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 and detail-oriented and is energized by managing mission-critical projects and working collaboratively with others. The Contracts Manager will be responsible for supporting 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 the 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 the 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 bring a deep understanding of contracts administration processes where 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; New hires at the Manager level typically bring 3-5 years of professional experience across full-time, part-time, internship, and/or freelance roles.
• 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
• 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
• Your collaborative nature allows you the ability to manage up and across in order to complete projects
• You bring and demonstrate governance and compliance familiarity for Contracts in support of finance
• 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 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, including AI tools; 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 different backgrounds, and building and stewarding an organizational culture that embraces fairness, connectedness, and inclusion
• 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 willing to commit to 10% of travel time (around 6 times per year). This includes traveling to the Boston office to meet with the Contract Administration Team and participating in both team and organizational retreats, as needed.
• 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

What We Offer

At JFF, we’re fueled by the desire to create a world where everyone has equal opportunity for economic advancement. Our team works hard to push the boundaries of what is possible, and in return, we provide a gratifying work experience, competitive salaries, and a comprehensive benefits program designed to support employees wherever they are in their lives and careers. Our benefits program includes medical, dental, and vision insurance; retirement benefits through a 403(b) plan, including employer contributions for eligible employees; paid time off and paid leave benefits; and professional development opportunities.

JFF has offices in Boston, Oakland, and Washington, DC; employees are welcome to use JFF office space to work in-person or hybrid, or completely remote. In addition, new employees receive office equipment as needed.