Associate Director of USS Contract Administration

Associate Director of USS Contract Administration

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 & Responsibilities

Leadership 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.

• 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.

• 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.