Contract Specialist III

Full Job Description

King County's Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) provides equitable opportunities for people to be healthy, happy, and connected to community.

DCHS is looking for a skilled, knowledgeable, highly motivated, and enthusiastic team player to collaboratively help lead the Contracts & Procurement Unit, which develops, implements, and oversees compliance with county and department contracting and procurement processes. This includes a portfolio of government funds with complex funding sources, including federal, state, and local funding, in various human service programs.

The Contract Specialist III is a professional classification that reports directly to the DCHS Contract & Procurement Manager and plays a key leadership support role in developing and implementing efficient and effective procurement processes for human service programs across DCHS. In addition, the Contract Specialist III supports staff with major procurement and contracting responsibilities in various work units. The desired candidate has significant expertise in government procurement, contract management, and experience with organizational change. Duties may also expand to include supervision, training, and evaluation of the work of others. The ideal candidate will also prioritize social justice and equity and will commit to creating forward progress in transforming the procurement and contracting practices at DCHS.

Requirements

To be considered minimally qualified, applicants must demonstrate a background that provides the knowledge, skill and ability to:

• Support the preparation and implementation of competitive solicitations, including creating new procurement or contracting methods; coordinate public pre-bid/pre-proposal meetings; open submittals and assure compliance with bid or proposal requirements.
• Review, draft, and advise program staff on all terms and conditions on a variety of contracts implementing human and related services throughout the department.
• Assist Contracts & Procurement Manager in creating and implementing department wide contracting policies and procedures, and provide direction and training for other DCHS program staff in the requirements and regulations concerning the contract process.
• Provide lead direction and training for project managers, contract monitoring/compliance team members, administrative staff and/or other Contract Specialists.
• Regularly meet with program work units to identify programs needed for RFP, design appropriate alternative procurement approaches, and ensure process meets all applicable federal, state, and county requirements.
• Work with Prosecuting Attorney and Risk Management to cooperatively resolve contract and procurement issues, and to maintain contract templates.
• Work with subject matter experts to edit scopes of work, technical specifications, and other solicitation/contract documents for clarity and consistency, technical specifications, and other solicitation/contract.
• Coordinate program, finance, evaluation and administrative teams to support RFP and contract processes.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

WE ARE LOOKING FOR CANDIDATES WHO HAVE:

• At least five (5) years of experience and knowledge of procurement theory, principles and practices; contract development; and contract negotiations. Experience and knowledge in government preferred, especially within Human Services programming.
• At least five (5) years of experience facilitating discussion, resolving conflict, and finding creative solutions to contract and procurement issues.
• At least (5) years of experience streamlining work processes, improving operations, and decreasing turnaround time in procurement and contracting processes.
• Demonstrated understanding and experience with the principles, practices, and terminology typically used to procure contracts funding human services.
• Knowledge of contract administration and federal, state, and county statutes and regulations pertaining to procurement of human service contracts.
• Knowledge of equity and social justice principles and practices, and understanding of the effects of place, race, and policy and systems-based inequities on marginalized communities and populations.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of supervision and management, with skill in leading teams and making public presentations.
• Demonstrated ability to provide excellent customer service to interested parties both within and outside the organization.
• Strong communication and training experience, writing, problem-solving, analytical, and investigative research skills.
• Demonstrated ability and comfort in prioritizing workloads, working successfully under pressure with tight timelines, changing priorities, and ambiguous information.
• Ability to work collaboratively with program staff and to interface effectively with County officials and senior management.
• Demonstrated proficiency with MS Office Suite.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Deep understanding of the public procurement and contracting processes for delivering human service programs.
• Experience interpreting and applying local, state and federal laws and regulations.
• Experience working collaboratively on a team.

ADDITIONAL POSITION INFORMATION:

WHO MAY APPLY:

This position is open to all qualified candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. Interviews for this selection process will take place on or around February 23, 2026.

As part of this recruitment process, applicants that are selected for an interview can expect to also complete a timed virtual assessment.

Candidates who wish to be considered for this position must submit an online King County application and respond to the supplemental questions.

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the requested and relevant information in the online application and supplemental questionnaire.

Applications and/or supplemental questionnaires that state, “see my resume” are considered incomplete and will not be considered to be competitive.

If you have any questions, please contact Phitsamai Xaxouthep, phxaxouthep@kingcounty.gov.

Additional Information

Forbes 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.