Contract Specialist

Summary

King County Department of Public Defense (DPD) is seeking a high performing, strategic, proactive, and savvy Contract Specialist II (CS) to provide wide variety of contracting work including but not limited to developing new and revised contract language, analytical, technical, and coordinating functions for indigent defense and professional service-related activities. The CS works within a team environment, but performs day-to-day work independently, and under the general supervision of the Business and Finance Officer IV and Chief Financial Officer.

The CS is responsible for supporting development activities including evaluating proposed projects, performing cost benefit analyses, and modeling various scenarios. This position has a high level of responsibility for overseeing the contract billing and accounting, ensuring compliance with funding source administrative guidelines, accurate submission of financial reports, and orderly closure of projects when contracts end.

The ideal candidate will provide ongoing budget, program, and financial monitoring, analysis, and reporting in support of the contracted work. Additionally, the CS provides data, analysis and reporting support to the Director's Office (DO), provides contract related dashboards in support of visual management efforts (Tier Boards), and technical support to the DO and department divisions as needed.

This recruitment will be used to fill a Term-Limited Temporary (TLT) or Special Duty Assignment (SDA) position, and to create an eligibility pool to fill additional TLT or SDA vacancies that may occur in the Director's Office, within the next six months. Assignments are anticipated to last for up to 12 months but may have the ability to be extended or end early based on business needs.

The Department's Mission Statement

The King County Department of Public Defense represents indigent adults and children facing a loss of liberty. Our department is an independent voice that promotes fairness and equity for our clients and advocates for their objectives, interests, and dignity.

DPD provides high quality legal representation to indigent clients in felonies, misdemeanors, juvenile defense, family defense (dependency cases), involuntary commitment (mental illness), and sex offender commitment proceedings.

DPD advocates to reduce the harm and reach of the criminal and civil legal systems that restrict our clients' liberty, and advances policy reforms to reduce systemic racism. We strive to create a flexible workplace culture that is inclusive, respectful, and supportive, premised on a shared anti-oppression framework. To learn more about DPD, visit our website.

Job Duties

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES include but are not limited to the following:

Contracting Support:

• Provide direction and support to the department ensuring compliance with requirements and regulations concerning contracting services.
• Develop and implement procedures for professional-consultant selection for sensitive, technically complex, and unique projects.
• Develop and maintain contract files to ensure audit accountability.
• Develop, maintain, and update boilerplate language for RFPs and contracts specific to the department.
• Assure consistency with general County boilerplate language for use in department contracts.
• Develop and negotiate contract terms and conditions for department projects.

Financial Related Support:

• Manage complex contracts or grants independently.
• Provide technical analysis for complex grants or projects.
• Make/modify recommendations for changing scope of work.
• Provide analytical or contract evaluation reports.
• Manage data gathering.
• Develop contract budgets.
• Lead and/or coordinate inter-local agreements on behalf of the department.
• May authorize expenditures.

Visual Management Support:

• Develop, prepare, and maintain queries that support the data and reporting needs around contracting for the visual management system (Tier boards).
• Standardize data collection for report design and data validation reports.
• Extract data from databases and data warehouses for reporting and to facilitate sharing between multiple data systems.
• Prepare standard, ad hoc, and custom reports and conduct various detailed contract analysis to support management decision making.

The Department reserves the right to assign additional duties in support of DPD's mission.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Requirements:

• 3 or more years of demonstrated contract administration experience, OR any equivalent combination of education and experience that clearly demonstrates the ability to perform all the essential duties of the position.

Desired:

• JD or MBA from an accredited institution.
• Experience in King County contracting processes and contracting system.

Advanced Knowledge Of:

• Public sector budgeting, finance, managerial and financial accounting.
• Analytical and management systems.
• Financial information systems.
• Agency business.
• Management and legal issues concerning formulation and administration of public contracts, claims and change orders.
• Applicable procurement case law.

Ability To:

• Identify trends, problems and/or irregularities, provide solutions and/or make recommendations for solutions.
• Manage time working on multiple projects, with many data streams in a fast paced, changing environment.
• Produce dashboards and other visual management documents.
• Communicate analysis and findings to non-data/financial managers and leadership.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with a diverse group of people.
• Use complex computer programs to mine data sources to prepare trend analysis, cost benefit analysis, financial modeling.
• Analyze data to determine what data trends mean.
• Apply procurement theory, principles, and practices.
• Ability to train others, facilitate cross-functional discussions, resolve conflicts, and find resolutions.
• Handle a number and variety of tasks simultaneously.
• To demonstrate strong communication, interpersonal, writing and customer service skills.
• Proficiently use SharePoint, MS Teams and other collaborative online tools, and learn new technology.
• Draft detailed reports.

Supplemental Information

At King County, our work is guided by our True North and values. Our True North is what we aspire to: Making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive.

King County offers great benefits, to include a pension plan, holidays, transit pass, plus training and education opportunities to promote growth and development. Our focus is to provide our employees with work life balance.

ARE YOU READY TO APPLY?

This opportunity it is open to all applicants. Please apply at www.kingcounty.gov/careers.

To be considered for this role submit the following items:

• Completed King County application.
• Cover letter detailing your background and what you can bring to the Department of Public Defense.

This recruitment will be used to fill a Term-Limited Temporary (TLT) or Special Duty Assignment (SDA) position, and to create an eligibility pool to fill additional TLT or SDA vacancies that may occur within the next six months. Assignments are anticipated to last for up to 12 months but may have the ability to be extended or end early based on business needs.

Note: Special Duty opportunities are only open to current King County career service employees that have completed their initial probation. Special Duty applicants must have approval from their current supervisor to accept an assignment.

Pay Upon Special Duty Placement

Current employees selected for special duty will be compensated based upon the provisions of the King County Code/Personnel Guidelines for their base position.

If you have questions, please contact our Talent Advisors at dpd-hr@kingcounty.gov.

WORK SCHEDULE AND LOCATION:

The duties for this position will be a mix of onsite and telecommuting. Onsite and offsite work will be required as needed to fulfill the essential functions of the job. Employees must reside in Washington State and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. Onsite reporting requirements are determined by the departments operational needs and may be adjusted accordingly.

When onsite this position will report to the Dexter Horton Building, 710 Second Avenue, Seattle.

The work week is normally 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, in all cases, this position is expected to work the hours necessary to satisfactorily perform the job. This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not eligible for overtime pay.

Rotations of workflow are an essential function and can occur based on business need.

DPD Policies

Outside Work Policy for Administrative Staff will apply to employees, such that you must receive approval from your supervisor before being permitted to engage in outside employment for compensation or volunteer.

Union Membership

This position is not represented by a union.

Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, this salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate's current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position. King County offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, life and disability insurance for employees and dependents; retirement and deferred compensation. For additional information, please review the detailed summary of benefits offered by King County.

King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what's best for themselves and their eligible dependents
• Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
• Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
• Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
• 12 paid holidays each year plus two personal holidays
• Generous vacation and paid sick leave
• Paid parental, family and medical, and volunteer leaves
• Flexible Spending Account
• Wellness programs
• Onsite activity centers
• Employee Giving Program
• Employee assistance programs
• Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
• Training and career development programs

For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page.

This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.

NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.

For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.

01

Please describe your 3 or more years of demonstrated contract administration experience, OR describe how you meet the, any equivalent combination of education and experience that clearly demonstrates the ability to perform all the essential duties of the position.

02

Do you possess a valid Washington State Driver's License and/or have the ability to travel to required destinations around King County?

• Yes, I have a valid Washington State Driver's License and/or have the ability to travel to required destinations around King County.
• No, I do not have a valid Washington State Driver's License and/or do not have the ability to travel to required destinations around King County.

03

A cover letter is required as part of your application. Did you attach a Cover Letter?

• Yes
• No

04

Are you applying to this position as an eligible current or previous King County Employee Priority Placement Program Participant? Is this position the same or lower percentage of full-time when compared to the position held at the point of the notification of layoff? Do you possess the skills and abilities to qualify for this position?

05

If you answered yes to the question above and you are applying for this position as a Priority Placement Participant, to be considered, you must provide the following three pieces of information in the space provided: 1. The title you held when you received your layoff notice 2. The department you worked in 3. The effective date of your layoff

Required Question

Agency King County

Address King Street Center

201 South Jackson Street

Seattle, Washington, 98104

Phone 206-477-3404

Website http://www.kingcounty.gov/