We are seeking an
Associate Director of USS Contract Administration who will serve as a strategic leader for contracting within University Student Services (USS), overseeing a multi-million-dollar contract portfolio and driving division-wide policy, governance, and vendor strategy. The role advances student-centered service outcomes by shaping contracting frameworks, guiding high-impact sourcing decisions, and strengthening partnerships with Procurement, Finance, Legal, and departmental leaders. Through data-driven financial stewardship, risk management, and innovation solutions, the Associate Director ensures operational excellence, financial accountability, compliance, and long-term value for the institution.
Specific Duties & ResponsibilitiesLeadership and Management
- Oversee the USS Contract Administration team, fostering a collaborative, high-performance culture.
- Develop and execute a clear, division-aligned vision for contract management that supports USS and university-wide strategic goals.
- Advise senior leadership on contract strategy, vendor partnerships, and procurement approaches that enhance operational efficiency and service delivery.
- Collaborate across departments to ensure contracts advance institutional priorities and student-centered initiatives.
Strategic Contract Administration
- Implement efficient, compliant contract management processes across the division.
- Coordinate contract, purchasing, and vendor needs through clear, consistent communication with departments, Finance, and University Procurement.
- Continuously evaluate and refine procurement strategies to ensure contracts meet current requirements and align with long-term organizational goals.
- Lead end-to-end sourcing efforts, including RFP development, evaluation, and vendor selection, to support high-quality, student-centered services.
- Partner closely with University Procurement to maintain compliance and apply best practices throughout the contracting lifecycle.
- Track and analyze contract performance metrics to support data-driven decisions and provide actionable insights to senior leadership.
Financial Oversight and Risk Management
- Partner with USS Finance and departments to monitor and manage contractual budgets, ensuring financial integrity and accountability.
- Assess contracts for financial viability and risks, identifying opportunities to strengthen fiscal stewardship.
- Drive continuous cost-efficiency through strategic negotiations, renewals, vendor selection, and market evaluation to maximize contract value.
- Deliver clear budget insights, including variance analysis, forecasting, and performance implications to support informed decision-making.
Continuous Improvement and Innovation
- Lead process re-engineering efforts to streamline the contract lifecycle, reduce friction, shorten cycle times, and improve user experience.
- Strengthen USS departmental contracting practices by establishing clear standards, enhancing workflow efficiency, and promoting consistency across units.
Special Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities- Executive-level communication and stakeholder influencing; ability to distill complexity into clear recommendations.
- Advanced financial and negotiation skills with a focus on long-term strategic outcomes.
- Analytical rigor with comfort in metrics, dashboards, and decision-support models with a commitment to data-driven management.
- Deep knowledge of the contract lifecycle, procurement best practices, and compliance requirements.
Minimum Qualifications- Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, or related field.
- Six years' related experience in contract administration in a complex environment.
- Additional education may substitute for required experience and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond a high school diploma/graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.
Preferred Qualifications- Master's Degree in Business, Finance, or a related field.
- Advanced knowledge of ERP systems and related contracting or procurement technologies.
- Demonstrated supervisory experience with a track record of developing and leading high-performing teams.
- Proven experience leading organizational change initiatives and engaging diverse stakeholder groups effectively.
- Familiarity with the practices and challenges in higher education or nonprofit environments.
Classified Title: Associate Director Contracts Services
Job Posting Title (Working Title): Associate Director of USS Contract Administration
Role/Level/Range: ATP/04/PF
Starting Salary Range: $85,500 - $149,800 Annually ($135,000 targeted; Commensurate w/exp.)
Employee group: Full Time
Schedule: M-F 8:30am to 5:00pm
FLSA Status: Exempt
Location: Hybrid/Homewood Campus
Department name: Student Services Finance & Administratio
Personnel area: University Student Services
