Contract Specialist-2

The Howard University; United States; On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellness

Work-Life Balance

Financial Wellness

Professional Development

Additional Perks

Job summary

The Howard University is seeking a Contract Specialist to manage contracts for goods and services, ensuring compliance with university policies and state and federal laws. The role involves coordinating with the General Counsel and Compliance Office and liaising with vendors and university departments.

Responsibilities include drafting, reviewing, and finalizing contract language, maintaining filing systems, and providing training on contractual issues.

Responsibilities

• Prepares documentation and draft of contracts/agreements, ensuring requirements are met and coordinates with Compliance Office and OGC to ensure language compliance.
• Maintains confidentiality and protects sensitive data at all times, including patient, student, and proprietary information.
• Coordinates work with various departments and liaises between HU and vendors to oversee intake, review and finalization of all contracts.
• Maintains contracts and systems to ensure timely renegotiation and consistent language/terms for maximum legal coverage.
• Examines contract scope and ensures compliance with user departments.
• Serves as a consultant and educator to management and staff on contract/compliance requirements.
• Reviews contracts not requiring legal review and identifies language issues or concerns.
• Coordinates issue reviews with management, negotiates changes, and finalizes contract documents.
• Creates contract files, negotiates changes, oversees execution, and maintains the Contract Management Database.
• Monitors Contracts Administration email and responds to inquiries within one business day.
• Maintains confidentiality of information relating to business transactions and HU employees, patients, guests, and vendors.
• Assists in training manuals for contracts administration and faculty training on legal issues.
• Promotes adherence to the Health Sciences Compliance Program and HIPAA policies.
• Attends required Compliance Program training and HIPAA privacy training.
• Participates in activities promoting adherence to federal healthcare program requirements.
• Actively participates in Health Sciences Compliance Program activities.

Job description

The Talent Acquisition department hires qualified candidates to fill positions which contribute to the overall strategic success of Howard University. Hiring staff "for fit" makes significant contributions to Howard University's overall mission.

At Howard University, we prioritize well-being and professional growth.

Here is what we offer:

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus mental health support
• Work-Life Balance: PTO, paid holidays, flexible work arrangements
• Financial Wellness: Competitive salary, 403(b) with company match
• Professional Development: Ongoing training, tuition reimbursement, and career advancement paths
• Additional Perks: Wellness programs, commuter benefits, and a vibrant company culture

https://hr.howard.edu/benefits-wellness

Join Howard University and thrive with us!

Howard University is seeking a Contract Specialist who has primary responsibility for the operational procedure and process associated with contractual arrangements/agreements for goods and services procured by the University.

SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY:

None

NATURE AND SCOPE:

Internal contacts include the Office of the General Counsel, executives, administrators, managers, faculty, staff and students of the University departments, units and offices. External contacts include Federal, state, local and other governmental sponsors of research/training programs at Howard University, private foundations, vendors, auditors, inspectors and other representatives working on behalf of program sponsors, representatives from other universities, institutes and other organizations with whom Howard University works on sponsored research/training programs and industry trade organizations (such as the National Contract Management Association and the National Council of University Research Administrators and others)

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• 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 issue
• 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 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.
• 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, famil