Contract Specialist II

The Nature Conservancy; Yorktown (VA); On-site; USD 59,000 - 94,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) plan with 8% employer match

Parental leave

Paid time off

Life insurance

Disability coverage

Employee assistance program

Well-being benefits

Job summary

The Nature Conservancy is seeking a Contracts Specialist II to guide delegations of authority and signing powers, advise staff, and draft DOAs. You will train the Contracts community, mentor colleagues, and work with Legal to improve templates and workflows.

The role involves supervising filings, coordinating with internal audits, and leading process improvements across business units. The ideal candidate brings extensive contracting experience, strong communication skills, and a collaborative

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 3 years experience or equivalent combination.
• Previous contracting experience, coursework, or dedicated training.
• Organizational skills with attention to detail.
• Experience managing and implementing multiple projects.
• Experience interpreting guidelines to achieve desired results.
• Experience with business process analysis and/or improvement.
• Experience in business writing, editing, and proofreading.
• Experience organizing time and managing activities to meet deadlines.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Understand DOA and power of attorney structures and advise staff on signing authorities.
• Draft and issue DOAs; update the DOA lists as needed.
• Collaborate with Legal to develop and improve standard agreement templates.
• Lead trainings for Contracts Specialists, Administrators, and Project/Grant Managers.
• Mentor CCSs and supervise tracking systems and auditable files.
• Improve workflows and processes with Legal and internal teams.

Skills

Contracting experience

Communication skills

Collaboration

Project management

Guidelines interpretation

Business process analysis

Business writing

Time management

Cross-functional teams

Mentoring leadership

Multilingual skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree and 3 years experience or equivalent combination

Job description

What We Can Achieve Together:

The Contracts Specialist II will understand their BUs’ delegations of authority and power of attorney structure, advise staff on who has authority to sign various agreements, be able to update the DOA list, and draft/issue new DOAs as needed. In addition, they will be able to navigate complicated authority issues with the Legal Department as necessary. The Contract Specialist II will supervise others’ compilations auditable files for all contractual agreements, interact with Internal Audit as necessary, supervise the BUs’ tracking systems, supervise systems used to remind Project or Award Managers about project deadlines, products, and payments. Improve systems as needed. The Contracts Specialist II will take the lead in creating and delivering trainings to other Contracts Specialists, Contracts Administrators, Project and Award Managers, and the Contracts Community of Practice. Trainings will focus on TNC contractual agreements and related processes. They will also be expected to serve as mentors to other CCSs. May supervise Contracts Administrators and Contracts Specialists. The Contracts Specialist II will also work closely with the Legal Department to develop new Standard Agreement templates, improve workflows, and more.

We’re Looking for You:

Are you looking for work you can believe in? At TNC we strive to embody a philosophy of Work that You Can Believe in where you can feel like you are making a difference every day. We’re looking for someone with strong experience in providing a full range of administrative support.

The ideal candidate should have exceptional communication and collaboration skills and experience in various contracts related tasks This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the ongoing mission of conservation by directing and shaping the work of our team!

What You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree and 3 years experience or equivalent combination;
• Previous contracting experience, coursework, or dedicated training;
• Organizational skills and experience with attention to detail;
• Experience managing and implementing multiple projects;
• Experience interpreting guidelines to achieve desired results;
• Experience with business process analysis and/or improvement;
• Experience in business writing, editing, and proofreading;
• Experience organizing time and managing various activities to meet deadlines; and
• Experience working with cross-functional teams.

Desired Qualifications

• Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experiences are appreciated;
• Ability to implement complex processes;
• Ability to analyze information for the purpose of preparing reports, coordinating activities, and solving problems;
• Ability to apply research skills;
• Ability to use existing technology to achieve desired results; and/or
• Experience in supporting Financial and/or Legal processes.

Salary Information:

The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $59,179-94,000. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. Where a successful candidate’s actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including, for example, the candidate's location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. Please note countries outside the USA would have a different pay range in the local currency based on the local labor market, and not tied to USA pay or ranges. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.

What We Bring:

Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and partners, we impact conservation around the world!

TNC offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work well-being benefits.

• health care benefits
• flexible spending accounts
• a 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match
• parental leave
• accrued paid time off
• life insurance
• disability coverage
• employee assistance program
• other life and work well-being benefits

Learn more about our Benefits and Perks here. We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports of the health and well-being of the people we employ.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to equal employment opportunity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.

Do you have military experience? Visit our U.S. Military Skills Translator to match your military experience with our current job openings! TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.