Contracts and Agreements Administrator

About the Role:

The Contracts and Agreements Administrator is responsible for the preparation, execution, and closeout of all contracts and agreements related to awards, services, and procurement. The position will report directly to the COO.

About Big Thought:

Big Thought equips youth in marginalized communities to imagine and create their best lives and world. The secret that makes our work uniquely effective is the powerful combination of our social and emotional focus, experiential learning, community-centered partnerships, inclusion/equity lens, and future focus.

Throughout our 30+ year history of innovation, Big Thought has become a national model in arts education, out-of-school time systems, summer learning, and juvenile justice intervention. Now, were one of six community partnerships in the U.S. helping scale national best practices in Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). We take direct-to-youth programs and resources to communities with the greatest needs and share our evidence-based best practices with other nonprofits and organizations through a suite of consultation services including professional development, curriculum design, and technical assistance.

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#Big Thought Way:

Big Thought brings relentless optimism, innovation, and imagination to everything we do. Our kids come first, and we use a collaborative, all-hands-on-deck approach to ensure that they are served well.

About the Ideal Candidate:

Administer all aspects of contracts and agreements between Big Thought and its partners/third parties to deliver or acquire requisite services and products. Act as the point of contact for all communications between Big Thought and its partners/third parties as they relate to awards, services, and agreements.

What the Role Entails:

  • Ensure all contracts and agreements comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, and Big Thought policies and procedures.
  • Coordinate with Big Thought’s internal and external legal teams to facilitate the review of contracts and agreements when necessary.
  • Oversee all contracts and agreements monitoring activities, including the identification, and tracking of critical deliverables, services, reporting obligations, deadlines, payment terms, and renewal and closeout/termination requirements.
  • Schedule and lead award kickoff, post-award, and closeout meetings for all projects, including ensuring that all relevant parties are invited to the meetings, to monitor and ensure that obligations are laid out and well understood.
  • Support the BTI and Program/Systems teams by searching for and identifying earned income funding opportunities and assisting them in the development and review of proposals in response to associated RFPs, RFQs, and other fee-for-service opportunities. Submits the finalized proposal on behalf of Big Thought and monitors and updates proposal status in a timely manner.
  • Maintain open, positive, and responsive lines of communication with internal and external partners.
  • Collaborate and coordinate with Big Thought colleagues, external partners, and stakeholders to ensure that the contracts and agreements process is undertaken in a concerted, constructive, and customer service-centric manner that fosters collaboration and consensus. Recommend appropriate changes to process as necessary.
  • Work with internal colleagues and external partners to ensure that contractual issues and problems are resolved as expeditiously and amicably as possible.
  • Track third-party (including subcontractors) compliance and performance with project-specific terms, conditions, and reporting and audit requirements.
  • Maintain up-to-date knowledge of associated regulations, requirements, and best practices.
  • Work with the Finance and Operations team to promptly create new project accounts in Big Thoughts accounting, contracting, and project management systems.
  • Support the design, implementation, and monitoring of contracting and financial systems processes and software to improve compliance with partner/sponsor requirements and ensure efficiency enhancements and improvements are realized whenever possible.
  • Collaborate with IT to ensure that the Contracts Management Information System is maintained and updated on an ongoing basis.
  • Works with the Big Thought team and external partners to proactively identify opportunities for process and workflow improvements.
  • Maintain an electronic archive of all relevant documents and deliverables.
  • Support all internal and external audit requests and requirements.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Bachelors Degree and 4+ years of relevant professional experience.
  • Must be able to maintain and safeguard confidential information, discretion and tact are critical.
  • Detail-oriented and well-organized, the ability to manage multiple priorities and/or projects is essential.
  • Mature professional judgment and effective problem-resolution skills.
  • Ability to identify and communicate legal and business risks to project leads and relevant staff.
  • Must possess excellent writing, editing, analytical, and oral communications skills.
  • Capacity to communicate complex contractual terms and concepts into understandable languages.
  • Demonstrated comfort with ambiguity.
  • Must be a team player with a positive attitude. The position requires resilience and flexibility to be able to adapt to changing conditions.
  • Ability to work collegially and effectively with others, both within and outside of the organization. The capacity to establish and maintain long-term relationships that foster trust is essential.
  • Salesforce experience is desired, although not required.

Physical Expectations (not an exhaustive list):

Big Thought jobs are hands-on and can be physically demanding. To perform the duties of these roles successfully, you may regularly be required to: sit, stand, or stare at a computer screen for long periods of time; participate in external activities; use various office equipment, some manual; work in an environment with loud sounds, multiple distractions, and interruptions; be exposed to extreme hot or cold temperatures on occasion; maintain emotional control during stressful situations.

BIG THOUGHT ASPIRES TO BE A WORKPLACE OF INCLUSION & EQUITY. WE VISUALIZE A WORKPLACE THAT PROVIDES AN EXCEPTIONAL EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE. WE BELIEVE A BASELINE REQUIREMENT TO ACHIEVE OUR VISION IS FOR EVERYONE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT REGARDLESS OF THE ISSUE AT HAND.

Big Thought is an equal-opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

Employees of Big Thought are expected to participate in mission-driven activities, meetings, committees, etc. BT is based on a team environment and openness to always lend a hand as appropriate to another employee.

All employees are required to adhere to BT policies and procedures. All employees may expect to perform duties as assigned. In addition, all employees may be assigned other duties in the spirit of teamwork.

NOTE: This posting is not an employment agreement or contract. The CEO and/or designee has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice.