Job Summary:
Reporting to the Director, Compliance, Policy and Contracting, HBS Online and Executive Education, the Contracts Manager will manage open enrollment and vendor contracts.
Job-Specific Responsibilities:
- Serve as the principal contact for Open Enrollment (OE) and vendor contracts; ensure pro-active and responsive communication and manage intake and triage of OE and vendor contracts inquiries.
- Oversee the lifecycle of contracts from initiation through execution to renewal or termination. Ensure all parties meet their contractual obligations and maintain high standards of performance.
- Identify and resolve conflicting terms in legal documents, using influence to successfully move agreements forward while representing HU and HBS interests.
- Ensure that all contracts adhere to current legal requirements, HU and HBS policies, and industry standards through working with internal and external stakeholders. Stay informed about relevant laws and regulations that impact our executive education offerings including complex global data privacy laws.
- Review standard agreements, liaising with Strategic Procurement attorneys regarding varied legal terms.
- Assign complex agreements to Strategic Procurement attorneys and shepherd the agreements through the legal review process; provide updates to staff throughout the process, coordinating with them on any necessary changes.
- Stay up to date on changes to Harvard鈥檚 contract templates.
- Advise staff in negotiations for better contract terms, especially with service providers we engage on a regular basis.
- Keeps current on trends, compliance issues, regulations and guidelines that advance HBS objectives while protecting Harvard鈥檚 interests and non-negotiable legal positions; provide expertise, advice, and training to appropriate community members accordingly.
- Ensure accurate documentation of contracts and consistently provide status and performance updates to support accountability and transparency.
- Identify, recommend, gain buy-in for, and implement improvements to current processes with a focus on reducing cycle times, number of touches, and improving internal and external customer service
- Build trust and collaboration by being present on-site and engaging directly with colleagues and various constituents.
- This role is responsible for other duties as assigned.