Associate Director, Procurement and Partnerships

This role will focus on pre-award strategy and proposal development, including procurement planning, market research, partner identification, supplier strategy, pricing considerations, teaming arrangements, subcontracting plans, and procurement-related compliance requirements. The Associate Director will also draft subcontract agreements and facilitate negotiations with selected partners, and support researchers and project teams throughout the award lifecycle by helping them meet contractual, procurement, and funder obligations.

Responsibilities Include:

• Lead pre-award partner and supplier processes, including sourcing, market research, solicitations, proposal documentation, evaluations, risk assessments, cost and price analysis, and objective selection.
• Advise research teams on partnership and teaming strategies; cultivate local, M/WBE, and other priority partners; and advance engagement in key jurisdictions.
• Develop procurement, subcontracting, and teaming strategies that support competitive proposals, compliant and defensible partner selection, durable partnerships, and long-term value.
• Evaluate and negotiate scopes, budgets, pricing, workshare, deliverables, subcontracting instruments, and contract terms; identify and mitigate risks and incorporate applicable funder and flow-down requirements.
• Oversee procurement and subcontract actions throughout the award lifecycle, including pre-award processes, award issuance, documentation, subcontract administration, performance monitoring, and closeout.
• Responsibilities may also include supervising other Subawards staff members to ensure appropriate procurement oversight and effective subcontract administration.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, local, corporate, and philanthropic requirements, including small business and M/WBE subcontracting plans, commitments, documentation, and required utilization reporting.
• Strengthen procurement operations and cross-functional coordination through standardized workflows, controls, governance, handoffs, templates, guidance, partner-management practices, centralized supplier information, and stakeholder training.

What You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, public policy, nonprofit management, law, finance, or a related field; advanced degree or relevant certification preferred.
• At least seven years of progressive experience in procurement, subcontracts, proposal development, supplier/partner management, or related work across federal, state, local, corporate, or philanthropic funding environments.
• Hands-on experience with U.S. federal procurement and financial assistance requirements, including the FAR, and 2 CFR 200 / Uniform Guidance.
• Experience with small business subcontracting requirements and reporting.
• Demonstrated experience with managing staff preferred.
• Knowledge of common contract and subcontract instruments, including cost reimbursement, fixed price, time and materials, and indefinite-delivery contracts; experience with GSA or PSS schedules preferred.
• Experience determining instrument types and drafting, negotiating and executing subcontracts or other procurement instruments.
• Demonstrated ability to apply procurement decision frameworks and partner strategies across government, corporate, and philanthropic funding contexts, including sourcing, market research, RFIs, RFPs, RFQs, teaming arrangements, small business and M/WBE engagement, workshare negotiations, and supplier risk assessment.
• Sound negotiation judgment and business acumen to protect Urban’s interests while preserving strong partner relationships.
• Ability to translate complex procurement, contracting, and compliance requirements into clear guidance, practical options, and timely decisions for research teams and operational partners.
• Excellent communication, analytical, organizational, and judgment skills, with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Diplomacy, discretion, and cultural awareness, with the ability to build trust, coordinate effectively across teams, and handle sensitive information appropriately.
• Comfort using technology and data tools to improve procurement workflows, subcontractor documentation, reporting, partner knowledge management, and process consistency.