Under the general direction of the University Director of Procurement Contracting & Compliance, the Contract Specialist utilizes existing policies, procedures, and statutes, to plan, develop and organize all phases of assigned responsibilities for successful contracting in support of the procurement of goods and services for all University campuses including the main campus in Storrs, the Regional Campuses, UConn Health in Farmington, the satellite campuses and/or other public institutes of higher education. Incumbents in this position serve as a liaison between the Procurement Contracting & Compliance Group, the Office of the General Counsel, Office of the Attorney General, vendors and the University community as it relates to the contract preparation and administration with specialized functions including, but not limited to the understanding of proposal submissions, awards preparation, review and negotiation of agreements, compliance, and contract management in support of the University's needs.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES

Position responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Administration of all contractual activities in support of the needs of the University community; prepares and establishes complex contracts; develops and maintains expertise in business and purchasing law, including federal and state statues, Uniform Commercial Code, environmental and safety issues, and State and University policies and procedures; ensures proper controls over contracting procedures; is responsible for preparation and legal review of contracts submitted to Attorney General's office; monitors and tracks vendor contracts for compliance. For more information about this position and a full job description, please visit https://procurement.uconn.edu/ .

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

1. Bachelor's degree, preferably in Business or appropriate discipline, and four years professional contract law/paralegal experience in a comparable environment OR equivalent combination of education and experience which totals at least 7 years' experience in contract law/paralegal, preferably in a comparable environment.
2. Knowledge of contract law and applicable federal and state procurement statutes and policies.
3. Ability to negotiate purchasing/procurement contracts.
4. Ability to assess University needs, communicate those needs to the vendor community, evaluate contracts to determine technical compliance and resolve discrepancies.
5. Ability to analyze business trends.
6. Interpersonal skills, excellent oral and written communication skills.
7. Computer proficiency in MS Office including spreadsheets, computerized databases and word processing.
8. Ability to work under tight deadlines and manage multiple projects.
9. Ability to work independently with minimum supervision.
10. Dependable transportation and ability to travel to all University campuses.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

1. Paralegal certification and/or JD.
2. Ability to develop and execute complex contracting strategies with the goal to include cost reductions and increased efficiencies pertaining to administration and operations efforts.
3. Experience with contract administration.
4. Membership and active participation in a professional contracting association such as National Contract Management Association (NCMA).
5. Experience with contracting including State of Connecticut, federal and local laws and regulations.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

This is a full-time position. The University offers a competitive salary, outstanding benefits including employee and dependent tuition reimbursement at UConn, and a highly desirable work environment. Salary will be commensurate with successful candidate's background and experience. For more detailed information about this job opening, please visit: http://www.procurement.uconn.edu/ .

TO APPLY

Interested candidates must submit a letter of application, resume and contact information for three (3) professional references, including one reference from current place of employment. Please apply on-line using the University's system at: http://jobs.uconn.edu , Staff Positions. Please reference Job ID 2019060. Screening will begin immediately.

Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check. (Search # 2019060)

This job posting is open until filled.

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics, which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp .

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The University of Connecticut is committed to building and supporting a multicultural and diverse community of students, faculty, and staff. The diversity of students, faculty, and staff continues to increase, as does the number of honors students, valedictorians and salutatorians who consistently make UConn their top choice. More than 100 research centers and institutes serve the University's teaching, research, diversity, and outreach missions, leading to UConn's ranking as one of the nation's top research universities. UConn's faculty and staff are the critical link to fostering and expanding our vibrant, multicultural, and diverse community. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer, UConn encourages applications from women, veterans, people with disabilities, and members of traditionally underrepresented populations.


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