CONTRACT ADMINISTRATOR 1 - Newark Board of Education

 
The Superintendent invites qualified and interested persons to apply for the position of Contract Administrator 1 within the Office of Purchasing.
 
This title is governed by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission; meaning that if you are the successful candidate for this position, you will be placed as a provisional employee. At a later date you will be required to take an examination administered by the Civil Service Commission. Candidates must score and rank high enough on this examination in order to remain in the position as a permanent employee.
 
DEFINITION:  Under the limited supervision of a supervisory official, participates in the review and administration of various contracts and/or grants; provides technical assistance in the areas of contract and/or grant preparation, monitoring and/or evaluation; provides recommendations for contract/grant approval to supervisory staff; does other related duties.
 
NOTE: The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.
 
QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

1.  Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree.
2. Two (2) years of experience involving contract/grant work, project financing, construction management, fiscal administration, social service administration, and/or budget and management operations of a government or business entity, at least one (1) year of which shall have involved responsibility for some aspect of contract/grant administration.

 Note:  Applicants who do not possess the required education may substitute experience as indicated on a year-for-year basis. 

Note:  A Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Public Health, Public or Hospital Administration or Social Work (with concentrations in Health, Administration, or Social Policy) may be substituted for one (1) year of the basic experience. (There is no substitution for the one (1) year of experience involving responsibility for some aspect of contract/grant work.) 
 
BASIC FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1.  Participate in the development and administration of contracts for the provision of services.
2. May participate in conducting the solicitation of Request for Purchase (RFP) bidding process, negotiating and drafting contract language and developing evaluation criteria.
3. Gather information used to develop procedure manuals and policy transmittals containing financial and administrative contracting and/or grant application guidelines that comply with all related laws and regulations and promote standardization, administrative and cost efficiency, accountability, and integrity in the contracting and/or grant process, and in the delivery of purchased services.
4. Conduct field visits and reviews reports to ensure compliance with and adherence to prescribed agency contract and/or grant policies and procedures and federal and state regulations; recommends changes when required.
5. Conduct less complex work associated with the planning and preparation involved in the administration of construction and/or professional service or other contracts.
6. Participate in conducting contract award meetings and reviews documents to ensure compliance with and adherence to prescribed department-wide contracting policies and procedures and Federal and/or State regulations to ensure the efficient management of contracts; recommends changes based on monitoring experience.
7. May prepare evidence for use in courts actions and hearings and give testimony under oath.
8. As required, reviews and finalizes scope of work documents and/or develops specifications for those projects requiring use of outside architect or engineer or other professional service.
9. Attend selection meetings to ensure the selection of qualified architects and/or engineers and/or other professionals upon successful completion of approved scope-of-work documents.
10. Utilize the computerized contract and/or grant information system, compiles input data, analyzes output information, and prepares reports.
11. May award or coordinate the review and selection process for the awarding of contracts.
12. Preview purchase of proposals and contract/grant modifications and provides recommendations.
13. Prepare and process various contract documents according to current administrative policies and procedures.
14. Act as liaison with using agencies, project managers and contractors; interprets and resolves disputes about contract terms.
15. Provide technical assistance in the areas of proposal/contract preparation, review and approval control, the development and management of adequate contract/grant administration and financial reporting systems, contract/grant monitoring, modification, amendment and closeout, audit compliance, service evaluation, and consultant classification.
16. Administer financial aspects of contracts/grant awards, including procurement, vendor invoice review and voucher processing, financial analysis, quality assurance, change orders and/or investigating disputes and appeals.
17. Monitor vendors and contracts for compliance with contract requirements.
18. Review, audit and resolve discrepancies in consultant and contractor invoices to ensure compliance with financial contract terms.
19. Participate in the resolution of audit findings relating to design, construction and procurement contracts.
20. May participate in completing project closeout, including final invoice payments, compliance inspections and audits.
21. Participate in evaluating the effectiveness of contracted services and provides consultation and expertise to using agency management.
22. Collect and analyze data, prepares reports, and notifies supervisor of problems.
23. Provide input into the resolution of audit findings.
24. May assist in the analysis of new legislation and regulations pertinent to the contract/grant operations of the agency.
25. Maintain essential reports, records and files.
26. Participate in in-service training programs.
27. Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

 KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

1. Knowledge of legal and administrative requirements of grant and contractual agreements.
2. Knowledge of the forms required in design, construction and procurement work, including vouchers, change orders, progress reports, proposal forms, contracts and other documents.
3. Knowledge of problems involved in the review of contract/grant proposals.
4. Knowledge of principles of cost allowability and reasonableness, contract/grant budget principles, principles of matching fund accounting, and procurement guidelines.
5. Knowledge of the methods used to collect and analyze data.
6. Ability to negotiate mutually acceptable resolutions to disagreements.
7. Ability to read, interpret, and apply information on the programs of the agency, and sources of funds available to finance components of those programs.
8. Ability to interpret laws, rules and regulations and apply them to specific situations.
9. Ability to gather and analyze data.
10. Ability to provide technical assistance.
11. Ability to prepare reports and correspondence.
12. Ability to recognize and identify problems in the administration of contracts and/or grants.
13. Ability to establish and maintain essential reports, records and files.
14. Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
15. Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position.  American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
16. Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

 REPORTS TO:          Department Head
  
SALARY, EMPLOYMENT PERIOD AND UNION AFFILIATION

1. Salary Range:             $64,433 - $73,224 (Salary range updated for School Year 2023-2024)
2. Employment Period:   Twelve (12) Months
3. Union Affiliation:          Local 32         

 
HOW TO APPLY
Newark Board of Education only accepts electronic applications.