Contract Specialist Or Contract Specialist Sr.

Location:

1000 Red River

Austin, Texas, 78701

United States

Contract Specialist or Contract Specialist Sr.

Requisition ID: req1074 Employment Type: Unclassified Regular Full-Time (URF) Division: Business Administration Compensation: $63,887.00 - 96,629.00, Annual Salary Location: TRS Job Closing: July 26th at 5:00 pm, CST

WHO WE ARE:

Service, Respect, and Connection are core to the individual and collective TRS experience. We know that great service rests on a foundation of relationships that connect us all to an empowering and rewarding career. At TRS, we're inspired by our diverse community who bring authenticity and commitment to our mission to improve the retirement security of public education employees and retirees throughout Texas.

As a group of achievers, we tap collaboration and innovation to raise the bar in performance, administering and counseling pensions and healthcare benefits to ensure certainty for the future of our members. We invite you to join us, where both personal and career growth are respected and where you can make a difference in our members' lives every day.

The Contract Specialist performs professional contract development and solicitation work and provides support through the contract execution. The incumbent will develop and monitor purchase orders and contracts, facilitate contract managers through the contracting process, and provide reporting and special project coordination. This position will proactively work with the Contracts team, Contract Management Office, Business Administration staff, Procurement and Contracts staff, and agency employees.

The Contract Specialist Senior performs professional contract development and solicitation work and provides support through the contract execution. The incumbent will develop and monitor purchase orders and contracts, facilitate contract managers through the contracting process, and provide reporting and special project coordination. This position will proactively work with the Contracts team, Contract Management Office, Business Administration staff, Procurement and Contracts staff, and agency employees.

Vacancy will be filled at one of two levels - Contract Specialist OR Contract Specialist Senior. Selected applicant will be offered the position that most closely matches their education and experience.

Salary Range

Contract Specialist: $63,887-$79,859 annual

Contract Specialist Senior: $77,303-$96,629 annual

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

Contracting Process

• Coordinates and facilitates procurement-related meetings such as kick-off and pre-proposal meetings, post-award conferences, team briefings, evaluation scorings, etc.

• Coordinates with other purchasing and contracts staff, contract managers, Contract Management Office, and management to help resolve contracting issues involving contracting language for monitoring contractor deliverables and performance.

• Develops specifications, statements of work, and solicitation documents, including Invitations for Bid (IFB), Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Requests for Offers (RFOs), and Requests for Qualifications (RFQs).

• Monitors the procurement and contracting process to ensure contractors are selected fairly and objectively.

• Negotiates contract terms, conditions, specifications, and provisions following the agency's best interests and applicable procurement law.

• Collaborates with legal staff and contractors during negotiations and finalizing contract and purchase order documents.

• Guides other purchasing and contracts staff regarding the contracting process.

• Serves as a liaison for agency contract managers, including coordinating with legal, purchasing (including the Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Coordinator), accounting, management, and others as needed to assist in the successful solicitation and awarding of contracts.

• Works with the Contract Management Office.

• May process ProCard purchases according to TRS ProCard rules and regulations and will be a TRS ProCard holder.

Contract Monitoring

• Assists the Contract Management Office in developing a contractor oversight process, including risk assessment, monitoring plan, and evaluation criteria to ensure that contractors consistently provide quality services and that funds are spent effectively and efficiently.

• Maintains systems for contract administration tracking, record keeping, and reporting.

• Consults with contract managers in developing bid and contract specifications and/or contract renewals and amendments.

• Ensures that contracts comply with all state and agency regulations and policies and adequately address expected deliverables, performance measures, payment methodology, and consequences for non-performance.

• Participates in internal and external audits, researches and reconciles audit exceptions, and recommends solutions.

Reports and Special Projects

• Collaborates with purchasing and contracts staff and management to research, analyze, and evaluate current agency contract administration practices, policies, procedures, guidelines, processes, systems, and forms; and develops recommendations for improvements.

• Develops and delivers reports and presentations to agency management and staff regarding contract administration plans, operations, activities, achievements, and related issues.

• Prepares and submits reports as required by regulatory entities and internal management.

• Advises agency managers and staff on contract-related regulations, policies, procedures, processes, systems, best practices, issues, trends, and developments.

• Participates on special projects, task forces, and committees.

• Performs related work as assigned.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING:

Required Education

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in supply chain management, business administration, finance or a closely related field.

• High school diploma or equivalent and additional full-time experience in contract management, contract monitoring, contract administration, contract negotiations, or related experience may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.

Required Experience

• Four (4) years of full-time directly related, progressively responsible experience in contract development, contract administration, contract negotiations or related experience.

• Six (6) years of full-time directly related, progressively responsible experience in purchasing, contract management, contract monitoring, contract administration, contract negotiations, or related experience.(Senior)

• A master's degree or doctoral degree in a directly related field may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.

Required Registration, Certification, Licensure

• Certification as a Certified Texas Contract Developer (CTCD), or must be obtained within six (6) months of employment if not already certified.

• Certification as a Certified Texas Contract Manager (CTCM), or must be obtained within one (1) year of employment if not already certified.

Preferred Qualifications

• One (1) year of full-time directly related, progressively responsible experience with contract development and negotiations at a State of Texas governmental entity or related experience.

• Two (2) years of full-time directly related, progressively responsible experience with contract development and negotiations at a State of Texas governmental entity or related experience.(Senior)

• Experience providing budget and expenditure administration support, supply chain management, purchasing, or related experience.

• Experience in analyzing data and performance metrics.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• State of Texas contracting, purchasing and procurement rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and processes, including the HUB program.

• Contract administration theories, practices, techniques, rules, regulations, and related technology.

Skills in:

• Writing contract specifications, deliverables, and terms and conditions.

• Negotiating contract terms and requirements, balancing departmental and provider requirements, and resolving related issues.

• Evaluating contracts and contractor performance and recommending future actions.

• Collecting and evaluating complex statistical data for reasonableness, necessity, and conformity with contract requirements.

• Planning and project management, including planning, organizing, and coordinating work assignments to effectively meet frequent and/or multiple deadlines; handling multiple tasks simultaneously; and managing conflicting priorities and demands.

• Effective and professional written and verbal communications, including preparing and delivering complex reports, presentations, bid proposals and specifications, and policies.

• Proficient use of computers in a Windows environment with word processing, spreadsheet, and other business software, including contract tracking and management systems.

• Providing quality customer service to both internal and external customers.

Ability to:

• Establish and maintain harmonious working relationships with co-workers, agency staff, and external contacts.

• Work effectively in a professional team environment.

Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) Codes:

Veterans, Reservists or Guardsmen with experience in the Military Occupational Specialty ( https://www.trs.texas.gov/files/trs-military-crosswalk.xlsx ) along with the minimum qualifications listed above may meet the minimum requirements and are highly encouraged to apply. Please contact Talent Acquisition at careers@trs.texas.gov with questions or for additional information.

To view all job vacancies, visit www.trs.texas.gov/careers or www.trs.csod.com/careersite.

For more information, visit www.trs.texas.gov.