Agreements Manager

The Forest Stewards Guild is hiring a full-time Manager specializing in agreements and contracts. The Agreements Manager will support the strategic and operational priorities of the Forest Stewards Guild by managing the full lifecycle of contracts and agreements. The Manager will play an essential role in implementing ecological forestry in on-the-ground projects across the country. For example, the Manager will work with the Guild’s Program Managers to establish and track agreements with contractors to thin unhealthy forests, remove invasive plants, plant seedlings, and other restoration activities. This position strengthens the Guild’s growing national portfolio by ensuring compliance, efficiency, and strong internal systems across multiple states and funding sources.

Working closely with Program Managers, the Business Director, and the Chief Development Officer (CDO), the Agreements Manager will serve as a key resource for contracts and agreement and organizational procurement processes.
Responsibilities

The primary responsibility of the Agreements Manager is to coordinate and manage the lifecycle of contracts and agreements to ensure compliance with Guild policies and applicable federal regulations. The Manager will work simultaneously on multiple projects within defined timelines and budgets. They will track key deadlines, deliverables, payment schedules, and amendments while ensuring compliance with Guild policies and external funder requirements.

Contracts and Agreements (Procurement & Partnerships)

The Agreements Manager will work closely with Guild Program Managers on agreements with vendors, consultants, subrecipients, and partners. For example, the Manager will:

- Lead the process for developing and disseminating requests for proposals (RFP),

- Present an assessment of contractors’ RFP responses to Guild program staff,

- Negotiate with contractors on agreements,

- Track payments to project contractors,

- Initiate and manage contract amendments when scope, budget, or timelines change,

- Support field verification of project implementation and completion, and

- Confirm deliverables are met; final payments are processed and close agreements.

In addition, the Contract and Agreement Manager will assist the Business Director to ensure the Guild’s standards, templates, and processes for contracts and agreements are robust and efficient. This will include:

- Create and update the Guild’s agreement templates for contracting and entering partnerships with individuals and organizations.

- Draft, review, and manage contracts and agreements in conjunction with program managers for vendors, consultants, subrecipients, and partners.

- Ensure agreements align with the Guild procurement policy and comply with applicable federal regulations (e.g., 2 CFR and FAR).

- Assess organizational risk and review of contract documents for accuracy, rationality, and completeness.

- Coordinate required internal approvals and serve as a liaison between program staff, development, leadership, and external partners.

- Serve as a resource for all Guild staff on best practices for agreements and contracts.

- Support continuous improvement of internal systems and standard operating procedures.

- Provide guidance, training, and materials to staff to improve compliance and workflow efficiency.

- Join monthly development team meetings to maintain awareness of new contracting opportunities.

- Exercise sound, independent judgment and the wisdom to elevate unusual or complex issues to Guild leadership.

- Support continuous improvement of internal systems and standard operating procedures.

- Analyze research and address changes to rules and regulations.

- ​​​​​​​Maintain confidentiality and discretion in handling sensitive information.

The Guild expects the Agreements Manager to possess the following educational and experiential qualifications:

- Bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance, non