The role may be located in any of the following countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Malawi, Senegal, Uganda, Rwanda or Zambia.
Contract Development
- Draft, review, and negotiate contracts, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and compliance with legal standards.
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders to understand contract requirements and objectives.
- Submit contracts through Heifer’s contract portal and liaise with legal and the requesting parties to shepherd the contracts through the systems and approval.
Establishment of local boards
- Support countries in establishing local boards and governance for that process.
- Stay abreast of legal and regulatory changes required for establishment of local boards.
- Work closely with Regional Leadership and legal teams to move the process forward.
Legal Compliance
- Stay abreast of legal and regulatory changes to ensure contract compliance.
- Work closely with legal teams to address any legal concerns and mitigate risks.
Vendor Management
- Evaluate and select vendors based on their ability to meet contractual obligations and performance standards.
- Negotiate terms and conditions with vendors to achieve favorable outcomes for the organization.
Contract Administration
- Manage contract lifecycles, from initiation to closeout, including tracking key milestones and deadlines.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of all contracts and related documents.
Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
- Conduct negotiations with external parties to reach mutually beneficial agreements.
- Resolve contractual disputes and conflicts in a timely and effective manner.
Risk Assessment
- Assess and identify potential risks associated with contract terms and conditions.
- Develop risk mitigation strategies to protect the organization’s interests.
Communication and Collaboration
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including legal, finance, and project management, to ensure alignment on contractual matters.
- Communicate contract-related information to internal and external stakeholders clearly and concisely.
Compliance Audits
- Conduct periodic audits to ensure ongoing compliance with contractual obligations.
- Address any non-compliance issues promptly and implement corrective actions.
Capacity building of country and regional teams
- Provide capacity building to country and regional teams around the entire lifecycle of contracting.
Project document maintenance and submission
- Maintain project documents and contracts within Heifer’s systems, keeping them up to date and audit ready.
- Submit project documents within the PMFIC internal system.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Law, or a related field. (Advanced degree or certification in Contract Management is a plus.) A minimum of 7 – 10 years relevant experience.
- Proven experience as a Contract Specialist or in a similar role.
- Strong understanding of contract law and procurement processes.
- Excellent negotiation and interpersonal skills.
- Detail-oriented with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
- Familiarity with government regulations and compliance standards.
- Proficient in contract management software and Microsoft Office Suite.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
