementing scalable, compliant processes that drive efficiency, mitigate risk, and align with AIR’s strategic objectives.
Provide strategic guidance and business leadership, collaborating across teams and optimizing contract management systems to ensure data integrity and long-term effectiveness.
Create a culture of continuous improvement within the team to ensure that processes are actively monitored for effectiveness and adjusted as needed to keep up with changing business needs.
Drive the digital transformation and process optimization of all contracts, grants, and procurement systems, leveraging technologies like AI, machine learning, and advanced data analytics to enhance decision-making and efficiency.
Compliance & Risk Management Ensure compliance with AIR policies, federal regulations (including FAR and Uniform Guidance), and funder-specific requirements, while supporting external reviews and audits related to contracts and grants.
Monitor and manage risk across the contracts and grants portfolio, including areas such as intellectual property, conflicts of interest, data rights, and audit readiness.
Stakeholder Collaboration Serve as a senior advisor to AIR leadership, program teams, finance, and business development on contract and grant matters.
Inspire and lead collaboration across internal units (e.g., Business Development, IT, Finance, Legal) to ensure procurement strategies support and enable their innovative initiatives.
Facilitate cross-functional collaboration to ensure alignment between contract execution and negotiation, maintenance and administration, project delivery and closeout.
Funding Acquisition & Contract Administration Oversight Lead and oversee the intake, execution, and management of funding agreements, ensuring alignment with AIR’s contract and grant administration processes and organizational standards.
Collaborate with Finance, Business Development, Legal and other internal teams to support accurate data capture, reporting, and compliance related to acquired funding.
Provide strategic input on proposal development, risk management and contract dispute resolution to support and strengthen AIR’s operational and business objectives.