Procurement & Contract Specialist

Thurston County Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) is recruiting for a Procurement & Contract Specialistwithin our Fiscal Division.
As Thurston County's local health jurisdiction and human services department, Public Health and Social Services is responsible for protecting the health and promoting the well-being of all people who live, work, and play in Thurston County. We value diversity and strive to foster a sense of belonging, honoring the unique experiences, cultures, skills, backgrounds, identities, and perspectives of our employees and community. As an agency actively working to address health equity, we aspire for everyone to have the opportunity to attain their highest level of health, regardless of their individual circumstances.
In the role of Procurement & Contract Specialist, you are responsible for purchasing and contracting assignments in support of all procurement activities within PHSS. You will review, write, implement, and monitor all grants & Contracts for services and products, as well as complete purchases of services and products. Interpreting regulations and policies, developing and implementing procedures, and providing expert guidance and training to staff are also important tasks in this role.
Some of the essential job functions include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Maintain expert knowledge of current regulatory requirements for local government purchasing, procurement, and contract administration in Washington State related to goods and services.
• Lead the proposal evaluation and vendor selection process, negotiate or participate in negotiations of contract scope of work and associated costs, issue notices of award, and maintain all related documents and records.
• Work in conjunction with departmental subject matter experts and program staff to negotiate, prepare, and maintain various contract mechanisms, such as service contracts, contract amendments, and memorandums of agreement for the department.
• Ensure contract mechanisms follow departmental standards, local policies, and state and federal regulatory requirements.
• Assist executive management team with budget and policy development, formulation of short-term and long-range goals, and program evaluation.
• Develop a coherent long-term approach to program expansion through grant funding and related contracts.
• Assist with grant writing and proposal development, fiscal and award management, and sub-recipient and subcontract management.
• Create new Procurement & Contracting methods, as needed, in response to department needs and changing conditions.
• Develop and maintain a mechanism for tracking grant and contract expiration dates and renewal dates and assist program staff with contract-related management of deliverables.
• Perform other work as required or assigned including but not limited to a 24/7 response during public health emergency situations and disease outbreak investigations.

The ideal candidate has the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• State and federal grant and contract management experience.
• Knowledge of and skills in applying relevant policies, regulations, standard methods, and procedures related to public purchasing, procurement, and contract development and administration in Washington State.
• Ability to write and understand technical and legal language related to procurement and contracting processes.
• Knowledge of Washington State BARS System.
• Ability to think logically and develop solutions to complex procurement and contracting problems.
• Certified Purchasing Professional, Certified Public Procurement Officer, or similar certification.

What we offer our employees:

• Work-Life Balance: We are committed to ensuring that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individual's lifestyle.
• Plan for Your Future: As a member of our team, you enjoy great employee benefits, including a retirement plan, pre-tax savings accounts, as well as comprehensive health care and dental/vision care for you and your family. Please visit our 2024 Thurston County Employee Benefit Planswebsite for more information.
• Paid Leave: Full-time regular employees earn a minimum of 12 paid vacation days per year in addition to 11 paid holidays and 2 floating holidays.
• Robust Training Program: Employees are encouraged to attend County-paid training to help them further their career, learn new skill sets, and stay on top of emerging trends in our industry. We also encourage staff to participate in professional organizations and attend conferences.
• Flexible Work Schedules: Options some employees may take advantage of include alternative or compressed schedules and/or remote working.
• See under Benefitslater in this job description for detailed information about the many other benefits the County offers.

Why you'll love it here
Thurston County is located between Seattle and Portland in Western Washington's South Puget Sound Region. Perched between the mountains and the ocean, the area boasts the perfect blend of year-round outdoor activities including boating, hiking, skiing, and more. The region is also home to the state capital city of Olympia, known for its many restaurants, microbreweries, coffee shops, farmers markets, kids' activities, history, and art events. Discover more about life in Thurston County at Experienceolympia.com.

• High School Diploma/GED and two years college level coursework in Business or Public Administration, Accounting, Pre-Law or closely related field.

AND

• Two (2) years of experience working with contract administration, accounting, purchasing or related field, which includes one (1) year of public-sector procurement and/or contract administration.

OR

• Any combination of experience and/or education equivalent to five (5) years of experience in procurement, contract administration, or other professional program coordination or administration involving data development, tracking, and analysis.

Respect and Organizational Culture:

• Create an environment where employees and partners can safely express needs or concerns and where employees can make and correct mistakes.
• Effectively interact with sensitivity while working with persons from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial, ethnic, and professional backgrounds, and persons of all ages, gender identities, sexual orientations, and lifestyles.
• Thrive in a fast-paced, robust organization maintaining a positive work environment.

Communication:

• Serve the public in a timely, complete, accurate, and professional manner while ensuring that written and verbal communication is clearly understood by others.
• Maintain cultural competency to support diverse perspectives in developing, implementing, and evaluating policies, programs, and services that affect the health of the community.
• Strong oral communication for networking and interpersonal relationships.
• Excellent written communication including the ability to craft correspondence, reports, and articles or web postings with minimal grammatical and syntax errors.

Goal Setting and Accomplishment:

• Use strategic thinking and planning for goal setting and evaluation.
• Effectively plan, organize, and manage competing priorities and challenges under pressure.
• Create a sense of mission by articulating and modeling confidentiality, professional values, and ethics with honesty and integrity.
• Operate with a high degree of flexibility, initiative, attention to detail, and commitment.
• Delegate and use persuasion and negotiating skills for shared responsibility and acceptance of change.

Questions about this recruitment?
The contact person for this recruitment is: Vickie Larkin: vickie.larkin@co.thurston.wa.us or (360) 867-2505
This position is:

• Represented by a Union
• Eligible for overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
• Eligible for benefits
• Contingent on the ability to pass a criminal background check

Items required for consideration:

• Application
• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Possess a current Washington State driver's license or have an appropriate accommodation

PLEASE NOTE: The candidate selected for this position is requiredto show proof of the following immunizations by their agreed upon start date:

• Proof of immunizations of measles/mumps/rubella (MMR)
• Proof of tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap/TD)

Employment Type: Regular Full-Time Employee