Head of Contracts Lifecycle & Automation

Director of Contracts Administration

R-0002526

Kansas City Campus Job Type: Staff Job Description: The Director, Contracts Administration leads KCU's contractlifecycle and contract operations, ensuring agreements moveefficiently from intake through execution, renewal, and closeout.This is a hands-on role that builds a scalable, technology-enabledcontracts administration program (process, governance, and tools)to improve speed, consistency, insight, and risk management acrossthe University. The Director oversees drafting, review, negotiation, approvals, andexecution, partnering with departments on contract structure, keyrisks, and practical implications. KCU's portfolio includesconstruction and facilities agreements, clinical education androtation agreements, leased employee arrangements, and otherexternal collaborations. Success in this role requires strong negotiation skills, meticulousattention to detail, sound business judgment, and a mindset forsystems, automation, and continuous improvement. The Director will report to the Vice President of Legal Affairs andGeneral Counsel Essential Duties Own the end-to-end contract lifecycle (intake, review,negotiation, approvals, execution, renewals, and closeout) and keepwork moving on schedule Advise stakeholders on contract structure, risk allocation, andbusiness implications; identify issues early and drive practicalresolutions Build and continuously improve a modern contractsadministration program, including standardized templates/playbooks,intake workflows, and clear governance Leverage platforms, automation, and AI-enabled tools (asappropriate) to improve cycle time, quality, scalability, andvisibility Create basic reporting and metrics (e.g., volume, cycle time,expirations/renewals, risk/compliance themes) to supportdecision-making Maintain accurate records for status, obligations, expirations,and renewals; provide clear updates to internal stakeholders Negotiate and review complex agreements (includingconstruction, facilities, clinical, and other mission-criticalcontracts); coordinate with outside counsel when needed Partner with Legal Affairs, Compliance, Finance, and businessowners to align contracts with policy, reduce risk, and supportoperations

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's degree required. Master's degree or higher inbusiness, law, risk management, or a related field preferred Experience managing and/or reviewing contracts in a business,healthcare, higher education, or similarly complex environment Strong organization, attention to detail, and stakeholdercommunication; able to manage multiple priorities and move work toclosure Equal Opportunity Employer KCU is committed to promoting an equal employment opportunityworkplace. Equal opportunity is and shall be provided for allemployees and applicants for employment on the basis of theirdemonstrated ability and competence without discrimination on thebasis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, geneticinformation (GINA), physical or mental disability, pregnancy,sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, familialstatus, ancestry, military and/or veteran status, and/or any otherstatus protected by applicable Federal, state or local law. Annual Security Report KCU is committed to providing a safe campus for students, faculty,and staff. Our annual campus securityreport lists campus crimes and statistics for the campus andpublic areas around campus for the last three years, in accordancewith the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy andCampus Crime Statistics Act. Thank you for your interest in a career at KCU! To apply, visit About Kansas City University Founded in 1916, Kansas City University (KCU) is a fullyaccredited, private not-for-private health sciences university withColleges of Osteopathic Medicine, Biosciences and Dental Medicine,and campuses in Kansas City and Joplin, Mo. The College ofOsteopathic Medicine is the fourth-largest medical school in theU.S. and the leading producer of physicians in Missouri. It ranks#1 for producing physicians who practice in primary care, ruralareas and underserved regions in the state. KCU's Center forPopulation Health and Equity addresses the variables that affect apopulation’s health and contribute to health disparities, whilebetter preparing students for professional practice. KCU offersdoctoral degrees in osteopathic medicine, dental medicine andclinical psychology and a master’s degree in biomedical sciences.Dual degree offerings include master’s degrees in businessadministration in health care leadership, public health, andbioethics. A new Master of Health Sciences - AnesthesiologistAssistant program is scheduled to launch in January 2026. jeid-a2d82f2198b44a4fa6ba56e78c98884a #J-18808-Ljbffr The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.