L&I Contracts Specialist

Title: L&I Contracts Specialist

Location 

Thurston County – Tumwater, WA

Job Type

Full Time - Permanent

Remote Employment

Remote Optional

Salary

$67,992.00 - $91,464.00 Annually

Job Description:

As the Contract Specialist, you'll plan, lead, organize, and control the procurement of goods and services for divisions including Information Technology and the WCSM program. You'll also use your coaching skills to mentor Contract Administrators, as well as guide management in risk assessment during project planning. You'll be keeping Washington Safe and Working by ensuring that L&I staff have the contracted goods and services required to provide services to the public.

Some of what you'll do:

• Plan, lead, organize, and control the procurement of goods and services for the assigned division(s)
• Share responsibility for the preparation of guidelines for Managers coordinating solicitations such as: requests for information (RFls) and requests for proposals (RFPs), requests for qualifications and quotations (RFQQs), work requests (WRs), purchase requisitions (REQs), invitations for bid IFBs). Field Orders, etc.; oversee the development of evaluation tools
• Coach and mentor Contract Administrators and guide senior level management in risk assessment during project planning, solicitations and negotiation prioritization.
• Represent the assigned division(s), such as Information Technology, WCSM program; and other projects/programs that need additional support, in responding to various inquiries from other government entities and the public sector regarding contract related issues including contracting decisions, solicitations, monitoring performance etc.
• Share responsibility for development and interpretation of law, regulation, policy, procedure and task for the preparation and management of leases, acquisitions, contracts, orders, etc.
• Share responsibility for the development and maintenance of a library of clear and concise contract terms for solicitations, leases, acquisitions and contracting; monitor proposed acquisitions and contracts for legal sufficiency, and compliance with filings of regulatory agencies.
• Administer and coordinate the research, evaluation and rulings on the merit of protests filed by unsuccessful bidders in response to the agency's solicitation or procurement decisions. Rule on a request for resolution of dispute.
• And much more!

Required:

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

AND

• Three years of experience in contract development, negotiating, administering, terminating, costing and auditing contracts.

Note: Additional qualifying experience may be substituted, year for year, for the required education.

Additional Qualifications:

• Specific knowledge and understanding of the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) purchase authority and procurement/contract procedures, RCW 39.26.
• Must be proficient in the use of Microsoft Word and Excel.

Desired:

• A Master's degree in one of the above academic disciplines may be substituted for one year of experience.

• A law degree from an accredited college or university approved by the Washington State Bar Association may be substituted for two years of experience and education.

• Certification as one or more of the following may be substituted for one year of experience:

• Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM)

• Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO)

• Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM)

• Additional qualifying experience may be substituted, year for year, for education.

• Specific knowledge and understanding of the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) purchase authority and procurement/contract procedures, RCW 39.26. WaTech, policies and standards.

Desired Skills:

• 5+ years of IT Contract development, negotiating, administering, terminating, costing and auditing contracts.
• Other technical writing experience.
• External and internal stakeholder communication in a regulatory environment
• High level of comfort in making public presentations, both virtually and in person
• Dispute mediation and prevention measures.
• Human resource management and development.
• Budget development and management.
• Project management.
• Knowledge of State Government.
• Knowledge of Procurement Reform.

Things You Need To Know

To help you maintain a proper work-life balance, teleworking is one of the work schedule options for this position. L&I also offers flexible custom work schedules.

State employees who meet the qualifications will become eligible for a generous retirement package at the end of the employee's career. 

At L&I, your voice matters. In addition, L&I is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety and health and security of Washington's 3.3 million workers. Take a look at this brief video and learn more about why L&I is an employer of choice.

For this position, telework is permitted full time. The assigned duty station for this position is Tumwater, Washington.

For positions where in-office work is necessary, the frequency of telework will be discussed with the supervisor of the position at the time of offer.

To receive more information on opportunities at L&I sign up for GovDelivery and select L&I job alerts.

Application process

We will contact the top candidates directly to interview for this position. Because we base the selection on information provided by you, it is in your best interest to identify the knowledge, skills, and abilities that address the required and desirable qualifications described in the announcement.

Please include the following documents with your application:

• A cover letter describing specific qualifications.
• A current resume detailing applicable experience and education.
• A list of at least three professional references with current telephone numbers.
• Documents related to your recent contract work.

Please do not attach or place any medical information (vaccination status included) within the application, resume, or cover letter. If you do, we will have to reject your application to safeguard others from receiving your confidential information. You will have to remove the confidential information before you can apply again.

To learn more about our hiring process timeline at L&I please visit our L&I recruiting page at Hiring Process at L&I. If you would like to read our website in a language other than English, scroll up to the top of the page to select your language of choice from the banner.

Background Check Notice

Prior to a placement in this position, a background check, including criminal history record will be conducted. Information from your background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining your eligibility to perform the requirements of the position.

Other information

For positions requiring travel, you must have a valid unrestricted driver's license and have insurance if driving a privately owned vehicle on state business.

• This position is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).
• Candidates who are offered a job with L&I must possess work authorization that does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa now or in the future.
• The Department of Labor & Industries complies with the employment eligibility verification requirements of the federal employment eligibility verification form, I-9. The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States consistent with the requirements of that form on the first day of employment.
• Please note: L&I may use this announcement to fill multiple permanent and/or non-permanent positions.
• Applicants selected to move forward in the hiring process may be contacted by email to schedule a skills assessment. Assessments are proctored remotely via Zoom or Microsoft Teams.

Did You Know?

Washington is America's Top State to live, play, and work, according to U.S. News (2021). Join the L&I team and enjoy all the Evergreen State has to offer.

In addition to offering a positive balance between life and work, L&I provides one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation. We also believe your voice matters. We value our employees and their work-life balance by encouraging flexible schedules. L&I is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety and health and security of Washington's 3 million workers.

Veterans Preference

Applicants wishing to claim Veterans Preference should attach to their application a copy of their DD-214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or signed verification of service letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Please blackout any personally identifiable data such as Social Security numbers. For further information, contact L&I's Jobs@lni.wa.gov.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

L&I employees come from all walks of life. We strive to hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

We believe in the importance of recognizing the value each of us contribute to the success of the agency mission. Having a diverse workforce is this agency's greatest resource of strength and knowledge. It is through the combination of talents and abilities that we can pursue finding effective measures to provide the best customer service. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace for everyone and we strongly mean everyone.

The State of Washington is an equal opportunity employer. Persons with a disability who need accommodation in the application process or testing process, or those needing this announcement in an alternative format, may call 360-902-5700. TTY users should first call 711 to access the Washington Relay Service.

You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials and we will honor this as you interact with our award-winning diverse and inclusive organization.

For more Information

If you have any questions regarding this job posting, program, or the agency, please contact Haleigh Missildine (she/her/hers).