About JFF:

Jobs for the Future (JFF) drives transformation of the American workforce and education systems to achieve equitable economic advancement for all. 

About the position:

The Contracts Manager reports to the Senior Director of Contracts and will be responsible for managing the contracts administration process across JFF. This person will work in strong collaboration with various JFF departments including Program, Organizational Services, the Fiscal Team and senior leadership to collaborate on the end-to-end vendor contracting process. This person will be the liaison between JFF and external vendors by providing top-notch contracts management, organizational and administrative support.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who thrives on being organized & detail-oriented and is energized by managing mission-critical projects and working collaboratively with others.  The Contracts Manager will be responsible for supporting on compliance and risk management; ensuring the progress of contracts through all stages including, drafting, negotiation, review, approval, and execution. In addition, they will provide coaching to JFF staff with drafting/editing forms, templates, and agreements, as needed.

What you'll do: 

Contracts Management

• Draft, negotiate, and revise agreements, using templates, tools, and guidelines
• Reinforce consistent use of contract templates, including deference to policies on content
• Flag important issues and potential legal risk to the Senior Director
• Provide research and due diligence on vendors and vendor contracts, as needed by Contract Administration team or other internal teams
• Run and disseminate periodic reports using tracking tools

• Translate JFF’s business needs into contracts structure while managing stakeholders’ expectations
• Deliver great quality contract administration that is responsive to and manages internal deadlines
• Develop, draft and review contract documents and track status of contracts from request to execution
• Manage full cycle of service requests for contracts, subawards and related legal documents from internal teams
• Coordinate with relevant cross functional internal teams to identify issues and client requirements, facilitate discussions about business terms, timelines, and deliverables.

Relationship Building and Management 

• Serve as the subject matter expert on contract review inquiries and guidance and a liaison between JFF and external vendors
• Cultivate strong working relationships and partner with JFF Colleagues in service to facilitating program and business operations
• Collaborate with the Contracts Coordinator in processing incoming contract requests 

• Support the Senior Director by referring questions and contracts as indicated as well as preparing document revisions informed by their feedback and guidance. 
• Track the compliance of contract administration policies and processes while communicating trends to Senior Director

Growth and Learning Mindset 

• Support cross-functional systems integration, bringing contracts management process experience

•  Support the Senior Director during the development and implementation of new contract administration platforms and new team initiatives as needed
• Adapt to changing demands and shifting priorities, with a view to delivering high-quality service and product 
  

Who you are: 

• You possess high energy and passion for JFF’s mission and the ability to apply JFF’s core values to all areas of your work
• You have approximately 3 years of overall experience and have previously worked supporting the contracts administration processes or a related role in which you have worked on supporting various types of agreements, including Master Services Agreements (MSAs), Non-disclosure Agreements (NDAs), Firm-Fixed Price, Time and Materials contracts, Cost-reimbursable Subawards or domestic subgrants is a plus

• You are comfortable editing contracts clauses in response to changing terms
• You are committed to client support and approach your work in the spirit of coaching and providing guidance while bringing excellent customer service skills and the ability to pull in others for their expertise and manage up and across in order to complete projects
• You possess an unflinching commitment to exceptional work production, and you bring expertise in negotiating with strong personalities and interpreting both needs and legal limits, while accurately tracking necessary details 
• You are a self-starter who will make logical connections and apply knowledge from one contract to another and take ownership of the contract process 
• You function effectively as a team player, collaborating with colleagues at different levels of seniority within the department and organization, while being able to work independently and prioritize with or without direction

• You can perform to tight, evolving deadlines, manage expectations of multiple stakeholders, prioritize, multitask, and adapt in a rapidly changing environment
• You possess strong communication skills and the ability to convey complex information in a way that others can readily follow, including attention to detail to the particulars of professional contracts language
• You possess outstanding organizational skills and the ability to track numerous moving pieces while identifying ways to improve efficiency
• You are comfortable using multiple, different software applications in your work; you are highly proficient in MS Outlook, Word, Excel, form creation (Word or Adobe), database management concepts; familiarity with technology-enabled or based process management systems is a plus
• You model inclusive leadership, working effectively with colleagues from a diverse range of backgrounds, and building and stewarding an organizational culture that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion

• You build positive, effective, collaborative cultures and teams wherever you work
• You are a curious and adaptive learner, with a willingness to take in new information, perspectives and data to inform your work 
• You demonstrate a growth mindset and a desire to continuously improve in your work 
• You are able and willing to travel up to 10%. This includes traveling to the Boston office up to 6 times per year to meet with the Contract Administration Team and participate in both team and organizational retreats, as needed. (Note: JFF requires Covid vaccination for all work-related travel.)

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at JFF:

JFF is committed to sustaining a diverse community with a work environment that is welcoming, respectful, and encouraging to all. JFF fosters a culture of inclusion that celebrates and cultivates diversity along multiple dimensions, including race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, national origin, socioeconomic status, religion, ability, culture, and experience. As part of our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, JFF strongly encourages people impacted by the criminal legal system to apply. 

Positions at JFF are not eligible for employer-visa sponsorship or open to F-1 student visa holders. 

All JFF employees are required to be fully up to date on their vaccinations against COVID-19, unless a medical or religious exemption has been requested and a reasonable accommodation approved.

JFF offers a competitive salary and benefits package, commensurate with experience and skills.