Contracts Specialist II at FHI360 NGO

Job Summary:

The Contract Specialist will work in partnership with FHI 360 HQ Contracting Officers and other staff to efficiently operate and maintain an effective contracts portfolio management system. Principal duties will include contract administration and professional / managerial support to ensure full compliance with donor rules and regulations. The Contract Specialist will perform specialized tasks from pre-award to close-out as assigned by the supervisory Contracting Officer located at the FHI 360 Headquarters in the US. These tasks may include a wide variety of discrete transactions occurring at various stages of the award and sub award processes.

Typical tasks include but not limited to:

Supplementing the technical assistance provided by the Contracting Officer to proposal development and operations staff to produce competitive and responsive proposals. The Contract Specialist will provide informed interpretation of fundamental regulations and standard contract requirements. Conduct selects negotiations with the guidance of the Contracting Officer. Provide technical assistance to operations staff and other enterprise services staff on matters of contract interpretation and compliance. Prepare and submit requests for donor approval as delegated by the Contracting Officer. Prepare, review, and approve sub awards and procurement actions up to authorized thresholds. Conduct contract close-out. Assist the Contracting Officer in preparing management reports.

Accountabilities:

Pre-award:

• Provides supplemental interpretation of fundamental regulations and standard contract requirements to help produce competitive and responsive proposals.

Post-award (Prime):

• Assists in the review of prime award documents prior to signature.
• Receive and process signed contracts from clients. Assure completeness and accuracy of contracts.
• Data set-up in contract management/financial management system.
• Serves as first responder to operations staff and enterprise services staff on routine business transactions of a contractual nature.
• Prepares and submit routine business transactions such as requests for donor approval as delegated by the Contracting Officer.
• Prepares periodic management reports.
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisory Contracting Officer.

Post-award (Lower-tier):

• Prepares, reviews, and approves sub awards and select procurement actions following established procedures and thresholds.
• Process sub award data in sub award database.
• Prepares, reviews and modifications to sub awards.
• Works in partnership with Project operations staff to monitor sub award compliance with flow-down provisions.

Records management:

• Work in partnership with records management staff to maintain the accuracy and integrity of the unit filing system.

Accountabilities will be differentiated by:

• Degree of complexity of transactions handled (transition from routine/moderate complexity to higher complexity.
• Level of interaction with internal and external clients.
• Exercise of expanding decision rights.
• Quantity of transactions handled.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Applied Knowledge & Skills:

• Increasingly advancing knowledge of donor (USG and non-USG) rules and regulations, common mechanisms of funding, types of acquisition and assistance awards, contracting concepts and principles from the solicitation phase to post-award administration.
• Critical thinking and stronger analytical skills applied to successful completion of tasks.
• Increasingly effective/persuasive oral communication and business/technical writing skills.
• Demonstrable growth in technical expertise on regulatory matters, contract management systems, processes and computer software.

Problem Solving & Impact:

• Works on increasingly complex and problems of diverse scope requiring critical analysis and comprehensive evaluation of critical factors.
• Increasingly exercising independent judgment in developing methods and techniques to obtain solutions (and process improvements).
• Increasing independence in determining specific tasks to accomplish in order to meet certain goals and objectives.

Supervision Given/Received:

• Increasing self-reliance in performing tasks.
• Needing lesser regular supervision.
• Higher proficiency and confidence in operating within established operating procedures.

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree or its International Equivalent
• Business Administration, Legal Studies or Related Field.

Experience:

• Typically requires a degree with 7-9 years’ experience in a contracting position either in the Federal Government or a Non-governmental Organization (NGO).
• Advanced (above intermediate) knowledge of donor (USG and non-USG) rules and regulations applicable to sponsored projects.
• Advanced understanding of contracting concepts and principles.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and project management skills.
• Manage a variety of activities and pay close attention to detail.
• Proficiency in word processing, spreadsheets, and Internet capabilities.
• Read, write and speak English. Fluency in a foreign language is desired.
• Ability to work independently and prioritize tasks.
• Ability to interact professionally in culturally diverse settings.
• Ability to research and interpret information to respond to inquiries.

Typical Physical Demands:

• Typical office environment.
• Ability to spend long hours looking at computer screen and doing repetitive work on a keyboard.
• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time.
• Ability to lift/move up to 5 lbs.

Technology to be Used:

• Personal Computer/Laptop, Microsoft applications (i.e., Office 365, SharePoint, Skype/Zoom/Teams), cell phone/mobile technology, and standard office equipment.