Contract Specialist I

Title: Contract Specialist 1

Location: Storrs United States
Work type: Full-time
Categories: Grants and Contracts

JOB SUMMARY

The University of Connecticut seeks to hire a Contract Specialist to support the Procurement Contracting & Compliance team with a variety of contracts in support of the needs of the campus community.  Under the general direction of the University Director of Procurement Contracting & Compliance and/or the Senior Contract Specialist, this role will utilize existing policies, procedures, and statutes to draft and negotiate terms and conditions for a variety of university contracts.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include but are not limited to:

• Drafts and negotiates contract language for various contracts under assigned commodities.
• Responsible for the administration of all contractual activities for University Procurement Contracting & Compliance, as they relate to the needs of the University community.
• Collaborate with internal customer departments and colleagues within Procurement, as needed, to draft clear contracts that accurately capture the negotiated business terms.
• Represents the department with authority to act on behalf of the University Director, when expressly authorized.
• Ensures proper controls over contracting procedures for sound fiscal and administrative management and compliance with state ethics codes.
• Responsible for preparation and legal review of contracts and agreements submitted to the Office of the General Counsel and Office of the Attorney General.
• Monitors and tracks contracts and related documents for compliance with State and Federal statutes, Board of Trustees policies, Office of the General Counsel/Attorney General guidelines, internal procedures formulated by the University, and contract terms and conditions.
• Prepares and manages reports; maintains knowledge of, and interprets, applicable State and Federal statutes and regulations, Board of Trustees policies, Office of the General Counsel/Attorney General Guidelines, and the State’s Code of Ethics; provides information, instruction and/or training, as needed or requested, in relation to university compliance with contractual matters.
• Inform customers and/or vendors on new and/or current procurement procedures and guidelines.
• Analyzes technical data, i.e., scope of work and pricing information, vendor performance, and compliance with finalizing contracts.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

1. Bachelor’s degree in business, or a related field and four years of related professional experience in a comparable environment OR an Associate’s degree in business, or a related field and six years of related professional experience in a comparable environment OR eight years of professional contracting experience in a comparable environment.

2. General working knowledge of accepted procurement practices and the ability to negotiate contract language to address the risks related to each type of arrangement which may be used in a wide range of varying and unique commodity groups and/or services.
3. Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills.
4. Excellent computer skills with strong technical skills to work with multiple software programs including Microsoft Office. 
5. Ability to work independently with minimal supervision under tight deadlines while managing multiple projects.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

1. Bachelor’s or advanced degree in related discipline.
2. Knowledge of contract theory, principles, laws, regulations and applicable federal and state procurement statutes, and policies.
3. Experience developing and executing complex contracting strategies that maximize workflow efficiencies, process improvements, and operational performance.
4. Experience with contracting in the State of Connecticut.
5. Ability to assess organizational needs, communicate those needs to the vendor community, negotiate as needed, and evaluate contracts to determine technical compliance and resolve discrepancies.
6. Knowledge of contract management systems automated procurement systems 

APPOINTMENT TERMS

This is a full-time position at the Storrs campus working Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The starting salary range for this position will be $75,000-$83,727 and final salary will be determined based on the successful candidate’s experience and training.

The department is currently working under a hybrid work schedule requiring all staff to be on the Storrs campus two (2) days per week and working remotely three (3) days per week.  This schedule may change subject to authorization and University policy. 

The University offers a competitive salary, and outstanding benefits, including employee and dependent tuition waivers at UConn, and a highly desirable work environment. Other rights, terms, and conditions of employment are contained in the collective bargaining agreement between the University of Connecticut and the University of Connecticut Professional Employees Association (UCPEA).

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check.

All members of the University of Connecticut are expected to exhibit appreciation of, and contribute to, an inclusive, respectful, and diverse environment for the University community.

The University of Connecticut aspires to create a community built on collaboration and belonging and has actively sought to create an inclusive culture within the workforce. The success of the University is dependent on the willingness of our diverse employee and student populations to share their rich perspectives and backgrounds in a respectful manner. This makes it essential for each member of our community to feel secure and welcomed and to thoroughly understand and believe that their ideas are respected by all. We strongly respect each individual employee’s unique experiences and perspectives and encourage all members of the community to do the same. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, age, sex, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, genetic information, physical or mental disabilities, veteran’s status, status as a victim of domestic violence and/or sexual assault and/or trafficking in persons as defined by Connecticut law, prior conviction of a crime, workplace hazards to the reproductive systems, or gender identity or expression.

The University of Connecticut is an AA/EEO employer including for Disability and Veteran status.