Director, Contracts Management and Compliance; Preaward

Job Summary:

Senior‑level contract negotiation and administration, focusing on the pre‑award phase of the contract lifecycle. Lead, in collaboration with the Vice President, the development and implementation of defined pre‑award contract functions for the contracts department, and coordinate with contracts leadership to expand training for internal stakeholders on key contract concepts and requirements.

• Negotiate and administer a complex contract portfolio including prime awards, sub‑awards/subcontracts, and associated non‑monetary agreements.
• Maintain subject‑matter expertise and organizational knowledge to carry out compliant and timely contract administration from pre‑award through closeout.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with project teams and enterprise service groups (finance, legal, procurement, HR).
• Assist the department director in developing operational procedures, systems, templates, and tools in accordance with best practices and compliance with statutes, donor regulations, and organizational policy.
• Provide leadership and technical expertise on contractual topics and department infrastructure.
• Strengthen the library of pre‑award templates and guidance (business volume templates, teaming agreements, MOUs, NDAs, compliance matrices).
• Identify recurrent items and issues in bidding and negotiation, and develop processes and best practices.
• Identify and implement key trigger points for broader contracts department involvement in business development.
• Strengthen pre‑award best practices such as use of compliance matrices and memoranda of negotiation.
• Oversee timely participation of contract staff in pre‑award duties.
• Oversee reviews, negotiation, and administration of prime awards, sub‑awards, and subcontracts.
• Provide training, guidance, and support to contract staff.
• Advise other departments on contract and regulatory interpretation and analysis.
• Support US Government contracting compliance and audit activities.
• Act as contractual liaison to internal and external constituencies.
• Maintain communication with the department director on contract performance and management issues.
• Support identification of training and capacity‑building needs.
• Identify and implement best practices.
• Assist in developing and evaluating unit/division goals and objectives.
• Supervise staff activities, including planning, assigning, scheduling, reviewing work, and ensuring quality standards.
• Manage staff selection, development, and evaluation, including recruitment, performance assessments, and personnel actions.

• Senior‑level experience in contract negotiation, administration, and management.
• Management experience structuring direct‑report teams of contract professionals.
• Experience negotiating and administering prime awards, sub‑awards/subcontracts, and non‑monetary agreements.
• Comprehensive knowledge of U.S. Government acquisition and assistance regulations (FAR, UAR, AIDAR, HHSAR, etc.) and private‑sector contracting.
• Background in U.S. and non‑U.S. Government clinical research/research contracting requirements, regulations, and best practices.
• Strong technical knowledge of contract negotiation, management, and administration.
• Ability to work independently on multiple projects with minimal supervision.
• Superior written and oral communication skills.
• Negotiation and technical review skills regarding contract terms and conditions.
• Sensitivity to cross‑cultural communication and diversity issues.
• Knowledge of budgets and contracts.
• Microsoft Word and Excel proficiency.

• Master’s degree or Bachelor’s degree with 10+ years of relevant experience; 6+ years of management experience (alternatively, a Bachelor’s degree with 12 years of experience and 6 years of management).
• Minimum of 8+ years in a contracting authority role in Federal Government acquisition or assistance processes or comparable experience.
• At least 7 years reviewing, negotiating, and managing contracts, especially with U.S. Government agencies, foundations, and multilateral development organizations.
• Experience negotiating, administering, and managing clinical research/research contracts across U.S. Government,…