Contracts Administrator

RAND seeks a Contract Administrator at a Mid-Level or Senior level to join the Contracts Team within the Contract & Grant Services department, with a focus on contracting in a research environment. Experience working with a variety of sponsor types is preferred, including federal government agencies, state and local governments, nonprofit organizations, private foundations, and commercial entities.

About the role

Under minimal supervision and guidance, the Mid-Level/Senior Contract Administrator independently performs moderate to highly complex contract administration activities, including proposal submission, negotiation, execution, and administration of RAND's sponsored research agreements. Assignments at this level require the use of independent judgment and initiative in resolving problems and making recommendations. This position may also provide training and direction to less experienced Contract Administrators and other support staff.

Responsibilities

• Review RFPs/RFQs for contractual issues and provide input in support of proposal efforts, such as advising RAND research and proposal development staff regarding proposal preparation and interpretation of sponsor requirements.
• Draft, coordinate, and execute proposal-related non-financial agreements, such as nondisclosure, teaming, and data use agreements.
• As the authorized RAND representative, conduct compliance review and submit sponsored research proposals.
• Review contract agreements to ensure terms and conditions align with RAND’s policies and mission.
• Research and interpret Federal Acquisition Regulations (FARs), Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), and other laws, regulations, rules, guidelines, and contract terms to determine organizational compliance. Engage with the legal team, IT security, and other subject matter experts as needed, and advise RAND management on acceptability.
• Negotiate terms and conditions of sponsor agreements of varying types (FFP, T&M, LH, CPFF, IDIQ, Task Orders, etc.) and related modifications as an independent contributor and authorized negotiator. This includes drafting and preparing agreements, as well as markup of external agreements, requiring a full understanding of legal concepts and contract law.
• Develop negotiation strategies and draft terms and conditions acceptable to RAND and its sponsors, in accordance with RAND’s policies, procedures, and mission.
• Monitor active projects for compliance with sponsor and RAND requirements, and prepare periodic status reports and change management notices as needed.
• Coordinate and manage post-award modification and change management requests.
• Assist with miscellaneous contractual matters such as copyrights, nondisclosure agreements, and intellectual property issues.
• Provide advice and guidance to project leaders, project staff, and division leadership related to terms and conditions, schedules, and contractual obligations.
• Coordinate the project close-out process.
• Maintain official contractual communication between RAND and its sponsors.
• Serve as the primary interface with RAND sponsors on substantial and/or sensitive contractual/business matters.
• Facilitate problem identification and resolution in pre- and post-award areas.
• Collaborate with pricing, purchasing, accounting, finance, and operations staff, as well as other administrative groups, to resolve contractual issues and disputes and ensure compliance with contractual requirements.
• Maintain cooperative working relationships with other offices within RAND and provide advice and assistance as needed.
• Provide informal guidance to new team members.
• Maintain and manage accurate electronic files and documentation.

Senior Contract Administrator Additional Responsibilities

• Advise management of contractual rights, obligations, and risks, and provide interpretation of terms and conditions.
• Monitor external publications for policy and legal developments issued by Federal Agencies pertaining to government contract administration (e.g., Federal Register, Acquisition.gov, Sam.gov).
• Act as a resource and mentor for colleagues with less experience.

Requirements

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Excel, Word, OneNote, OneDrive, Teams, SharePoint, PowerPoint) and Adobe Acrobat Professional.
• Experience with Workday and/or Salesforce platforms is a plus.
• Certification in Contract Management is a plus.
• Knowledge of various financial and non-financial agreements and how they influence project implementation, administration, and compliance.
• Ability to research, interpret, and communicate requirements to ensure RAND’s rights and obligations are protected.
• Strong communication skills to effectively engage with internal and external partners, remotely and in person.
• Ability to establish strategic and collaborative working relationships with internal and external partners.
• Ability to manage a large volume of tasks and competing priorities in a reliable, efficient manner.
• Critical thinking skills to help create solutions rather than waiting for others to address challenges.
• High level of attention to detail.

Qualifications

Contract Administrator: A bachelor’s degree in a related discipline and 4 years of relevant experience is preferred. However, a combination of education and relevant experience may be substituted, where a High School Diploma or GED equivalent would require 8 years of experience.

Senior Contract Administrator: A bachelor’s degree in a related discipline and 6 years of relevant experience is preferred. However, a combination of education and relevant experience may be substituted, where a High School Diploma or GED equivalent would require 10 years of experience.

Locations

Pittsburgh, PA; Washington, DC; Santa Monica, CA. Open to hybrid or remote work arrangements.

Pay

Salary range: $75,700 - $130,900.

• Contract Administrator: $75,700 - $112,400
• Senior Contract Administrator: $88,000 - $130,900

RAND considers a variety of factors when formulating an offer, including the specific role and associated responsibilities; a candidate’s work experience, education/training, skills, and expertise; and internal equity. The salary range includes base pay plus RAND’s sabbatic pay (which provides additional compensation above base pay when vacation is taken).

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage
• Life and disability insurance
• Savings plan
• Paid time-off