Contracts Coordinator (COM 1)

Full Job Description

Contracts Coordinator (COM 1)
**THIS IS AN INTERNAL RECRUITMENT FOR COMMERCE EMPLOYEES**
At the Department of Commerce, we’re reimagining what’s possible in government. We’re builders, thinkers, and change-makers, working at the intersection of innovation, community, and impact. From unlocking critical funding to fueling inclusive economic growth, we’re turning big ideas into real-world solutions that uplift people and places.

Our agency’s strength lies in the diversity of our workforce and the breadth of the lived experiences and perspectives employees bring to the work.

We believe equity is not just a value but a practice, which is reflected in how we design programs, engage communities, and deliver outcomes.

We foster a workplace culture where curiosity is encouraged, bold thinking is welcomed, and collaboration drives our impact.

Let’s build what’s next, together.

The Community Services Division (CSD), partners with local governments, tribes, community-based organizations, and nonprofits to provide community assistance, promote individual and family self-sufficiency, address the causes and effects of crime and violence, and reduce poverty.

The Community Reinvestment Program (CRP) supports community-driven solutions that build safety, opportunity and economic stability for people in Washington. The program is designed to reach communities most impacted by systemic racism, the war on drugs and long-term economic exclusion.

The Contracts Coordinator plays a critical role in ensuring the efficient and compliant administration of the Community Reinvestment Program (CRP). Reporting to the Operations Manager, this position supports the development, execution, and monitoring of complex contracts and grant agreements across CRP’s statewide investment portfolios—including workforce development, reentry, legal assistance, violence prevention, homeownership, and small business resilience.

This position ensures that community-led investments are translated into accurate, timely, and compliant state actions. The Contracts Coordinator collaborates closely with CRP program staff, Commerce’s Contracts, Fiscal, and Legal teams, and community partners to ensure that all contracting processes uphold Commerce’s standards for equity, transparency, and accountability.

Requirements

Contract Coordination and Information Management
Tasks include:
• Coordinate with other Commerce divisions and partner agencies — including the Violence Prevention Unit, Reentry Services Unit, Legal Assistance Unit, Homeownership Division, and Workforce Development Unit — to gather information on active and planned grants supported through the Community Reinvestment Program (CRP).
• Track and maintain centralized records of contracts, deliverables, and timelines across portfolios to ensure consistency and alignment with CRP reporting requirements.
• Monitor contract progress and flag delays or discrepancies to the Operations Manager for resolution.
• Compile and summarize updates from participating divisions into concise reports for internal tracking and leadership briefings.
• Assist with the routing and documentation of contracts directly managed by the CRP Operations Unit.

Compliance Documentation and Reporting Support
Tasks include:
• Collect and organize contract data, deliverables, and performance reports submitted by partner divisions and grantees.
• Maintain digital filing systems and shared folders to ensure accessibility and audit readiness of CRP-related contract records.
• Ensure that required documentation, including scopes of work and reporting forms, are properly submitted and stored according to Commerce standards.
• Assist the Operations Manager in preparing summary reports, dashboards, and legislative updates reflecting cross-division activities and spending.

Cross-Divisional and Interagency Communication
Tasks include:
• Serve as a coordination point between CRP Operations, other Commerce divisions, and the Employment Security Department (ESD) on contracting, reporting, and performance tracking.
• Communicate regularly with program units to confirm timelines, clarify deliverables, and document progress toward contract milestones.
• Support meeting preparation by organizing materials, taking notes, and following up on action items with internal and external partners.
• Respond to general inquiries regarding CRP contract processes and refer complex questions to the appropriate division or program lead.

Internal Tracking and Data Entry
Tasks include:
• Enter and update data in Commerce systems (e.g., Smartsheet, SharePoint, Excel) to reflect current contract status, deliverables, and expenditure tracking.
• Generate internal tracking reports and summaries for Operations Manager review.
• Coordinate with the Data & Evaluation Specialist to verify contract-related metrics and ensure data integrity.

Administrative and Team Support
Tasks include:
• Support onboarding of new CRP Operations team members or interns assisting with contract administration.
• Participate in internal planning, training, and DEIB sessions that strengthen equitable contracting and coordination practices.
• Assist with special projects, document clean-up, or year-end reporting as assigned by the Operations Manager.

Qualifications

Required Position Qualifications:
Five (5) years of combined experience and/or education as described below:
Experience must include:
• One (1) year of professional experience in contracts, public administration, program coordination, or a related field.
• Familiarity with government or nonprofit grantmaking processes.

Lived experience with serving communities impacted by the war on drugs or economic exclusion may substitute for two years of professional experience.• What is lived experience?

Lived experiences is relevant expertise derived from the accumulated personal life and professional experiences of an individual.

Experience can be gained through life events, volunteer role/capacity, any experience gained outside of professional paid and unpaid experience, academic or a combination of experiences.

The above-listed experience will demonstrate that a candidate possesses the necessary knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies to successfully qualify for and perform the duties of the position.

Education involves public relations, public affairs, community relations, public health, public policy, communications, marketing, or closely related field. Qualifying education post High School or equivalent may be substituted year for year for experience.

Examples of how to qualify:
• 5 years of experience
• 4 years of experience and 1 year of education
• 3 years of experience and 2 years of education
• 2 years of experience and 3 years of education
• 1 year of experience and 4 years of education

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:
• Experience supporting state-funded contracts or grant programs.
• Lived or professional experience working with small, BIPOC-led, or community-based organizations.
• Proficiency in tools such as Smartsheet, SharePoint, DocuSign, and Teams.
• Understanding of culturally responsive practices or equity-centered public service.

Required Position Competencies:
Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to track multiple projects simultaneously.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills across diverse teams.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and work within complex systems with accuracy.
• Ability to support equitable access to CRP funding by helping remove administrative barriers for partners.
• Ability to ensure contract processes are transparent, timely, and culturally responsive.
• Ability to promote trust and accessibility in communication with both internal teams and external grantees.

To be considered for this position, the following are needed:

• A complete and detailed online application.
• A cover letter (enter online).
• At least three professional references (enter online).

For questions about this recruitment, please contact our recruitment team via email: comrecruitment@commerce.wa.gov - please reference the job number in your message.

Additional Information

Work from Anywhere in Washington State
This position may be located anywhere within Washington State though occasional travel to a Commerce office building or in-state travel to attend events or meetings may be required. If selected, you will need to travel to pick up equipment and receive instruction. Many Commerce employees work remotely or have a hybrid schedule.

This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies over the next 60 days.

Technical support is provided by NEOGOV, 855-524-5627 (can't log in, password or email issues, error messages). DES job seeker support may answer general questions regarding the recruiting system at careershelp@des.wa.gov.

Our Commitment to Equal Opportunity
The Washington State Department of Commerce is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons needing accommodation in the application, testing, or interview process or this job announcement in an alternative format may email Human Resources at Human.Resources@commerce.wa.gov. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

Department of Commerce also offers a competitive benefits package including: medical and dental insurance benefits, retirement and deferred compensation plans, 11 paid holidays each year, 14-25 vacation days per year (depending on length of employment), 8 hours of sick leave per month (if full time employed), bereavement leave, an employee assistance program, as well as other benefits. Please see the Benefits Tab for more details.