Director of Contracts and Compliance

Organization Overview

First Place for Youth is a prominent nonprofit committed to aiding foster youth transitioning into adulthood, focusing on education, employment, and stable housing. The organization strives to equip young people with the necessary skills, confidence, and networks to overcome challenges and become self-reliant.

Role Summary

The Director of Contracts and Compliance plays a crucial role within the expanding public contracts team, collaborating closely with the VP of Contracts and Compliance. This position oversees public contracts management and compliance across California, particularly emphasizing Los Angeles. The Director helps strategize, plan, and implement the organization's public contracts approach, managing approximately 25-30 contracts with a total annual value of $30 million. This role leads a team including a Contract and Compliance Manager and a Contracts Associate and acts as the main liaison for Los Angeles contracts and Community Care Licensing compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the procurement of public funding from start to finish, including proposal development and submission, while staying updated on industry trends such as child welfare, homelessness, housing, CalAIM, juvenile justice, and workforce development.
• Lead contract budget preparation, narrative development, and justification, coordinating with agency leaders to maintain accurate calendars and contract tracking systems.
• Ensure alignment between fiscal and programmatic contract components and maintain an official contract repository with proactive communication to stakeholders.
• Foster and maintain funder relationships, especially in Los Angeles, including participation in relevant meetings and public forums.
• Oversee compliance activities, particularly agency audits, client eligibility monitoring, and adherence to various jurisdictional regulations.
• Direct, motivate, and support the Contracts team using a strengths-based management style, encouraging professional growth and commitment to the organization's mission.
• Perform additional duties and projects as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in social sciences, human services, public administration, or related field is required; a Master's degree is preferred.
• Minimum 8 years of advancing leadership experience in grant and contract procurement and compliance within public sectors; at least 5 years in team supervision.
• Proven expertise in nonprofit or government agency settings, with extensive knowledge of government funding best practices, bid processes, and public contract management in areas like child welfare and homelessness.
• Strong grant writing background, especially with government grants, plus prior program budget management experience.
• Familiarity with child welfare, homeless systems, and direct service provision for vulnerable groups such as transition-age youth.
• Excellent strategic thinking, communication, project management, and organizational skills, with the ability to interpret complex regulations and social science data.
• Proactive, capable of multitasking in fast-paced environments, and willing to work occasional evenings, weekends, and travel as necessary.

Benefits

• 15 vacation days in the first year, 12 sick days, 2 floating holidays, and 15 paid holidays annually.
• Health insurance options including Kaiser or UCH HMO/PPO plans with up to 90% employer premium coverage on some plans.
• Dental and vision insurance with up to 90% premium coverage.
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
• Basic and voluntary life insurance plans, Employee Assistance Program, and 401(k) retirement savings plan.
• Paid sabbatical opportunities.

Additional Information

• Pay ranges from 112000 to 125000 USD per year based on education and experience.
• Local candidates preferred as relocation assistance is not provided.
• The organization embraces diversity, inclusion, and fair chance hiring practices complying with California Fair Chance Act and related regulations.
• Visa sponsorship is not available.