Contract Support Specialist

American Association for the Advancement; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 88,000 - 91,000; Full time

Job summary

AAAS is seeking a Contract Support Specialist in Washington, DC to support the Publishing Department. You will draft, review, and manage service agreements with internal units and external vendors, guiding contracts from drafting to termination.

The role requires strong contract language skills, stakeholder coordination, and meticulous contract administration in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• BA degree in business or humanities or BS degree plus 2+ years of relevant experience working in sales contracts or service agreements; familiarity with service terms around AI tools is a plus.
• Strong English writing skills with the ability to draft clear, precise, and unambiguous contractual language.
• Strong verbal communication skills and the ability to translate contractual terms into plain terms.
• Experience engaging multiple stakeholders with competing priorities and facilitating constructive outcomes.
• Attention to detail; proofreading skills a plus.
• Superior administrative and organizational skills with ability to meet deadlines.
• Fast learner and ability to work in a fast paced and collaborative environment.
• Self-motivated independent worker who can manage and prioritize a complex workload.
• Ability to adapt to changing client and stakeholder priorities.
• Flexible; team player; willing to work on numerous tasks.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and review staff-prepared agreements for services provided by Publishing Department units.
• Manage vendor and freelancer agreements, acting as liaison between stakeholders and vendors/freelancers.
• Draft agreements and SOWs, coordinating with Finance, IT, and Legal as needed.
• Propose terms balancing revenue and operational constraints.
• Review client/contractor comments, identify risks, and recommend responses.
• Move contracts through lifecycle from drafting to archiving; ensure timely inputs.

Skills

Strong English writing

Strong verbal communication

Stakeholder management

Attention to detail

Administrative excellence

Fast-paced environment adaptability

Self-motivated

Team player

Multitasking

Education

BA in business or humanities or BS plus 2+ years of experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Dropbox

Salesforce

Adobe Acrobat

Docusign

CMS

Job description

Washington D.C.
Washington, DC 20005, USA

Description

AAAS has an exciting opportunity for a Contract Support Specialist to join the Publishing Department.

The Contract Support Specialist will provide support in the execution and management of service agreements for services provided by Publishing Department units and services contracted by Publishing Department units. The ideal candidate will oversee the contracting process from drafting to execution and oversee management of the contracts until termination.

Help us ignite the next era of science.

What You’ll Do

• Prepare and/or review staff prepared agreements for services provided by Publishing Department units according to department and AAAS policy and practice, working with and coordinating input from other units within the Publishing Department, Finance, IT, and Legal where appropriate.
• Manage vendor and freelancer agreements supporting Custom Publishing, Product Development, and other assignments from the Director. Act as primary liaison between stakeholders and vendors/freelancers, facilitating discussions on scope, deliverables, and fees. Draft agreements and SOWs consistent with AAAS policy, coordinating with Finance, IT, and Legal as needed.
• Propose workable terms that balance revenue-generating objectives against operational constraints and cost savings against stakeholder needs.
• Review client/contractor comments, changes, and requirements; identify risks; and recommend responses.
• Apply company contracting policies consistently across all drafts, tracking and documenting any approved exceptions in a centralized exceptions register.
• Move contracts through the lifecycle from drafting through archiving, ensuring timely movement of all agreement inputs, communicating best practices with fellow staff, and providing feedback to facilitate process and efficiency improvements.
• Monitor contract lifecycles and provide stakeholders with timely updates on status, milestones, renewals, and terminations.
• Assist with invoicing and payment processing and budget tracking of expenses and revenue related to contracts managed by this role.
• Support periodic reviews of contract templates and advertising policies, recommending updates based on drafting experience, policy changes, and recurring exceptions to improve accuracy and usability. Keep relevant staff informed of template and process changes.
• Manage the collection, review, and submission of required service provider and purchaser documentation (e.g., IRS forms, direct deposit forms, intellectual property rights agreements, confidentiality agreements, and related materials) to Finance and/or Legal, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and compliance with organizational requirements.
• Cultivate strong partnerships with staff, clients, and vendors through thoughtful, efficient communication and cross-functional collaboration to support organizational and contract objectives.
• BA degree in business or humanities or BS degree plus 2+ years of relevant experience working in sales contracts or service agreements; familiarity with service terms around AI tools are a plus
• Strong English writing skills with the ability to draft clear, precise, and unambiguous contractual language
• Strong verbal communication skills and the ability to translate contractual terms into plain terms
• Experience engaging multiple stakeholders with competing priorities and facilitating constructive outcomes.
• Attention to detail; proofreading skills a plus,
• Superior administrative and organizational skills with ability to meet deadlines
• Quick learner
• Ability to work in a fast paced and collaborative environment
• Self-motivated independent worker who can manage and prioritize a complex workload
• Ability to adapt to changing client and stakeholder priorities
• Flexible; team player; willing to work on numerous tasks, as the need arises
• Proficiency in Microsoft products and services, Dropbox, Salesforce, Adobe Acrobat, and Docusign. Experience with a CMS is a plus.

September 8, 2026.

The anticipated initial rate of compensation for this position is between $88,000 – $91,000 per year. AAAS currently provides the following benefits for this position: paid vacation leave, paid sick leave, paid holidays, health insurance, flexible spending account, dental insurance, life insurance, vision insurance, retirement benefits, short- and long-term disability, and life insurance, each subject to the terms of the applicable program. Additional benefits may apply.

Any actual offer of employment, reflecting the total compensation package and benefits, will be made in the sole discretion of AAAS and will be based on a variety of factors, including years of experience, depth of experience, and other relevant factors. AAAS reserves the right to amend or modify its employment benefits and compensation structure at any time.

AAAS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other protected category. AAAS uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees.

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Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.