Contracts Administrator

The Water Research Foundation (WRF); Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision, disability, 1

401K with company match

Paid vacation, sick, and holiday

Job summary

The Water Research Foundation in Denver is seeking a Contracts Administrator to support the development, administration, and implementation of contracts and sponsored awards. This role reports to the Director, Contracts Administration and emphasizes risk management, compliance, and collaboration across departments.

The position is hybrid with two days per week in the Denver office, requires a bachelor’s degree and 2+ years of related experience, and offers benefits including medical, dental,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, political science, law, or related field.
• Two+ years of progressively responsible experience in sponsored projects, legal services, compliance, contract administration, or a related field.
• Direct experience administering contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or sponsored projects.
• Knowledge of common agreement types and contracting instruments, such as cost-reimbursement, fixed-price, nondisclosure, and letters of agreement.
• Experience with 2 CFR Part 200 cost principles and federal agreements.

Responsibilities

• Draft contracts, amendments, and letters of agreement using established templates.
• Route and track contract documents through execution.
• Maintain accurate contract files and update contract information in the contract management system and ERP.
• Track agreements, amendments, insurance documentation, and related records.
• Assist with the review and negotiation of contractual terms and conditions.

Skills

Contract administration

Compliance

Risk management

Communication

Organizational skills

Independent work

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, political science, law, or related field

Tools

Oracle NetSuite

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

SharePoint

Adobe

Outlook

Job description

Location: Denver, Colorado

Work Arrangement: Hybrid, with two days per week in the Denver office

Department: Finance & Administration

Reports to: Director, Contracts Administration

Classification: Exempt

Advance the Science of Water

Are you a detail-oriented contracts professional interested in supporting research that helps communities provide safe, accessible, and reliable water services?

The Water Research Foundation is seeking a Contracts Administrator to support the development, administration, and implementation of contracts and sponsored awards. Working under the guidance of the Director of Contracts Administration, this position helps protect the organization’s legal rights, promote consistent and equitable contracting practices, strengthen relationships with award recipients, and reduce contractual risk across research programs and projects.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys combining contract administration, compliance, problem-solving, and collaborative relationship management in a mission-driven environment.

What You Will Do

Contract and Award Administration

• Draft contracts, amendments, and letters of agreement using established templates.
• Route and track contract documents through execution.
• Maintain accurate contract files and update contract information in the organization’s contract management system and ERP.
• Track agreements, amendments, insurance documentation, and other related records.
• Help maintain contract templates, physical files, and electronic records.

Sponsored Awards and Compliance

• Collaborate with senior staff and the Sponsored Programs Group to review requests for proposals and applications and support the implementation of sponsored awards.
• Identify appropriate flowdown provisions and draft subaward and subrecipient agreements.
• Assist with the review and negotiation of contractual terms and conditions.
• Support responsible stewardship of organizational funding and partner cofunding.
• Maintain awareness of regulatory developments that may affect federal agreements.

Guidance and Risk Management

• Provide guidance on contract terms and conditions and help identify issues with contractual implications.
• Develop recommendations that help mitigate risk and resolve contracting concerns.
• Work with the Director of Contracts Administration and Chief Operations Officer to support the organization’s risk management program.
• Assist with gathering contractrelated documentation for the annual audit, as needed.

Process Improvement and Collaboration

• Participate in internal initiatives and changemanagement projects.
• Support the development and improvement of contract administration processes.
• Build productive relationships with internal colleagues, award recipients, and other external stakeholders.
• Demonstrate the organization’s values of Integrity, Leadership, Respect and Inclusion, Innovation, and Collaboration.

What You Bring

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, political science, law, or a related field from an accredited college or university.
• Two+ years of progressively responsible experience in sponsored projects, legal services, compliance, contract administration, or a related field.
• Direct experience administering contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or sponsored projects.
• Knowledge of common agreement types and contracting instruments, such as:
• Costreimbursement agreements
• Fixedprice agreements
• Nondisclosure agreements
• Letters of agreement
• Experience with, or exposure to, 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance cost principles, and federal agreements.
• Experience managing multiple projects and priorities with overlapping deadlines.
• Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Adobe, SharePoint, and databasemanagement systems.
• Strong analytical, problemsolving, and decisionmaking abilities.
• Excellent organization and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently, acquire and apply new information, and maintain a high degree of confidentiality.
• Strong written and verbal communication, relationshipbuilding, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience working with sponsored programs or projects and principal investigators.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of project administration processes and contract lifecycle workflows.
• Familiarity with Oracle NetSuite.
• Professional coursework or training related to:
• 2 CFR Part 200 cost principles
• Federal grant and cooperative agreement management
• Award oversight
• Risk management

How We Work

We value professionals who communicate clearly, listen with empathy, approach differences respectfully, and work collaboratively to reach shared solutions. The successful candidate will demonstrate self-awareness, sound professional judgment, inclusion, and an ability to engage constructively when navigating complex issues.

This is a hybrid position requiring two days per week in the office. Candidates must be located within the Denver metropolitan area and able to commute to the Denver office two days per week. Flexible work arrangements are available.

Compensation And Benefits

Salary range: $70,000 - $80,000

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, disability, and life benefits
• 401K with company match
• Paid vacation, sick, and holiday

Application Deadline: November 6, 2026

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Water Research Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on organizational needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without discrimination or retaliation based on any status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.