Senior Contract Administrator

Department
 

Booth Accounting: Procurement and Contracts

About the Department
 

The University of Chicago Booth School of Business is the second-oldest business school in the U.S. and second to none when it comes to influencing business education and business practices. Since 1898, the school has produced ideas and leaders that shape the world of business. Their rigorous, discipline-based approach to business education transforms students into confident, effective, respected business leaders prepared to face the toughest challenges. Chicago Booth has the finest set of facilities of any business school in the world. Each of the four campuses (two in Chicago, one in London, and one in Hong Kong) reflects the architectural traditions of its environs while offering a state-of-the-art learning environment. Chicago Booth is proud to claim: -an unmatched faculty. -degree and open enrollment programs offered on three continents. -a global body of nearly 54,000 accomplished alumni. - strong and growing corporate relationships that provide a wealth of lifelong career opportunities. As part of the world-renowned University of Chicago, Chicago Booth shares the University's core values that shape the distinctive intellectual culture. At Booth, they constantly question and test ideas, and seek proof. This extraordinarily effective approach to business leads to new ideas and innovative solutions. Seven of the Booth faculty members have won Nobel Prizes for these ideas - the first business school to achieve this accomplishment. For more information about the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, please visit: http://www.chicagobooth.edu/.

Job Summary
 

The Senior Contract Administrator establishes highest-level contract strategy and drives implementation of strategic contract opportunities with the most significant impact to Chicago Booth. Responsible for managing critical contractual formation and management, obligations of high risk and visibility. Establish a strategic contract management program that creates value for Chicago Booth through long-range strategic sourcing by developing strategic acquisition approaches to leverage school-wide buying power to achieve cost savings opportunities, process improvement, compliance and appropriate legal and final risk mitigation. Leverage tools and technology to establish an e-platform support the contract management program and administrative processes. Negotiate, manage and administer commercial contracts in accordance with University policies and procedures, federal, state and local laws and regulations and best business practices. Review, identify, negotiate and mitigate legal, financial and liability risks within a broad range of supplier agreements including: special event, professional services, data subscriptions, non-disclosure, information technology, facilities services, and revenue.

Responsibilities

• Develops and maintains understanding of current policies, procedures, and regulations, related to procurement and contracting, imposed by the University, city, state and federal governments.
• Reviews supplier and service provider’s contracts and agreements to identify, negotiate and propose appropriate mitigation of legal, financial, and liability risks.  Identifies insurance, cost and other business issues contained in the vendor terms and conditions. Identifies ambiguities, inaccurate statements, and omissions of essential terms and conditions.  Negotiates final terms and conditions with supplier incorporating input from University Risk Management, Legal Counsel and other University organizations. Submits final agreements for execution by senior manager.
• Leverages existing technology and tools to support strategic program goals and performs proactive contract management to include monitoring contractor performance to ensure compliance with contractual obligations, contract payments, and determining need for contract changes.  Identifies and implements new tools and technologies that will increase data reporting and analysis for identification of strategic opportunities and reduce administrative tasks associated with contract management.
• Interprets contract requirements and conveys understanding to departments.
• Identifies opportunities for long-term sustainable savings from reduced consumption strategies, specification change strategies, and supply-base productivity improvements requirements.  Negotiates and executes master agreements that will result in improved risk mitigation and reduced pricing and internal administrative costs.  Influences client behavior through strategic relationships, communications and outreach.
• Establishes and maintains a close working relationship with University resources to include Purchasing and Payment Services, Legal Counsel, Risk Management and University Research Administration and external resources to include ISM.  Utilizes the resources to identify best business practices, lessons learned and industry trends.
• Reviews item specifications for equipment, materials, capital improvements, and services to determine the applicability of the specifications to the procurement needs of the department; analyzes specifications to determine whether they are sufficiently accurate and complete to solicit realistic and responsive offers from suppliers.
• Drafts Statements of Work, Requests for Information (RFI), Requests for Quotations (RFQ), Requests for Proposal (RFP), and evaluation criteria.
• Reviews, evaluates and approves justifications of sole source procurements.
• Analyzes price proposals, financial reports, and other data and information to determine price reasonableness.
• Conducts formal competitive solicitations; identifies vendors to solicit; tabulates, reviews and compares proposals with specifications to verify conformance to specifications; considers the quality of the items and services and the ability of the vendors to meet the demands of the department in order to make an award recommendation.
• Establishes strategic relationships with the supply base; conducts research on market dynamics, cost drivers, supplier business models, and historical spend to drive cost savings through continuous improvement activities and reduce overall purchasing cost.
• Ensures service and communication to PIs, standardized information, best practices development, and that all faculty and research staff are aware of any new grant policies and changes.
• Analyzes industry trends and remains current with agency and regulatory changes. Monitors department/ unit compliance with University, Divisional and Department policies and procedures and implements corrective actions for issues identified.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Degree specific to business administration, business law, or related field.
• Law degree or paralegal certification.

Experience:

• At least three years of relevant progressive experience in the field of commercial contract negotiation and management.
• Experience within a higher education procurement environment or the corporate department of a law firm.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Demonstrated understanding of e-platform and e-commerce technologies.
• Demonstrated proficiency in the use of Microsoft Word, Excel, ACCESS and Outlook.
• Knowledgeable with standard legal and insurance concepts, practices, and procedures.
• Knowledgeable with the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), legal terminology of purchase, service and consulting contracts, insurance requirements, and indemnification clause translation.
• Technical knowledge to review, negotiate and provide guidance on intellectual property contracts.

Preferred Competencies

• Strong process management, organizational and effective time management skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication.
• Excellent analytical, organizational and follow up skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Strong understanding of databases to include: use, navigation and construction of databases as a tool to move an organization from reactive to proactive.
• Self-motivated and ability to problem solve.
• Exercise independent judgment.
• Produce high quality of work.

Working Conditions

• This position is currently expected to work a minimum three days per week in the office.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST  be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family
 

Financial Management

Role Impact
 

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status
 

Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

37.5

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

Requires Compliance with University Covid-19 Vaccination Requirement
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

Employees must comply with the University’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements. More information about the requirements can be found on the University of Chicago Vaccination GoForward .
The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

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