Contract Administrator

The Public Health Institute (PHI) is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting health, well-being, and quality of life for people throughout California, across the nation and around the world. As one of the largest and most comprehensive public health organizations in the nation, we are at the forefront of research and innovations to improve the efficacy of public health statewide, nationally, and internationally.

Position Summary

The Contract Administrator provides technical expertise for procurement, contract development and purchasing of out-going third-party goods and services. In collaboration with the Office of Research Administration and Agreements – Clinical Research Administration (ORAA-CRA) Team, a unit of Office of Chief Legal Counsel (OCLC), the Contract Administrator has responsibility for the implementation of processes, systems, and procedures related to contract administration for PHI’s clinical research portfolio. Independently manages business processes through administrative and financial systems (including PeopleSoft) and the ORAA systems (including Salesforce) for subawards, subcontracts, consultant agreements, memorandum of understanding, and vendor agreements. Coordinates inter-/intra-departmental contract flow-down and regulatory compliance. Ensures appropriate levels of review of terms and conditions and compliance with all post-award agreements.

Full salary range for this position: $80,043 to $118,302 per year. The typical hiring range for this position is from $80,043 (minimum) to $99,173 (midpoint), based on 100% FTE. The starting salary is determined based on the candidate’s knowledge, skills, experience, as well as budget availability.

Employment Type: Full Time

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

ORAA-CRA Team Support:

• Update and maintain databases with real time data about outside party agreements, supporting program needs and central administrative needs including satisfaction of informational requests for managerial and operational functions.
• Support ORAA team with set up and maintenance of electronic agreement files, ensuring complete documentation for outside party agreements.
• Perform archival search and program inquiry-based information gathering in support of agreement characterization and drafter preparation needs.
• Support compliance related requests.
• Distribute agreements and amendments to outside parties, track project status, and support reporting to PHI personnel and programs.
• Edit and re-distribute documents and agreements, as necessary, and update agreement records as needed.
• Perform above duties with general processing responsibility for the execution of documents and distribution of fully-executed documents to all relevant parties.
• Assist in distributing annual subrecipient monitoring letters to outside parties; track responses in database and follow-up as needed.
• Provide support to the public health intervention portfolio of agreements upon request.

Subject Matter Expertise:

• Maintain proficiency in clinical trial industry terms, data use agreement, material transfer agreement, federal grants, and key compliance requirements to support program and contractual requirements.
• Maintain knowledge of implications of IRB reliance and OHRP and other regulatory requirements for human subject protections in research.
• Support and analyze the root causes of user issues in ORAA and Salesforce systems and modules that support the ORAA Team for engagement with technical support expertise and resolution through improvements in user practice.
• Serve as liaison to Grants & Contracts Team and Programs with respect to outside party agreements and contracting issues that require cross-department coordination and expertise.
• Provide technical support in tracking and implementing solutions to Salesforce and ORAA system issues.

Agreements Preparation and Drafting:

• Hold responsibility for the development of Clinical Trial Agreements, data use agreements, material transfer agreements, subawards and subcontracts in accordance with master funding agreements, templates, negotiation, and execution of a full contracts management process including the creation of non-industry and vendor agreements in accordance with standard terms, conditions, and templates; codification of contracting standards; negotiation guidelines and establishment of business processes.
• Responsible for strict monitoring and tracking of research administration issues as required by contractual agreements.
• Prepare and successfully execute a mixed portfolio of subawards, subcontracts, subgrants, consultant and other vendor agreements and assure alignment with PHI’s classification of transactions policy.
• Collaborate with program personnel, Grants and Contracts Specialists, and outside party representatives from development to full execution of agreements.
• Identify, mitigate, and resolve complex subcontractor-related risks and compliance issues in consultation with Office of Chief Legal Counsel.
• Determine appropriate procurement, contractual language and instruments for agreements while ensuring compliance with PHI policies and procedures and as required by funder guidelines, rules, regulations, etc.
• Ensure compliance with prime grant, contract and agreement requirements.
• Advise relevant staff on appropriate contracting vehicles and language.
• Determine appropriate insurance coverage and incorporates into contracts.
• Assess level of risk for subrecipients based on audit reports, financial statements and past performance working with PHI.
• Contribute to annual subrecipient monitoring procedures by securing documentation (including updated audit reports) and preparing content for internal review in compliance with federal regulations.
• Perform other tasks as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum five (5) years of related experience, with at least three (3) years in grant, contract, and/or subaward development and management, or other relevant experience.
• Two years of experience in a clinical research related field.
• Bachelor’s degree in finance, life sciences, or related field required, or substitute with 4 additional years of experience.

Other Qualifications

• Knowledge and understanding of specific contracting requirements.
• Experience with budget development and management.
• Knowledge of pertinent federal and non-profit sponsor regulations including OMB Circulars, Agency Grants Policy Statements, Federal Acquisition Regulation, patent and copyright law, and cost-accounting standards.
• Knowledge of best practices regarding contract development, negotiation, processes and the use of technology to support process flow.
• Proficient in legal and contractual terminologies and specifications in agreements.
• Advanced written, verbal and interpersonal communications; advanced ability to deal with broad and diverse constituencies with advanced customer service orientation and skills.
• Advanced organizational, presentation and negotiation skills.
• Ability to use independent judgment and strategic thinking skills in solving problems.
• Advanced listening, political acumen skills and problem recognition, avoidance and resolution skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment as well independently.
• Ability to work in an organization with an entrepreneurial culture that operates in a highly regulated environment.
• Excellent customer support orientation.
• Comprehensive knowledge of Microsoft office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Email).
• CITI Program Training preferred.

FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT (FLSA) STATUS

This position is classified as exempt based on the job duties. However, based on the FTE, salary level of the employee, or federal/state/local laws, the employee may be classified as nonexempt.

PHI WORKFORCE MANDATORY COVID-19 VACCINATION POLICY

Per the PHI Workforce Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, it is a condition of employment for all domestic based employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, unless they are granted a reasonable accommodation under applicable law.

New hires need to provide proof of full vaccination prior to their start date or apply for an exemption/accommodation within three business days after their start date. Depending on the circumstances, new hires who do not comply with this Policy, or who cannot be reasonably accommodated, will either have their employment suspended or terminated. Candidates who are non-compliant will have their offers rescinded.

EEO Statement

The Public Health Institute is committed to a policy that provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition including genetic characteristics, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identification and expression, sexual orientation, and to make all employment decisions so as to further this principle of equal employment opportunity. To this end, the PHI will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition including genetic characteristics, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identification and expression, sexual orientation, and will take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are offered employment and employees are treated during employment without regard to these characteristics.

For further information regarding Equal Employment Opportunity, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser: http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf

ADA Statement:

The Public Health Institute is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Recruitment Team at least 48 hours in advance at Recruitment@phi.org.

#LI-REMOTE

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We’re so pleased the Public Health Institute is an organization you would like to work with. Do you have questions about this opportunity? If so, email our recruitment team at Recruitment@phi.org.