Contracts Specialist 2 (In-Training Option)

GENERAL SERVICE

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Contract Specialist 2 (in-training option)

 $55,224 to $74,376 annually

Recruitment Closes July 2,2024

The Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) seeks a Contracts Specialist 2. This full-time permanent position is based in Olympia, Washington. This position may be eligible for partial to near full-time telework. Telework is a combination of in-building and off-site days. We encourage interested candidates to visit the OSPI website to gain insight into our agency.

About OSPI and our initiatives

OSPI is the primary agency charged with overseeing public K-12 education in Washington state. Working with the state's 295 public school districts and 7 state-tribal education compact schools, OSPI allocates funding and provides tools, resources, and technical assistance so every student in Washington is provided a high-quality public education.

At OSPI, we recognize that our employees are the key to the success of the agency. We are committed to our work but value the balance with our personal lives. We demonstrate our commitment to employees by providing an environment that stimulates professional growth and values them for their expertise. OSPI is a great place to work and has several initiatives to help create a great working environment, including:

• We support a healthy work/life balance by offering flexible/alternative work schedules and mobile and telework options. (Depending on job duties and work location.)
• We have an Infant at Work Program that is based on long-term values of newborns and infant-parent bonding. Eligible employees who are new parents or legal guardians can bring their infant (six weeks to six months) when returning to work. (Depending on job duties and work location.)
• We value and are actively involved in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion within OSPI by way of cross-divisional, collaborative committee. The focus of the committee includes employee engagement and education; reinforcing OSPI values; and maximizing the value of diversity and identifying strategies for inclusion.

Vision, Mission, and Values

Vision: All students prepared for post-secondary pathways, careers, and civic engagement.

Mission: Transform K-12 education to a system that is centered on closing opportunity gaps and is characterized by high expectations for all students and educators. We achieve this by developing equity-based policies and supports that empower educators, families, and communities.

Values: Ensuring Equity, Collaboration and Service, Achieving Excellence through Continuous Improvement, Focus on the Whole Child

Equity

Each student, family, and community possesses strengths and cultural knowledge that benefits their peers, educators, and schools. Ensuring educational equity:

• Goes beyond equality; it requires education leaders to examine the ways current policies and practices result in disparate outcomes for our students of color, students living in poverty, students receiving special education and English Learner services, students who identify as LGBTQ+, and highly mobile student populations.

• Requires education leaders to develop an understanding of historical contexts; engage students, families, and community representatives as partners in decision-making; and actively dismantle systemic barriers, replacing them with policies and practices that ensure all students have access to the instruction and support they need to succeed in our schools.

Position Overview

This position will serve as a Contract Consultant within the Procurement Office of the Agency Financial Services unit, ensuring procurement activity adheres to the internal and external policies, regulations, and guidelines. This position is responsible for providing employees with clear guidelines and procedures and ensuring goods/services procured are a good use of resources and follow state and federal contract/procurement laws.

OSPI's Procurement Office seeks to add a team member who understands the fundamentals of contracts and procurement and is ready to work collaboratively with a team in developing and conducting procurements and contracts. The ideal team member can identify and understand issues, problems, and opportunities; compare data from different sources to make decisions; and use effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Consult with internal customers and external vendors to achieve business objectives.

• Provide guidance and facilitation to internal customers (the agency's employees) as they solicit low, medium, or high complexity competitive procurements and contracts.

• Serve as a coordinator for varying competitive procurements, performing analysis of proposals for technical requirements and cost factors.

• Depending on candidate's experience, this position may have a focus on Information Technology procurements and contracts.

• Using independent judgement and expert understanding of procurement and contract laws, advise internal customers to ensure they create professional, technical, and legally compliant contracts and agreements following RCW, Department of Enterprise Services policies, and internal agency procedures and best practices.

• Work with internal customers to develop expected deliverables, performance measures or outcomes, to ensure payment is issued only if the product or service is successfully delivered.

• Provide guidance and facilitation to internal customers regarding contract amendments, when necessary.

• Facilitate termination of contracts and agreements, when necessary.

• Obtain necessary signatures of parties to agreements.

• Interact directly with customers and vendors to address vendor performance management to ensure contract compliance and correct issues, when necessary.

• Provide frontline customer service, including responding to customer and vendor inquiries via phone and email.

• Use project management methods and techniques to plan and manage solicitations and assigned projects.

• Serve as backup to other Procurement Office staff, specifically, the agency's Purchasing Officer

• Perform other work as required.

Required Qualifications

A Bachelor's degree involving major study in public administration, business administration, business law, commerce, economics, mathematics, statistics, or closely allied field.

AND

Two years of experience in negotiating, administering or terminating government contracts, contract property management, contract cost or price analyses, or contract compliance administration.

OR

Six years of qualifying experience may be substituted, year for year.

AND

Ability to: Establish and maintain effective working relationships with vendors, customers, fellow employees, and the public.

Computer skills: Outlook, Word, and Excel

Desired Qualifications

The most successful applicants will possess the following skills, knowledge, and abilities:

• Recent experience within Washington state agency performing procurement/contract functions.

• Knowledge of contract law, principles of negotiations, innovative contracting and procurement techniques; research and market analysis techniques; contract terminology.

• Ability to: apply life cycle management techniques; assure compliance with terms of contracts/agreements; adapt rapidly to changing market conditions and/or customer needs; effectively employ automated procurement systems; prepare and interpret complex contract specifications and award criteria; analyze bids or proposals submitted by vendors and determine award.

• Specific experience and expertise with Information Technology contracts and procurements.

• Effective communications and interpersonal relations.

• Experience with or ability to learn Teams, SharePoint, and Smartsheet systems.

Compensation

The annual compensation for the position is $55,224 to $74,376 per year and depends upon experience, educational background and qualifications. Geographic differentials may be applied based on work location of successful candidate. Washington State offers a generous benefit package including health, dental and life insurance, retirement and an optional deferred compensation program. Please visit Health Care Authority for information regarding health benefits and the Department of Retirement Systems for retirement plan information. This is a general service position. This position is not represented by a bargaining unit.

Application Process

Those interested in this position must apply through Careers.wa.gov. Applications must include the following documents in MS Word and PDF format only:

• A letter of interest specifically addressing the qualifications listed in this announcement; 
• A current résumé, and;
• A list of three or more professional references.  

Please address any questions to:

Sal Salazar, Human Resources

Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

600 Washington Street Southeast

Olympia, Washington 98504-7200

360-725-6278: sal.salazar@k12.wa.us

Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may contact the Human Resources Office at (360) 725-6270 or (360) 725-6066, or e-mail hroffice@k12.wa.us.

New Jobs Alert Service

OSPI offers a subscription service, which regularly notifies subscribers of new OSPI employment opportunities on careers.wa.gov. Subscribers are notified via text or email alert. If you are interested in this service, then please subscribe at this location.

OSPI is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from job seekers who will contribute to our diversity. OSPI provides equal access to all programs and services without discrimination based on sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. If you would like, please include your name and gender pronouns in your application, to ensure we address you appropriately throughout the application process. Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may contact the human resource consultant listed in "Application Process."