Contracts Manager

About JFF Jobs for the Future (JFF) drives transformation of the U.S. education and workforce systems to achieve economic advancement for all. Seeing that millions of people are unfairly shut out of quality jobs and the chance for a better life, our goal is to align education, workforce, and employment changemakers toward a shared North Star: By 2033, 75 million people facing systemic barriers to advancement will work in quality jobs. To achieve that goal, we design solutions, scale best practices, influence policy and action, and invest in innovation. With a staff of more than 200 people across the country working remotely and in offices in Boston (headquarters), Washington, DC, and Oakland, California, we operate at the national, state, and local levels, forging deep partnerships with employers, investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and education and workforce development providers to break down barriers and reimagine what’s possible. Equal Employment Opportunity at JFF Inclusion, belonging, and well-being are core to JFF’s North Star and mission, and we seek to invest in and learn from those who represent the communities we serve as it is important to the success of our work and the engagement of our staff members. We aim to cultivate a culture that centers the overall care, well-being, and success of the employee through flexible work hours, balanced workloads, professional development, and career advancement opportunities for all. JFF is a fair chance employer and in alignment to our North Star , we hire based on qualifications, and experience, and we are committed to fair opportunity for all qualified candidates – including those without a 4-year degree or with a conviction history. 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 Finance 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 Senior Director 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 <span data-contrast="