Contract Specialist

Classification Purpose: The primary purpose of the Contract Specialist classification is to draft and negotiate county contracts and to support county procurement activities, including, but not limited to, the preparation of Invitation to Bid (ITB), Request for Proposal (RFP), Request for Qualifications (RFQ), and Request for Information (RFI) documents using knowledge of industry trends, state and county regulations, and county policies and procedures.

Job Duties: Draft all manner of contracts, agreements, amendments, and MOUs between the county, vendors, and grant partners.

Review scopes of work, proposals, and other documents to ensure completeness and alignment with contracting requirements.

Lead stakeholders in developing procurement and contracting timelines and activities.

Identify and mitigate potential risks associated with contracts, including legal and compliance risks.

Collaborate with agency stakeholders, including but not limited to the Prosecuting Attorney's Office, Risk Management, and county leadership to ensure appropriate application of the county's contracting policies.

Facilitate the negotiation process between contractual parties.

Respond to vendor and county stakeholder inquiries, addressing questions and concerns.

Collaborate and maintain contact with agency representatives, providing status updates and supporting the creation of resolution and summary documents.

Serve as the point of contact on contracts.

Create and maintain physical and electronic files.

Support the fulfillment of public records requests.

Assist with resolving vendor compliance issues.

Schedule and attend virtual and in-person meetings.

May support vendor outreach and supplier diversity initiatives.

Participate in workshops, webinars, training, and other professional development opportunities as identified with supervisor.

Serve as Purchasing's subject matter expert in contract writing, negotiation, and risk mitigation.

Maintain knowledge of current and relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards.

Provide ongoing best-practice updates to negotiation strategies, methodologies, tools, templates, and resources.

Participate in procurement training and development sessions provided to staff, agency partners, and the vendor community.

Manage project planning with agency partners.

Maintain regular and predictable attendance.

These duties are illustrative only and you may perform some or all of these duties or other job-related duties as assigned.

Major Worker Characteristics: Understanding of public procurement principles; Excellent attention to detail; Ability to manage a project through its lifecycle; Experience with public relations and responsive customer service; Professional communication with stakeholders; Ability to understand and follow office practices and agency policy and procedures; Proficient reading comprehension; Ability to identify and solve a problem and apply critical thinking skills; Proficient in Microsoft Office products and standard office equipment operations; Ability to draft and redline large documents and complete routine forms; Maintain accurate records; Arrange items in numerical or alphabetical order; Schedule, lead, and present at meetings with the public, vendors, and/or stakeholders both in-person and in a virtual setting; Work independently and collaboratively; Respond to telephone and email inquiries; Handle sensitive inquiries from, and contacts with, officials and general public Minimum Class Qualifications for Employment: Associate's degree in business administration, paralegal, supply chain management, or related field and three (3) years of experience in purchasing-related activities; or any equivalent combination of training and experience.

Additional Requirements: Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) certification desired.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None required.

Unusual Working Conditions: N/A