Senior Contract Analyst

VCU Procurement Services has an exciting opportunity for a Senior Contract Analyst!

All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes: comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, generous tuition benefit, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

Summary

The Senior Contracts Analyst ensures that university contracts executed for the purchase of goods and services are written to comply with Virginia law and include equitable terms, minimize university risk and avoid post-award contractual disputes.
General responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Contract Reviews:
•Analyzes a wide variety of high-dollar, complex contracts to purchase goods and services, including clauses, stipulations, obligations and liabilities for compliance to university standards, policies, laws, rules and business requirements, and recommends appropriate modifications with sufficient rationale. Liaisons between departments and procurement staff in identifying business needs and advises on strategies to support sound business plans and contracts.

Contract Guidance and Support:
•Provides general contract guidance and support to departments and procurement staff.
•Assists departments and procurement staff to negotiate contract terms and conditions, proposed changes and/or drafting acceptable alternate language, including coordination with management and University Counsel.
•Negotiates contract terms and conditions with vendor senior management and legal counsel.
•Assists departments to evaluate and prepare draft responses to contract disputes consistent with legal principles.
•Assists in the preparation and delivery of training related to contracting standards and templates. Monitors contract-related web content and drafts updates and coordinates changes with supervisor and webmaster.

Contract Clause and Template Management:
•Manages the department’s database of standard contract clauses, provisions and templates.
•Drafts, reviews, and updates clauses and templates consistent with the law, established standards and guidelines, including coordination with supervisor and University Counsel.
•Creates and publishes approved clauses and templates via a contract authoring system.
•Tracks and evaluates exceptions approved to standard terms and conditions for future potential use.

Contracts Database Management & Log:
•Establishes procedures to ensure contract records are appropriately recorded and maintained within the university’s contract management system.
•Monitors appropriate use of the system, trains staff and develops and publishes reports in coordination with supervisor.
•Uses the contract management system ensure reviews are promptly and appropriately moving through the review cycle;
•Plays a key support role in the planning, implementation and post-implementation management of University-wide contracts management and authoring systems.
•Documents departmental business processes and assists with re-engineering of processes to conform to new system standards.
•Collects and evaluates contracts data, and tests functionality to ensure fit for use.
•Develops and provides user training.

Minimum Qualifications

•Bachelor or advanced degree in business administration, law, procurement, contracting or a related field.
•Significant work experience in public contracting.
•Advanced knowledge of contract methods, laws, standards and terminology.
•Organizational skills to independently and effectively manage a large volume of complex assignments with minimal guidance.
•Ability to make effective decisions that resolve complicated issues. Strong ability to effectively use technology.
•Strong oral, written, and interpersonal skills.
•Ability to work in a fast-paced and diverse environment. Proficient use of Word, Adobe Acrobat, and PowerPoint.
•Ability to work in a diverse work environment.

Preferred Qualifications

•Professional procurement/contracting certifications at the state or national levels, such as certifications offered by NCMA, NIGP, ISM, etc.
•Strong analytic experience
•Experience using contract management and authoring tools.