Contracts Manager

The Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy; Medford (MA); On-site; USD 108,000 - 162,000; Full time

Job summary

Tufts University’s Central Procurement Department seeks a Contract Manager to draft, review, and negotiate contracts across Capital Projects, IT, Professional Services, and Research support. Work with faculty and staff to ensure compliant, favorable terms and risk controls, in Medford, MA (on site).

Responsibilities include managing high‑complexity contract lifecycles, triaging requests, drafting and routing for signature, and supporting sourcing with cross‑functional partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree
• 7+ years relevant experience in professional contracting across several spend categories
• The ideal candidate will be an influencer with strong analytical, project management, and negotiations skills
• Expertise in drafting, review, editing, and negotiation of contract language (terms and conditions)
• Experience drafting and negotiating business and legal terms across diverse spend categories (academic, facilities, technology, research)
• Ability to understand and assess risk and educate stakeholders while negotiating with suppliers
• Proficient in procurement tools such as eRequisitions, Spend Analysis, and Contracts; advanced MS Office

Responsibilities

• Manage the lifecycle process for high complexity procurement agreements across multiple spend categories.
• Draft, review, negotiate, and route contracts for signature using boilerplate templates or supplier templates.
• Support the sourcing team with guidance and language changes, facilitating reviews with cross functional partners.
• Use contract lifecycle management and SaaS tools (e.g., Jaggaer, Docusign) to improve outcomes.
• Coordinate with cross‑functional partners (OGC, Data Privacy, Risk Office) for legal review as needed.
• Maintain standard contracting templates and clause libraries in conjunction with OGC, interfacing with campus schools, colleges, and departments.
• Coordinate with procurement team members on strategic sourcing initiatives and bid processes.
• Review and approve eReqs and Contract requests per policy and playbooks.
• May oversee one or more contracts specialists.

Skills

Contract drafting

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Risk assessment

Project management

Analytical thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Jaggaer

Docusign

eRequisitions

Spend Analysis

Contract Lifecycle Management

Job description

Overview

The Central Procurement Department is responsible for supplier selection, contract negotiations, vendor management, and requisition approval at Tufts University.

What You’ll Do

The Contract Manager is responsible for working with stakeholders (faculty and staff) in contract drafting, review and negotiating with suppliers across a broad range of spend categories, including but not limited to: Capital Projects (Construction) and Facilities Management (MRO supplies, Custodial, Groundskeeping, Security, Bus Transportation, Utilities, Fleet, etc.); IT and Professional Services (HR, Marketing, Travel, Finance, Legal, Events, etc.); Research and Academic Services (Research Consultants, Scientific & Lab Equipment and Supplies, Library, Print, etc.).

• • Manage the lifecycle process for high complexity procurement agreements, including:
    • Triaging contract requests from university stakeholders
    • Drafting, reviewing, negotiating, and routing for signature contracts that are either on Tufts boilerplate template or supplier boilerplate, in collaboration with stakeholders and cross functional business partners
    • Supporting the sourcing team by providing guidance, support in negotiations, providing alternate language, and facilitating reviews with cross functional partners
• • Using contract lifecycle management and other supporting SaaS-based technologies, including Jaggaer and Docusign, to drive improved outcomes.
• • Coordinating additional legal review of contracts with cross functional business partners such as the Office of General Counsel (OGC), Data Privacy, Risk Office etc., as needed.
• • Maintaining the University’s standard contracting templates and clause libraries (in conjunction with OGC), as well as interfacing with suppliers and campus schools, colleges, and departments.
• • Coordinating with procurement team members, including category management, on strategic sourcing initiatives, including category planning, contacting as part of a competitive bid process, or future bid opportunities based on new contract requests and/or contract expirations
• • Reviewing and approving eReqs and Contract requests, based on procurement process/policy (competitive bids, sole source justification etc.) and contract playbook for assigned spend categories.
• • May be required to manage and/or oversee the work of one or more contracts specialists, as requested.

What We're Looking For

Basic Requirements:

Knowledge and experience typically acquired by:

• Bachelor's Degree
• At least 7+ years relevant experience/expertise in professional contracting in several spend categories.
• The ideal candidate will be an influencer with strong analytical, project management, and negotiations skills.
• Expertise in drafting, review, editing, and negotiation of contract language (terms and conditions), both commercial and legal, is essential spanning procurement contracts (NDAs, PSAs, MSAs, GSAs, CSAs, BAAs, SOWs, etc).
• Prior experience drafting and negotiating business and legal terms across a diverse number of spend categories support indirect spend, including academic, athletics, construction, clinical, facilities, technology, and research. These would include, but are not limited to, technology related hardware and software, enterprise SaaS, research related equipment and consumables, professional services, marketing and advertising, staffing and placement services, design and construction, facilities management, and public safety.
• Ability to understand and assess risk and educate stakeholders while negotiating with suppliers.
• Highly motivated, self-starter, detail-oriented, excellent prioritization, cross functional player
• Team player with excellent interpersonal, communication, critical thinking, and decision-making skills
• Proficient in procurement tools such as eRequisitions, Spend Analysis, and Contracts
• Advanced user of Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience with contract management technology (e.g. Jaggaer Contracts, Docusign), including the development of in-application clause libraries.
• Proficiency with using artificial intelligence engines to automate contracting tasks, such as drafting agreements, tracking changes and version control, and suggesting alternative clauses.
• Experience in a relevant industry, such as higher education or not-for-profit environments.
• Professional contracting certification and/or credentials (e.g. Juris Doctor/JD, CPCM certification).

Pay Range

Minimum $108,200.00, Midpoint $135,300.00, Maximum $162,400.00

Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; generally, new hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.