Howard University · 1 month ago
Senior Contract Specialist
DC-Baltimore Area
Full-time, Contract
Hybrid
Mid, Senior Level
$70K/yr - $80K/yr
5+ years expHoward University is a prestigious institution focused on strategic success through effective talent acquisition. The Senior Contract Specialist is responsible for managing contractual arrangements for goods and services, ensuring compliance with university policies and legal requirements, and serving as a liaison between the university and vendors.
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Responsibilities
Prepares documentation and legal draft of contracts/agreements, ensuring contract/agreement requirements are met, and works directly with Compliance Office and Office of General Counsel (OGC) to ensure contract/agreement language and requirements are appropriate and complies with Howard University and Hospital policies and procedures, and federal and state laws, to resolve compliance issues
Maintains confidentiality and protects sensitive data at all times, including patient & student, and proprietary information
Coordinates work with various departments and serves as a liaison between HU and vendors to oversee the intake, review and finalization of all contracts that bind the University
Maintain University Contracts and systems to ensure timely renegotiation and consistency of language/terms in order to provide maximum legal coverage
Examines the operational scope of contracts, working collaboratively with user departments to ensure compliance
Serves as a consultant and educator to management and administrative staff relating to contract/agreement compliance requirements and issues
Review and analyze contracts not requiring legal review and identify language issues and/or concerns
Provides guidance to technical personnel involved in the development of the statement of work or data requirements. Formulates the contracting approach to be taken that will best satisfy the requirement
In formally advertised procurements, ensures that the bid schedule is properly structured, prepares the solicitation, determines sources to be solicited, conducts prebid conferences, processes protests, determines the responsiveness of bids and determines the responsibility of the apparent low bidder based on an analysis of financial and technical information gained during the preaward survey, and awards or recommends award of the contract
In negotiated procurements, the employee plans the procurement action with technical, legal, and contract pricing personnel. Provides guidance in the development of the statement of work and data requirements, determines the type of contract best suited to the requirement, develops special clauses and terms and conditions applicable to the solicitation. Determines the sources to be solicited, prepares applicable determinations and findings, conducts preproposal conferences, receives and evaluates proposals in conjunction with price/cost analysts or other technical personnel, determines the competitive range in negotiations with one or more offerors, prepares award documents and makes presentation to a contract board of awards or source selection authority when appropriate. Responds to inquiries, including formal protests and congressional inquiries
Monitors contractor performance in relation to the completion schedule required by the contract, insuring timely submission of technical progress reports, making periodic visits to the contractor's facility or work site, detecting and correcting labor standards violations, taking appropriate action to expedite delivery or performance when required by mission changes, monitoring the contractor's use of University-furnished property inventories, and issuing change orders occasioned by changes in mission requirements, defective specifications, changed site conditions, or changes in University-furnished property. Negotiates settlements for such changes, approves contract payments, assesses liquidated or actual damages for nonperformance, issues show cause or cure notices, terminates contracts for default or convenience and negotiates settlements, prepares replies to other involved agencies, appeal boards, or congressional inquiries
Coordinates review of issues list with management staff. Negotiate all required language changes and review final documents to ensure all changes are appropriately made. Prepare correspondence necessary to accomplish the finalization of contracts being processed
Create contract files, negotiate changes, coordinate full and final execution of all contract documents, maintain Master Contract Filing system, administration and maintenance of the Contract Management Database, to include; monitoring, follow-up and resolution of all renewal notifications; scan and add all finalized contracts, amendments and insurance certificates to the database
Monitors Contracts Administration e-mail and responds to customer inquiries in a professional, courteous and prompt manner no later than one business day after receipt of inquiry
Maintains the highest degree of confidentiality with respect to information relating to business transactions and HU employees, patients, guests, physicians, co-workers and vendors
Assists in the preparation of training manuals and training documentation for on-going contracts training, ensuring that manuals are updated appropriately with the newest version of procedures
Assists with training faculty, staff, and students on legal issues in grants and contracts administration
Promotes adherence to the Health Sciences Compliance Program, the Howard University Code of Ethics and the Health Sciences Standards of Conduct
Attends annual and periodic mandatory Compliance Program training including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy training
Participates in activities that promote adherence to federal healthcare program requirements
Actively participates in Health Sciences Compliance Program activities
Adheres to the requirements of the HIPAA Privacy Policies and Procedures
Maintains confidentiality of patients, families, faculty, students, and staff
Performs other job related duties within the assigned timeframes assigned by Director
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or a related field of study
5 to 10 years experience in an academic, healthcare environment or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and training
Experience with Workday
Experienced with the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR/DFAR)
Preferred
Possession of a Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM)
Certified Federal Contracts Manager (CFCM)
Certified Research Administrator
Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) certification
Benefits
Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus mental health support
PTO, paid holidays, flexible work arrangements
Competitive salary, 403(b) with company match
Ongoing training, tuition reimbursement, and career advancement paths
Wellness programs, commuter benefits, and a vibrant company culture
Company
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, private, coeducational, and nonsectarian university.
5001-10000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Howard University has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (22)
2024 (34)
2023 (31)
2022 (29)
2021 (14)
2020 (12)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$29.9MKey Investors
Gilead SciencesAmerican Academy of Orthopaedic SurgeonsNational Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
2024-02-27Grant
2023-12-01Grant· $0.02M
2023-01-10Grant· $0.15M
Leadership Team
Ta-Nehisi Coates
Sterling Brown Endowed Chair, Department of English
Recent News
2025-12-17
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