Contracts Manager

About the Organization:

New Moms strengthens families by partnering with young moms as they progress toward housing stability, economic mobility, and family well-being. New Moms is a nonprofit organization with a budget of $8 million and a staff of nearly 60. At New Moms, young moms, 24 and under, take powerful first steps toward economic mobility and family well-being. Our 2-Generation approach puts families experiencing poverty in control of their goals and unleashes their potential. New Moms’ headquarters is located on the west side of Chicago in the Austin neighborhood. Our social enterprise, Bright Endeavors, which provides paid transitional jobs for young moms, is located nearby in the East Garfield Park neighborhood. We also have an office in Oak Park serving the near western suburbs.

Our Commitment to Equity:

New Moms prioritizes racial equity as a strategic and organizational imperative. Strong candidates will be committed to integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) values into their work goals and will be evaluated on their impact.

About the Job:

The Contracts Manager provides leadership and direction in the management of assigned contracts and finance functions. This position supports the agency’s vision, philosophy and values in the comprehensive delivery of supports to young mothers and their children through the delivery of impeccable communication and reporting with contractors. The Contracts Manager will champion all New Moms values including our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, in both strategic planning and performance. The position is located at New Moms’ main office in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago. (Also see COVID-19 Modifications below). Starting Salary: $55,000

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Manages assigned contracts/grants. Establishes and maintains relationships with point of contact for each funder. Ensures complete files on all contracts/grants.

• Develops and maintains a calendar of all fiscal and programmatic renewal, reporting, and vouchering/billing deadlines for assigned contracts/grants

• Works with Development and Finance teams to complete and execute annual contract renewals including contract rollover, open bids, and work plans on all assigned contracts/grants

• Works with program staff to submit all monthly, quarterly, and annual programmatic reports to assigned funders

• Completes monthly, quarterly, and annual fiscal reports and vouchers/billing submissions on all assigned contracts/grants, including annual budgets, budget to actual reports, and budget revisions

• Prepares for and is the main point of contact for all fiscal audits on assigned contracts/grants

• Assists Finance Department with other accounting functions, including employee payroll allocations, monthly financial statements, and maintaining vendor files

• Participates in professional seminars or conferences to enhance professional development and job skills

• Supervises interns, as determined by supervisor

• Regularly participates in agency and program staff meetings, as well as professional group seminars or conferences to enhance professional knowledge and job skills

• Performs other related duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work experience

• Minimum of three years accounting or contracts management experience

• Experience working with government contracts in a non-profit environment preferred

• Experience billing on fee-for-service contracts (including Medicaid) highly desirable

• High attention to detail and results-oriented approach to work

• Proficiency in the use of personal computers and Microsoft software applications, especially Excel

• Excellent communication skills, both oral and in writing

• Ability to communicate well with a diverse pool of stakeholders

• Must enjoy working with a cross-sector team within the organization

• Excellent relational skills

• Ability to manage multiple responsibilities, projects, and deadlines concurrently

• Sound professional judgment and analytical ability, as well as the desire to work in a socially- and psychologically-pressured environment

• Valid driver’s license, with safe driving record and valid insurance

• Access to a reliable car required

COVID-19 Modifications:

• New Moms employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If you are not able to receive the vaccine for medical or religious reasons, you may seek approval for an exemption through the Director of HR.
• Work hours take place on site at our Chicago location with hybrid work options available. Candidates must have ability to work remotely as needed. A laptop will be provided by New Moms.
• Must complete health screen prior to reporting to office and adhere to all New Moms COVID-19 safety procedures.

New Moms’ Benefits: We offer a comprehensive benefits package to full-time employees including health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; matching on retirement savings up to 3%; 14 paid holidays; and generous paid time off. We also offer several unique benefits to New Moms: discounts on Bright Endeavors products, free optional spiritual direction services, and half days on Fridays in the summer. Our Flexible Work Options policy allows for staff to work some hours remotely once training is complete.