Contracts Associate

AIR is currently seeking a Contracts Associate to join a strong and seasoned team of contracts and procurement professionals.  The Contracts Associate has responsibility for post-award subcontract administration and related procurement functions. This position provides advice and support on federal compliance, contractual risk identification and mitigation strategies, and procurement integrity advice to internal stakeholders and external partners.  The Contracts Associate is critical to ensuring AIR’s regulatory compliance and mitigation of risks inherent in contracting and procurement transactions.  This position ensures that terms of subcontracts and other procurements are pursuant to policies, legal requirements, and provisions of our customer contracts. This position is highly visible and interacts with all levels of management and staff involved in prime and subcontracting activities.  The Contracts Associate is part of a dynamic organization that values opportunities for staff to grow personal and professional experiences and influence.  Leading contributions to efficiencies and effectiveness is encouraged and recognized for reward.

Candidates hired for the position may work remotely or from one of our U.S. office locations .

About AIR:

Established in 1946, with headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, AIR is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit institution that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to solve some of the most urgent challenges in the U.S. and around the world. We advance evidence in the areas of education, health, the workforce, human services, and international development to create a better, more equitable world.

AIR’s commitment to diversity goes beyond legal compliance to its full integration in our strategy, operations, and work environment. At AIR, we define diversity broadly, considering everyone’s unique life and community experiences. We believe that embracing diverse perspectives, abilities/disabilities, racial/ethnic and cultural backgrounds, styles, ages, genders, gender identities and expressions, education backgrounds, and life stories drives innovation and employee engagement. Learn more about AIR's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategy and hear from our staff by clicking here .

The responsibilities for the position include:

• Support internal staff in the preparation, monitoring, and administration of subcontracts.
• Support client-facing staff with guidance for well-defined statements of work ensuring the requisite contractual and administrative documentation to support procurement integrity.     
• Contribute to the broader service delivery team and external client expectations.   
• Work closely with the client service delivery teams, finance teams, proposal teams and other members of the contracts and procurement department.
• Participate in the conduct and compliance audits of simple to moderate procurements in accordance with client and prime contract requirements, Federal Acquisition Regulations, OMB’s Uniform Grant Guidance (UGG), responsive obligations to cognizant audit agency, and company policy.
• Work with various information management and workflow systems including OnBase ECM and Deltek CostPoint, and other internally developed applications.
• Grade quality and qualifications of 3rd party consultants, subcontractors, and suppliers, including source selection.
• Negotiate basic subcontract terms and conditions, including the flow-down of obligatory clauses.
• Assist service delivery teams in interpreting requirements for 3rd party team members and sourcing and compiling responses used in proposals to clients.
• Administer agreements and internal records management used by and integral to effective compliance and stewardship by client service delivery teams and financial leadership.
• Learn supplier diversity and Federal expectations for set-aside subcontracting.
• Support small business requirements.
• Learn and administer FFATA reporting to FSRS.gov.
• Perform duties in compliance with assorted procurement policies and processes, including 2CFR200 Uniform Grant Guidance and Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).
• Provide support in areas requested regarding contract and subcontract Close-out.
• Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time based on institutional needs.

Education, Knowledge, and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree or commensurate experience.
• At least 2 years’ experience in Procurement, specifically Subcontracting and Services areas, with Domestic Federal Contracts and Grants.
• Experience with Costpoint or another cost accounting system.

Skills:

• Effective communicator continually demonstrating sensitivity to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Demonstrated ability to work well independently, and collaborate as a member of team, while prioritizing multiple objectives and projects to consistently meet established timelines.
• Demonstrated analytical, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Proven ability to work successfully both independently and collaboratively.
• Strong decision making, problem resolution, solutions development, and time management skills.
• Strong work ethic, self-starter, independent thinker, enthusiastic attitude toward the mission.
• Ability to work in fast-paced environment with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365, including OneDrive, SharePoint, Excel, Word, and Adobe Acrobat Pro.

Disclosures:

AIR requires all new hires to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or receive a legally required exemption from AIR, as a condition of employment.  AIR will ask candidates to verify their vaccination status only after a conditional offer of employment is made.  Applicants should not provide information about their vaccination status or need for exemption prior to receiving a conditional offer of employment from AIR.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis. Employment-based visa sponsorship (including H-1B sponsorship) is not available for this position. Depending on project work, qualified candidates may need to meet certain residency requirements.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability.

AIR adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

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