Assistant Director for Contracts and Compliance
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA
Full-time
Management
Posted on February 18, 2023
Procurement Services has an exciting opportunity for an Assistant Director for Contracts and Compliance to join our team!
At Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), we celebrate research, creativity, service and discovery — the hallmarks of the VCU experience. A premier, urban, public research university nationally recognized as one of the best employers for diversity, VCU is a great place to work. It's a place of opportunity, where your success is supported and your career can thrive. VCU offers employees a generous leave package, career paths for advancement, competitive pay, and an opportunity to do mission-driven work.
Typical Duties:
- The Assistant Director for Contracts and Compliance ensures that university contracts executed for the purchase goods and services are appropriately written to include equitable terms, minimize university risk and avoid post-award contractual disputes.
General responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Supervises a team of one or more contract reviewers/analysts.
Contract Reviews: - Analyzes a wide variety of more complex contracts to purchase goods and services, including clauses, stipulations, obligations and liabilities for compliance to university standards, policies, rules and business requirements and recommends appropriate modifications with sufficient rationale.
Contract Guidance and Support: - Collaborate with individuals from both campuses and leadership to address client service, strategic planning, work process review and enhancement, and education needs.
- Resolve complex issues independently and refers unprecedented or sensitive issues to a higher level.
- Provides general contract guidance and support to the Contracts Review Team, departments and procurement staff.
- Assists the Contracts Review Team, departments and procurement staff to negotiate contract terms and conditions by analyzing proposed changes and/or drafting acceptable alternate language, including coordination with management and University Counsel.
- Assists staff to evaluate and prepare draft responses to contract disputes.
- 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 within established standards and guidelines, including coordination with management and University Counsel.
- Creates and publishes a library of approved clauses and templates to improve the efficiency of the contract authoring and negotiation process.
- Tracks and evaluates exceptions approved to standard terms and conditions for future potential use.
Contracts Database Management: - Establishes procedures to ensure contact 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.
- Maintains a process that tracks pending contract reviews to ensure reviews are promptly and appropriately moving through the system.
- Supports planning, implementation and post-implementation management of University-wide contracts management system and its workflow.
- Collects and evaluates contracts data, and tests functionality to ensure fit for use.
- Documents departmental business processes and assists with re-engineering to improve process and compliance with policies.
- Represents Procurement Services in compliance related committees and audits.
- Juris Doctorate degree.
- 5 years of supervisory experience with a demonstrated history of increased responsibilities.
- Significant work experience in a state university procurement office or in public contracting.
- Advanced knowledge of contract methods, standards and terminology in a university setting or in a public contracting setting.
- 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.
- Proficient use of Word and PowerPoint.
- Strong ability to effectively use technology.
- Strong oral, written, and interpersonal skills.
- Strong analytic experience
- Experience using contract management and authoring tools.
- Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff and student environment or commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.
- Professional procurement/contracting certifications at the state or national levels, such as certifications offered by NCMA, NIGP, ISM, etc.
Position Details:
Department: Procurement Services
Employment Type: UF - University Employee FT
Restricted Status: No
FTE: 100
Exemption Status: Exempt