Manager, Contracts

at  British Columbia Institute of Technology BCIT

BCIT’s Corporate Services Department is seeking a regular, full time (1.0 FTE) Manager, Contracts. This role provides leadership and management for the overall contract management function, establishing the standards, governance and requirements for the development and maintenance of the Institute’s contracts. Develops and recommends contract strategies and plans while ensuring appropriate legal, commercial, and technical requirements are met. Manages the development, maintenance and oversight of contract templates, contract records management and databases. Facilitates legal contract services and contract reviews in the preparation, review and editing of documents; Manages the orientation and on-going training for internal customers to ensure governance practices and contract processes are communicated and adhered to.

SPECIFIC ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Participates as a member of the Corporate Services management team and contributes to the development of strategies, plans and policies that drives contract management governance and practices forward.
• Manages the development, implementation and maintenance of a contract management framework. Implements internal quality assurance and enhancement processes to ensure standards and industry relevance of contract content, process, and design.
• Manages the development and preparation of new contract templates, ensuring the revisions of current contract templates address the changing needs of BCIT while balancing risk. Establishes standards, policies, and guidelines, keeping these and related legal documentation up to date and available on the Corporate Services website.
• Maintains professional associations and industry connections to stay informed about changes to relevant rules, regulations, and best practices and to provide specialized advice, interpretations and assessments for compliance of key terms of legal agreements.
• Creates, analyzes, and reviews an array of contracts for various transactions, including, grants, industry services, educational affiliation, memorandum of understanding, revenue, non-disclosure, intellectual property, workplace training and expenditure contracts.
• Participates in the development, preparation and ongoing management of all new and existing agreements and contracts, reviewing the content including the terms of the contract, associated schedules and/or subsequent amendments and criteria for contractual performance ensuring the content adheres to established policies, practices, and delegations.
• Acts as mandatory reviewer to ensure the Institute’s best interests are represented within the terms and acts as point person for participants in the contract, answering questions as needed. Collaborates with various Deans/Directors, faculty and staff to ensure that any contract related issues are properly addressed.
• Oversees and ensures that all contract terms accurately express the business understanding agreed upon by the parties and ensures that appropriate approvals or authorizations are secured. Addresses and resolves misunderstandings or disputes related to legal contracts.
• Develops, maintains, updates, and reviews the contract management system software to ensure all expenditure and revenue contracts are accurately recorded and reported. Works closely with academic and service support areas to establish and revise systems, processes and procedures relating to all contractual commitments.
• Develops, implements, and manages a centralized contract repository of documents and correspondence ensuring an integration within the Institute’s reporting systems that provides a complete contract report for the internal audit department.
• Manages and maintains the development of a risk register, tools and systems which measure key performance, track and analyze contract and supplier effectiveness and identify risks. Ensures risk response actions are being developed, executed, updated and completed as planned.
• Identifies problems, leads and directs resolution of issues on internal operational issues pertaining to all contracts (revenue /expenditure) and related agreements.
• Conducts best practices research and subsequent analysis in support of new strategic institutional directions as it relates to contract development and related initiatives for the Institute.
• Drives the development and engagement of the team, as well as the ongoing process optimization and delivery of exceptional customer experience.
• Manages reporting staff, overseeing, and participating in selection, coaching, mentoring, development, performance management and all other people- management practices.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:

• University degree in business or law.
• A contract management and/or a risk management certification would be an asset.
• Minimum five years current and relevant experience with strong knowledge of contract law and intellectual property as well as experience in the public sector.
• A combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Experience in commercial contracting from the preliminary/conceptual phase, through structuring, due diligence, negotiating, drafting, closing, and conflict resolution.
• Demonstrated ability to identify, implement and manage operational improvements in contract administration processes.
• Strong leadership, change management and problem-solving skills with the ability to make decisions. Good organizational skills and high degree of self-motivation and business acumen.
• Effective and positive management style for people and issues. Must have the ability to lead initiatives.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral. Proven ability to produce quality documents in the field of specialization.
• Demonstrated ability to use sound judgement, tact and discretion in dealing with a wide variety of sensitive issues that surface in this environment.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Computer competencies in office software and contract databases.
• Highly organized, proactive, self-motivated team player who takes initiative and is able to work independently and, in a team, while fostering employee engagement.