Procurement Specialist/Paralegal, Unizin
The Unizin Consortium, operated by Internet2, is deploying a new, next generation digital learning ecosystem. We believe the academy should control the infrastructure upon which its core missions run. Currently, institutions contract/build/buy essential services from a fairly small solution set (e.g., learning management system, student information system, content management system), typically procured and integrated in a one-off fashion. Similarly, on the content creation side, although universities fund the intellectual work behind content creation, they essentially outsource production to a variety of publishing companies/societies that package the content and resell it to universities and to their students, often at enormous prices.
To accomplish this, institutions need to solve two parallel sets of multi-institutional challenges: 1) building scale and managing our destiny for content, platforms, and analytics; and 2) developing means for granting credit, sharing tuition/fees, enrolling, policies, etc. To accomplish these ends, Unizin is envisioned to be a university/member-owned service provider. The creation of Unizin enables member institutions to realize the benefits achieved from controlling their own data, content, course credit, and learning analytics. The focus of Unizin is on controlling the infrastructure on which these activities rely.
Additional details may be found at http://unizin.org.
Unizin is seeking an exceptional team player to support Unizin's moderate contracting activities with public and private universities, vendors and partners. This position is responsible for working both independently and in close collaboration with the Unizin team, as well as Unizin members. The role will work closely with universities on reviewing Unizin agreements, and will interpret, amend and negotiate innovative and favorable contractual terms with vendors and partners.
This role reports to the Unizin CEO or appointed designee, and helps advance the objectives to further the consortium's mission.
Responsibilities:
Membership Management
o Manage against savings targets and goals while validating, tracking, and reporting on cost savings to relevant stakeholder groups
o Review notices provided by contracting entities and request the appropriate documents for review
o Assist in determining whether submitted documents comply with the applicable legal authority
o Document findings for office record keeping
o Perform legal research as needed
o Communicate with variety of governmental entities including municipalities, school districts, state agencies and others with respect to documents needed for proper review of a contract
Vendor and Partner Management
o Develop competitive solicitations and process in a manner that allows Unizin members' cooperative use of resulting contracts
o Establish and maintain relationships with key vendor and partner representatives
o Develop/Administer Master Agreements, Addendums, Statements of Work, Amendments, Product Schedules, Renewals and Extensions and Non-Disclosure Agreements
o Perform data analysis and research of purchase orders, contract documents, procurement summary memorandums and reports
o Identify, coordinate and assist in obtaining confidentiality and data privacy safeguards when necessary
o Gather and report on compliance issues, customer complaints, and inquiries
o Regularly track work progress and spending activities to track compliance with negotiated arrangements
o Support Unizin Members and Staff as needed to resolve vendor compliance issues
What does success look like?
o Clearly organized visibility into current agreements, and tracking against negotiated terms
o Clear organization of all Unizin legal documents
o Timely response to inquiries from current and potential Unizin Members regarding agreements
o High-quality, mutually-beneficial contractual terms with vendors and partners
o Strong relationships with vendors and partners
o Strategy to offer differentiated Unizin Services from off-the-shelf
Requirements:
All Unizin staff are expected to have:
o Excellent organizational skills, and have demonstrated a strong ability as a collaborator and team builder
o Strong oral and written communication skills and effective interpersonal and diplomacy skills; ability to communicate with all levels, both internally and externally
o Ability to organize work, engage in a variety of tasks simultaneously and consistently meet deadlines
o Strong attention to detail; ability to perform duties with minimal supervision and with high level of accuracy
o High degree of initiative and independent judgment with well-developed analytical and problem solving abilities
o Ability to interpret and explain complex instructions
o Proven ability to handle confidential information with discretion
o Proven ability to engender consultative and inclusive culture, while still being outcome- and schedule-oriented
o Aptitude for comprehending the complex dynamics of an institutional membership organization
o Strong bias towards being forward-looking thinker, who actively seeks opportunities and proposes solutions
This role additionally requires:
o Experience in procurements or purchasing at a state institution, preferably higher education
o The ability to understand complex legal principles and apply them in a variety of circumstances, including rationalizing non-uniform legal requirements from multiple jurisdictions
o Ability to negotiate fixed bid contracts with clear and actionable SLA's and deliverables
o Ability to interpret complex policy, legal, contractual or regulatory procurement requirements and develop/manage effective contracts
o Analytical and negotiation skills
o Strong working knowledge of contracts
o Graduation from an accredited college with an Associate's Degree as a Legal Assistant or Paralegal or, alternatively, an Associate or Bachelor's Degree in any studies combined with a Certificate of Proficiency in Paralegal Studies.
o Possession of a Juris Doctorate (JD) degree may be substituted for the above education.
o Three (3) years of experience as a paralegal in a law firm, legal department, or equivalent experience in purchasing or procurement, in a public or private entity.
o Ability to travel up to 25%.
Internet2 is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization and equal opportunity employer.Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
To accomplish this, institutions need to solve two parallel sets of multi-institutional challenges: 1) building scale and managing our destiny for content, platforms, and analytics; and 2) developing means for granting credit, sharing tuition/fees, enrolling, policies, etc. To accomplish these ends, Unizin is envisioned to be a university/member-owned service provider. The creation of Unizin enables member institutions to realize the benefits achieved from controlling their own data, content, course credit, and learning analytics. The focus of Unizin is on controlling the infrastructure on which these activities rely.
Additional details may be found at http://unizin.org.
Unizin is seeking an exceptional team player to support Unizin's moderate contracting activities with public and private universities, vendors and partners. This position is responsible for working both independently and in close collaboration with the Unizin team, as well as Unizin members. The role will work closely with universities on reviewing Unizin agreements, and will interpret, amend and negotiate innovative and favorable contractual terms with vendors and partners.
This role reports to the Unizin CEO or appointed designee, and helps advance the objectives to further the consortium's mission.
Responsibilities:
Membership Management
o Manage against savings targets and goals while validating, tracking, and reporting on cost savings to relevant stakeholder groups
o Review notices provided by contracting entities and request the appropriate documents for review
o Assist in determining whether submitted documents comply with the applicable legal authority
o Document findings for office record keeping
o Perform legal research as needed
o Communicate with variety of governmental entities including municipalities, school districts, state agencies and others with respect to documents needed for proper review of a contract
Vendor and Partner Management
o Develop competitive solicitations and process in a manner that allows Unizin members' cooperative use of resulting contracts
o Establish and maintain relationships with key vendor and partner representatives
o Develop/Administer Master Agreements, Addendums, Statements of Work, Amendments, Product Schedules, Renewals and Extensions and Non-Disclosure Agreements
o Perform data analysis and research of purchase orders, contract documents, procurement summary memorandums and reports
o Identify, coordinate and assist in obtaining confidentiality and data privacy safeguards when necessary
o Gather and report on compliance issues, customer complaints, and inquiries
o Regularly track work progress and spending activities to track compliance with negotiated arrangements
o Support Unizin Members and Staff as needed to resolve vendor compliance issues
What does success look like?
o Clearly organized visibility into current agreements, and tracking against negotiated terms
o Clear organization of all Unizin legal documents
o Timely response to inquiries from current and potential Unizin Members regarding agreements
o High-quality, mutually-beneficial contractual terms with vendors and partners
o Strong relationships with vendors and partners
o Strategy to offer differentiated Unizin Services from off-the-shelf
Requirements:
All Unizin staff are expected to have:
o Excellent organizational skills, and have demonstrated a strong ability as a collaborator and team builder
o Strong oral and written communication skills and effective interpersonal and diplomacy skills; ability to communicate with all levels, both internally and externally
o Ability to organize work, engage in a variety of tasks simultaneously and consistently meet deadlines
o Strong attention to detail; ability to perform duties with minimal supervision and with high level of accuracy
o High degree of initiative and independent judgment with well-developed analytical and problem solving abilities
o Ability to interpret and explain complex instructions
o Proven ability to handle confidential information with discretion
o Proven ability to engender consultative and inclusive culture, while still being outcome- and schedule-oriented
o Aptitude for comprehending the complex dynamics of an institutional membership organization
o Strong bias towards being forward-looking thinker, who actively seeks opportunities and proposes solutions
This role additionally requires:
o Experience in procurements or purchasing at a state institution, preferably higher education
o The ability to understand complex legal principles and apply them in a variety of circumstances, including rationalizing non-uniform legal requirements from multiple jurisdictions
o Ability to negotiate fixed bid contracts with clear and actionable SLA's and deliverables
o Ability to interpret complex policy, legal, contractual or regulatory procurement requirements and develop/manage effective contracts
o Analytical and negotiation skills
o Strong working knowledge of contracts
o Graduation from an accredited college with an Associate's Degree as a Legal Assistant or Paralegal or, alternatively, an Associate or Bachelor's Degree in any studies combined with a Certificate of Proficiency in Paralegal Studies.
o Possession of a Juris Doctorate (JD) degree may be substituted for the above education.
o Three (3) years of experience as a paralegal in a law firm, legal department, or equivalent experience in purchasing or procurement, in a public or private entity.
o Ability to travel up to 25%.
Internet2 is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization and equal opportunity employer.Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
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