Contracts Manager

Bilingual differential for qualified candidates.

SUMMARY

The Contracts Manager initiates, develops, and maintains contracts with all Early Head Start Child Care Partners and Vendors and ensures timely execution and completion of contract requirements for the Early Head Start Program. With accuracy as the primary benchmark, the Contract Manager ensures that the contracts are written and executed in compliance with the Agency and program's policies and regulations. The Contract Manager manages the enforcement of contracts by ensuring that all parties involved adhere to the contract - both the program's compliance with the Early Head Start contract and each partner's compliance with the Child Care Partnership contract. High accuracy and negotiation skills are indispensable qualities that are vital to the Contract Manager's job role.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Supports and promotes the mission of the Agency: Foothill Family empowers children and families on their journey to achieve personal success.
• Drafts, executes, and manages the entire contract lifecycle.
• Provides essential contract management services, by resolving conflicts, obtaining legal advice when necessary, and renewing and redrafting contracts.
• Supervises the performance of contracts and guides the management team towards contract compliance.
• Prepares reports and documents on contract performance to mitigate risk and quality improvement.
• Updates and revises contracts to ensure alignment with federal, state, and local regulations such as the Head Start Program Performance Standards, Community Care Licensing, and Agency Standards.
• Communicates with internal and external stakeholders on contract performance.
• Utilizes the Agency's Risk Prevention Management (RPM/PQI) and Performance Improvement system to ensure timely reporting, tracking and follow-up of client complaints and feedback.
• Acts as the lead in reporting significant incidents affecting the health and safety of program participants to the Office of Head Start (OHS) within established timelines. Provides applicable status updates to OHS until the incident is considered resolved with OHS.
• Conducts on-site monitoring of Childcare Partners.
• Monitors Childcare Partner legal proceedings and status of communication with Community Care Licensing (CCL) upon completion of an onsite visit that requires additional follow-up.
• Works closely with program managers to identify, as early as possible, any areas that may lead to contractual non-compliance by the Childcare partners.
• Develops plans of action to address contractual noncompliance in collaboration with the management team and ensures timely correction.
• Utilizes monitoring data to provide recommendations on contract continuation, contractual remedies and or contractual amendments.
• Partners with the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Manager and applicable program managers to cultivate relationships and effective communication with potential and contracted Childcare Partners.
• Completes and submits the Program Information Report (PIR) through coordination with the Management Team.
• Assists with required reports for the Office of Head Start (OHS), including grant application.
• Participates in ongoing program planning, including the development of program goals, CCP partnerships, grant applications and the EHS budget.
• Provides and models effective leadership through communication, change management, ongoing planning, joint decision-making, collaboration, and quality improvement of client services.
• Work effectively and cooperatively with other Agency staff, collaborating when appropriate.
• Attends in-person meetings and events at various locations within Los Angeles County and surrounding areas.
• Displays sensitivity to the service population's cultural and socioeconomics characteristics.
• Performs work in a safe manner at all times and ensures employees are abiding by safety practices; takes action when employees put themselves or others at risk.
• Follows all policies, procedures and legal mandates including HIPAA, client confidentiality, releases of information, protected health information (PHI) and client files.
• Ensures performance and behaviors support the Agency's performance quality improvement (PQI) goals and objectives.
• Reports to work on time and maintains reliable and regular attendance.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Performs supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the Agency's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems. Examines, analyzes and evaluates program operations, productivity data and personnel needs, prepares necessary reports and makes recommendations to reconcile program budget(s) and resource allocations.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree in business management, public health administration, finance, or related field required.
• Certification or specialization in contract management preferred.
• 3 to 5 years of experience in contracts management in human services.
• Bilingual in English/Spanish preferred.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Accuracy and high attention to detail.
• Sound organizational and time management skills.
• Working knowledge of contract management systems or software
• Excellent representative of the Agency to the community.
• Works collaboratively as a team player with staff, clients (children and parents) and other professionals in the program/Agency.
• Knowledge and sensitivity to cultural differences.
• Effectively and successfully interact with multi-lingual individuals and families from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds with an equity lens.
• Valid CA Driver's License and maintains insurability on the Agency's auto liability policy (including a minimum of 2 years driving experience after receiving license) and maintains the California state required auto insurance liability limits OR maintains reliable transportation to attend all appointments and meetings or other duties required in the position.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.