2023-51: Contract Administrator II

MDRC is a nonprofit, nonpartisan education and social policy research organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals, families, and children with low incomes. We are committed to finding solutions to some of the most difficult social problems facing the nation—from reducing poverty and bolstering economic mobility to improving public education and college graduation rates. We design promising new interventions, evaluate existing programs using the highest research standards, and provide technical assistance to build better programs and deliver effective interventions at scale.

As a Contract Administrator II, the selected candidate will assist with compliance support over the entire award lifecycle, including review and advising on proposals, negotiating terms and conditions of various agreements, and close-out activities.

Responsibilities:

• Analyzes, reviews, and prepares agreements that may require some unique contract requirements, specials provisions, terms, and conditions to ensure compliance with laws, regulations, and MDRC policies and to mitigate risks identified as moderate.
• Provide contractual guidance to MDRC units for appropriate scope risk mitigation.
• Manage contract change control process.
• Assist as administrator of Contracts and Grants Request Management System
  • Monitor and manage all open request/workflow
  • Coordinate and manage reporting for internal use
    • KPI measurements and SharePoint dashboard
    • Open workload
    • Forecast of future requests
    • Communicating with internal stakeholders all open actions
  • Provide guidance but may manage, when necessary, compliance reporting.
  • Contributes as an advisor in financial and analytical issues.
  • Foster a culture of collaboration, engagement, contribution, and recognition with all internal stakeholders.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in business or a related field.

• A minimum of five to seven years contracts/grants experience
• Experience with and understanding of contracting concepts, Uniform Commercial Code, Federal Acquisition Regulations, and other regulatory requirements as applicable.
• Ability to draft moderate contractual instruments in accordance with prescribed guidelines and risk tolerance.
• Ability to work with senior Contracts and Grants members, cross-functional project teams, and entry- to mid-level funders and third-party associates.
• Strong analytical and communication skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, while maintaining attention to detail and managing multiple priorities through use of organizational skills.
• Strong commitment to success with a “lead by example” outlook

• Strong negotiation skills.
• Knowledge of compliance laws and regulations.
• An eye for detail and the ability to spot errors and omissions immediately.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite (Office, Excel, Outlook, etc.)
• The ability to learn quickly and master contracts management systems.

Timing: Please see “What to expect from MDRC’s recruitment process” for more information.

Location: The position is ideally based in MDRC’s New York City, Los Angeles, or Washington, DC, offices. MDRC is also open to remote work.

Compensation and benefits: Salary range is $72K - $74K and will be commensurate with experience. Comprehensive benefits and relocation assistance offered. Some on-the-job training will be provided

Instructions: When submitting your application, please include:

• Resume
• Cover letter (optional)

Only candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted. Please note that the health and safety of our employees and candidates is very important to us and that interviews (when scheduled) will be conducted via video conferencing.

MDRC is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. No qualified applicant, employee, intern, volunteer, or apprenticeship trainee will be discriminated against on the basis of his, her, or their race (including traits historically associated with race, including but not limited to hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, national origin (including physical, cultural or linguistic characteristics), marriage to or association with persons of a national origin group, tribal affiliation, membership in or association with an organization identified with or seeking to promote the interests of a national origin group, name that is associated with a national origin group, accent, language use, immigration status, citizenship, possession of a driver’s license issued to persons unable to prove their lawful presence in the United States, and other definitions under California or other states’ laws, ancestry, creed, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), age, citizenship, veteran and/or military status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity (including transgender status), gender expression, gender transitioning or perceived gender transitioning, marital status or civil partnership/union status, physical or mental disability (actual or perceived), medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, protected medical leaves (requesting or being approved for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act) or similar state family medical leave laws, domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, state or local law. Legal work authorization is required. To request a reasonable accommodation during any stage of MDRC’s employment process due to a disability, please contact HRQuestions@mdrc.org.

MDRC’s dedication to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion exceed compliance requirements. We believe that recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce of all backgrounds and perspectives improves the quality and relevance of our research, as well as the daily experiences of our staff. By fostering an equitable culture of inclusivity and belonging, we seek an environment in which staff feel welcomed, valued, and engaged in their work.