Contracts Specialist 3 (CS3/DLS) - Project

Full Job Description

Contracts Specialist 3 (CS3/DLS) - Project

71112877

This is a project position funded through 10/30/2030.

Join a high-impact team supporting Washington’s Rural Health Transformation Program, a major effort to strengthen access to care in rural communities.

The Contracts Specialist 3 is ideal for someone with strong contract development, negotiation and stakeholder coordination skills, who is comfortable handling complex, grant-funded agreements in a fast-paced public sector environment.

Washington residents will benefit from telework flexibility while applying their legal analytical skills to make a difference statewide.

All HCA employees will apply an equity lens to their work, which may include but is not limited to all analyses of core business and processes.

About the division:

Within the Office of the Chief of Staff of HCA, the Division of Legal Services (DLS) provides the people, processes, and expertise to reduce risk while meeting the agency’s strategic goals.

Within DLS, the Office of Contracting and Procurement (OCP) is managed by the agency’s Contracts Administrator.

This position reports directly to the Contracts and Procurement Manager – IT / Operations and may, at times, take direction directly from the Contracts Administrator or other Contracts and Procurement Managers within OCP as necessary.

About the position:

The Contracts Specialist 3 supports Washington’s Rural Health Transformation Program, a major initiative that utilizes up to $1 billion in funding to strengthen rural health care access, workforce capacity, and long-term sustainability.

The position works within the Health Care Authority’s contracting and procurement team to manage complex, and sometimes politically sensitive state and federal contracts, to help move the program forward.

CS3’s help ensure the right contracts are planned, negotiated, and managed so public funding is used responsibly and effectively for rural programming and across the agency.

This position is eligible to telework but is occasionally required to travel or report on-site to meet business need.

The default assigned work location of all Health Care Authority (HCA) positions – both on-site and telework eligible positions – is within the State of Washington. This position reports to Olympia, WA.

Frequency of onsite work will vary based on business and operational needs. HCA has currently suspended the ability to support out-of-state telework.

Requirements

Some of what you will do:

• Independently initiate, manage, and complete complex HCA contracts and grants by coordinating with program stakeholders and internal program staff.
• Resolve issues that arise during the contracting process, including but not limited to disputes, protests, liquidated damages, and excess costs.
• Oversees the preparation, review and negotiation and approval of new and existing contracts or agreements for the Department, modifies contracts when conflicts arise.
• Collaborates with program/project management staff on developing the contents for competitive contracts. Independently writes, and/or provides technical advice for RFP’s, RFQ’s, RFQQ’s, etc.
• Approves and/or develops the contents for – and manages the process of – advertising for competitive contracts via the agency Internet, and WEBS. Develop work plans for contract solicitations.
• Independently writes and/or provides technical advice for the Statement of Work (SOW), contract deliverables, contract amendments, and other contract documents.
• Negotiates (language, deliverables, time frames, and cost) contracts and agreements verbally and in writing by interacting with vendors, internal staff, and other state agency staff to award contracts for needed services.
• Manages and facilitates protest debriefings with non-successful bidders.
• Independently reviews and/or approves contract requests and determines applicable regulations.
• Serve as a liaison to state agencies such as DES, OFM, OCIO and CTS and contractors regarding various programs.
• Maintains the official repository of contract records.
• Advise junior Contract Specialists with contracting and procurement subject matter.
• Provides technical assistance to internal and external constituents and stakeholders regarding contract activities, including providing advice and resources.
• Conduct trainings to agency staff to fulfill agency needs and the statutory requirements for contract managers, including tailored one-on-one and group training, as needed.

Qualifications

Required qualifications:

Qualifying candidates will meet one of the following criteria options:

Option 1:

Master’s degree involving major study in business administration, public administration, business law, commerce, mathematics, statistics, economics, or closely allied field, and two (2) years of the required experience below

Option 2:

Bachelor's degree involving major study in business administration, public administration, business law, commerce, mathematics, statistics, economics, or closely allied field, and three (3) years of the required experience below

Option 3:

Seven 7 years of the required experience below

Option 4:

One year of experience as a Contracts Specialist 2 in state government or equivalent role.

NOTE: A law degree from an accredited college or university approved by the Washington State Bar Association may be substituted for two (2) years of experience and the required education.

Additional qualifying experience may be substituted, year-for-year, for the education.

The required experience includes:

• Professional experience in negotiating, administering or terminating government contracts, property management, contract cost or price analyses, or contract compliance administration.

Required competencies:

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.
• Demonstrates above average knowledge and skills regarding government contracting.
• Demonstrated skills in providing leadership to co-workers and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and effectively (oral and written) with internal and external stakeholders with diverse and divergent needs.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver presentations and participate in meetings with other staff and stakeholders.

Preferred qualifications:

• Three years professional experience (high level proficiency) developing, managing, negotiating and providing consultation for competitive and noncompetitive government contracts in Washington.
• One year experience collaboratively working as a project team member in a large enterprise data management system.
• Two years’ professional experience developing, managing, negotiating and providing consultation for competitive and noncompetitive grants.
• Provide consistent, high-quality (error free) reviews of written communications with acute attention to detail.
• Ability to interpret and convey rules and regulations, and legal terminology to broad audiences.
• Strong analytical ability demonstrated by using data and information in a clear and rational thought process to assess and understand issues, evaluate options, create accurate conclusions, and make clear and sound decisions.
• Experience with Information Technology (IT) contracts and procurements.
• Demonstrate above average knowledge and skills regarding government contracting.

How to apply:

Only candidates who reflect the required qualifications on their NEOGOV profile will be considered. Failure to follow the application instructions below may lead to disqualification.

To apply for this position, you will need to complete your profile which includes three professional references and attach:

• A cover letter that specifically addresses how you meet the qualifications for this position
• Current resume

To take advantage of veteran preference, please do the following:

• Attach a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 long-form copy), NGB 22, or USDVA signed verification of service letter.
• Please black out any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers. Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

Additional Information

About HCA:

Functioning as both the state's largest health care purchaser and its behavioral health authority, the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) is a leader in ensuring Washington residents have the opportunity to be as healthy as possible.

There are three pillars of our work: Apple Health (Medicaid); the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) and School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) programs; and behavioral health and recovery.

Under these pillars, HCA purchases health care, including behavioral health treatment for more than 2.7 million Washington residents and provides behavioral health prevention, crisis, and recovery supports to all Washington residents.

What we have to offer:

• Meaningful work with friendly co-workers who care about those we serve Voices of HCA
• A clear agency mission that drives our work and is person-centered HCA's Mission, Vision & Values
• A healthy work/life balance, including alternative/flexible schedules and mobile work options.
• A great total compensation and benefit package WA State Government Benefits
• A safe, pleasant workplace in a convenient location with restaurants, and shopping nearby.
• And free parking!

Notes:

This position is covered by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). Once the listed position(s) is(are) filled, this recruitment announcement may also be used to fill additional position(s) for up to sixty (60) days.

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment.

HCA is an equal opportunity employer. We value the importance of creating an environment in which all employees can feel respected, included, and empowered to bring unique ideas to the agency.

HCA has five employee resource groups (ERGs). ERGs are voluntary, employee-led groups whose aim is to foster a diverse, inclusive workplace aligned with HCA’s mission.

Our diversity and inclusion efforts include embracing different cultures, backgrounds and viewpoints while fostering growth and advancement in the workplace.

Studies have shown women, racial and ethnic minorities, and persons of disability are less likely to apply for jobs unless they feel they meet every qualification as described in a job description.

Persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam era veterans, as well as people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are also encouraged to apply.

If you have any questions about the required qualifications or how your experience relates to them, please contact us at HCAjobs@hca.wa.gov.

Persons with disabilities needing assistance in the application process, or those needing this job announcement in an alternative format may contact Lisa Fleming at (360) 725-1723 or lisa.fleming@hca.wa.gov.

The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) is an E-Verify employer. All applicants with a legal right to work in the United States are encouraged to apply.

E-Verify® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

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