Contract & Data Operations Manager

The Good Shepherd Services Impact and Evaluation Department’s (I&E) mission is to support programs in managing their contracts and learning from data to strengthen the services and impact.  ISD oversees agency-wide efforts in performance management, promoting implementation of evidence-based practices, and supporting evidence-generating activities. Within I&E, the Youth and Family Well Being team supports the programs in Good Shepherd Services’ (GSS) Prevention, Residential and Foster Care programs to meet these goals.

The Contract & Data Operations Manager plays a critical project management and strategic coordination role within the Impact and Evaluation Department. In addition to overseeing contract and licensing compliance, this position leads cross-departmental initiatives related to contract execution, data integrity, reporting timelines, and continuous improvement. The Manager independently manages complex, multi-stakeholder workstreams; translates funder requirements into actionable plans; and supports agency leadership and program teams with high-quality analysis, documentation, and recommendations. This role serves as a thought partner to programs and support departments and contributes to strengthening organizational systems, accountability, and learning.

Reports to: Director, Youth and Family Well-Being, Impact and Evaluation

Location: 305 7th Avenue, New York, New York 10001

Hours: 35 Hours/Week; Exempt  (Hybrid – 3 days/week in office)

Salary: $70,000 - $76,000

Major Duties:

• Lead and manage multiple concurrent, deadline-driven projects related to contracts, reporting, audits, and data quality, ensuring alignment across program, finance, IT, and evaluation teams.
• Develop and maintain project plans, timelines, tracking tools, and internal documentation to ensure timely completion of deliverables and clear accountability.
• Proactively identify risks related to contract compliance, data quality, or reporting deadlines and coordinate mitigation strategies with relevant stakeholders.
• Facilitate cross-functional meetings and working groups to move complex initiatives forward, synthesize decisions, and document next steps.
• Translate funder requirements, regulatory changes, and internal priorities into clear implementation guidance for programs and support departments.
• Monitor progress against milestones and follow up with stakeholders to resolve barriers and ensure deliverables are met.
• Support continuous improvement by documenting lessons learned and recommending process or system enhancements.

Contract Management:

• Serve as the primary liaison between funder staff and GSS program/support departments
• Analyze contract performance trends and compliance issues to inform leadership discussions and strategic decision-making.
• Develop standardized tools, templates, and tracking systems to improve contract management efficiency and consistency across programs.
• Provide technical assistance and strategic guidance to program leadership on contract implementation challenges and funder negotiations.
• Share contract mandates, relevant policy updates and requirements and expectations with program and support staff  (e.g., Finance and Program Evaluation and Planning Departments) upon award and throughout the contract
• Prepare workscopes with program staff and ensure timely submission of all procurement documents and timely contract registration
• Ensure proper documentation of contract requirements in internal database (Salesforce)
• Manage all licenses for programs including renewals and responses to corrective actions
• Gather information, review and submit all reports; obtain fiscal reporting when it coincides with program reports
• Coordinate and respond to all audit related activities by government agencies including Performance Evaluation rebuttals, site visits and corrective action plans.
• Respond to inquiries from funders
• Address funder-related challenges in coordination with program staff, including but not limited to advocating for changes to workscopes, contractual mandates and budgets; draft programmatic justification for budget modifications as needed
• Prepare contract-related correspondence and reports requested by government agencies or in response to policy regulations or changes.
• Prepare and submit city, state, and federal discretionary/ legislative funding requests
• Participate in system-wide advocacy efforts (e.g., attend coalition meetings, support advocacy activities)
• Ensure appropriate close-out when contracts end
• Prepare program related information for the agency audit
• Assist the Grants team with competitive renewals and new Requests for Proposals
• Manage contract related information on agency databases, electronic, and hard copy files
• Attend regular meetings, relevant conferences, trainings and workshops

Data Integrity:

• Lead data integrity initiatives that span multiple programs or systems, coordinating with IT and evaluation staff to strengthen data governance.
• Design and implement quality assurance processes, including audits, validation checks, and monitoring protocols.
• Develop documentation (e.g., SOPs, data definitions, workflows) to standardize data practices across Youth and Family Well Being programs.
• Support agency readiness for external reviews, audits, and evaluations by ensuring data systems and documentation are accurate and defensible.
• Responsible for monitoring, reviewing, and ensuring the integrity of participant and program activity data entry into the databases that correspond to each program.
• Manage any reconciliation processes between internal and external data to ensure that GSS is in compliance with program requirements and, where relevant, can receive fiscal reimbursement.
• Serve as liaison with program staff who are directly responsible for program data entry, advising them on data entry best practices and database usage and troubleshooting.
• Train staff in the use of various internal and external database systems.
• Ensure compliance with funder requirements around data, metrics and outcomes.
• Create and pull reports from the data systems for program and support staff.
• Partner with Youth and Family Well Being staff to gather all necessary documentation and complete necessary follow-up.
• Collaborate with staff from GSS’ IT department to ensure our technical/database infrastructure meets the needs of program data entry and analysis.
• Participate in the distribution, collection and analysis of surveys, pre and post tests, etc.
• Generate reports from corresponding databases to assist programs in understanding, monitoring and correcting their data.
• Regularly coach program staff (formally and informally) to support an effective feedback loop between program and I&E.
• Collaborate with other I&E team members to support data integrity across systems.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and two years of evaluation experience required.  Master’s degree in social work or related field preferred. 
• Demonstrated experience managing complex projects or initiatives with multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to work with a high degree of autonomy and exercise sound judgment in ambiguous situations.
• Experience translating policy, regulatory, or funder requirements into operational practice.
• Comfort presenting findings, recommendations, or project updates to senior staff.
• Must demonstrate strong critical thinking skills with the ability to analyze issues, anticipate challenges, and propose practical solutions
• Strong expertise database management and contract compliance
• Strong organizational and analytical skills, and excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong data management skills; understanding and love of data
• Must be able to work independently and manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a variety of people is essential.
• Ability to use public transportation for travel to program locations throughout New York City.
• Two years social services experience preferred.
• Enthusiasm for collaboration; friendly and responsive