Director of CAMP

Full Job Description

The Employment Security Department (ESD) is seeking an experienced, solutions-oriented leader to serve as the Director of Contracts, Asset Management & Procurement (CAMP).

The ideal candidate is a steady, thoughtful decision-maker—someone who brings clarity to complex rules, communicates with confidence, and leads with integrity.

You are collaborative, inclusive, and committed to equity.

You build strong relationships, navigate ambiguity with calm, and translate technical requirements into clear guidance for staff across the agency.

You are skilled at balancing compliance, risk mitigation, and operational needs while fostering a culture of accountability and service.

Requirements

As the CAMP Director, you will guide a team of professionals responsible for the agency’s contracting, procurement, and asset management functions.

You will serve on the Administrative Services Division (ASD) Leadership Team and report to the Deputy Assistant Commissioner.

Your work directly supports ESD’s mission of strengthening Washington’s communities through equitable workforce solutions.

You will ensure that staff have the tools, training, and support needed to develop legally sound contracts, responsibly manage public resources, and comply with state and federal requirements.

The Administrative Services Division provides essential internal services that keep ESD operating effectively—from facilities and safety to records, privacy, emergency management, and more.

Within ASD, the CAMP unit plays a critical role in protecting agency information, reducing risk, and ensuring that procurement and contracting practices are consistent, transparent, and aligned with state priorities.

This position influences agencywide policy, oversees compliance with complex regulations, and serves as a key liaison to statewide partners and oversight bodies.

This is a leadership role that requires strong judgment, excellent communication skills, and the ability to guide staff and programs through evolving legal, policy, and operational landscapes.

Additionally, some of your duties include:

• Ensure compliant, legally sufficient contracts including grant-funded agreements - staying current on laws, policies, and state and federal requirements

• Oversee contracting and procurement processes, including standardized procedures and statewide initiatives such as MWBE participation and performance-based contracting

• Train and advise staff on contract law, templates, procurement practices, and technical issues

• Lead and support CAMP staff, providing consultation on contracts, procurement, and asset management across the agency

• Negotiate complex contracts and guide leadership on acquisition strategy and risk mitigation

• Partner with internal and external stakeholders, including EDI, IT, DES, OMWBE, SAO, and OFM

• Administer statewide systems, including the DES Sole Source database and Enterprise Contracts Management System

• Oversee fixed asset inventory management and ensure compliance with applicable laws and rules

• Coordinate with auditors and implement corrective actions when needed

To request a detailed position description, click here.

Qualifications

Option 1:

10 years experience in contract management, procurement, or legal compliance within a government or large organization; policy implementation and oversight of statewide contracting initiatives.

Option 2:

Associate’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, or related field and

8 years experience in contract management, procurement, or legal compliance within a government or large organization; policy implementation and oversight of statewide contracting initiatives.

Option 3:

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, or related field and

6 years experience in contract management, procurement, or legal compliance within a government or large organization; policy implementation and oversight of statewide contracting initiatives.

Applicants may also possess any of these certifications (though are not required):

Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM), Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB), Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO), Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM), Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) or other related certification

Required experience includes:

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.
• Strong analytical and decision-making skills with the ability to interpret and apply statutes, policies, and ethical standards to complex procurement issues.

Legal & Regulatory Expertise

• Comprehensive knowledge of federal and state laws (Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Revised Code of Washington (RCW), Washington Administrative Code (WAC), State Administrative and Accounting Manual (SAAM), Department of Enterprise Services (DES) policies) to ensure contracts are legally sufficient.
• Ability to interpret new legislation and administrative guidance to assess impact on current and future contracts.

Contract Development & Management

• Ability to draft, review, and negotiate complex contracts to ensure compliance with performance-based contracting standards.
• Experience determining appropriate procurement methods (competitive, sole source, direct buy, etc.) and ensures proper posting and filing requirements are met.
• Maintaining and updating contract templates with enforceable language.
• Experience negotiating contracts greater than $10 million.

Procurement Administration

• Designs and oversees standardized procurement processes across the agency.
• Ability to integrate state priorities such as minority and women-owned business enterprise programs and Executive Orders into procurement practices.
• Experience ensuring efficient, transparent, and equitable acquisition of goods, services, and technology.

Leadership & Staff Development

• Managing professional staff in contracts, procurement, and asset management.
• Providing consultation and technical assistance to contract managers and leadership.
• Training staff on contract law, templates, and technical issues to build organizational capacity.

Analytical & Research Competency

• Ability to conduct internal research on legal and policy intersections to support Assistant Attorney General review.
• Experience developing procedures to address audit findings from State Auditor’s Office, Office of Financial Management, and US Department of Labor.
• Ability to establish data integrity standards for enterprise contract management systems.

Collaboration & Relationship Management

• Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with oversight agencies (Department of Enterprise Services (DES), -Office of Financial Management (OFM), State Auditors Office (SAO), , US Department of Labor (USDOL).

Ethics & Compliance

• Experience advising staff on adherence to ethics in public service.
• Ability to ensure compliance with state and federal rules governing procurement and asset management.

Strategic Decision-Making

• Ability to provide consultation to leadership on contracting strategies, procurement approaches, and asset management.
• Ability to balance legal requirements with organizational priorities to support effective decision-making. Experience anticipating risks and developing proactive solutions.

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Demonstrated experience with Information Technology related contracting and competitive solicitations;
• Strong general computer literacy (Microsoft Office Suite or equivalent).

Additional Requirements of Employment:

Please submit only the required documents as noted below and ensure all Personal Identifying Information (PII) such as Social Security numbers etc. are edited out of your materials for privacy.

Additionally, we ask that you not include photographs or external links within your documents. Any documents uploaded through this platform will be securely transmitted electronically to support application review.

Please submit your Resume and Cover Letter with your Online Application through the "Add Attachments" field.

A resume will not substitute for the "work experience" section of the application or vice versa.

Applications with blank fields, or supplemental question responses with comments such as "see attachments" may be considered incomplete.

Additional Information

Our agency's mission and values drive every decision that we make, determine how we interact with others and are at the core of who we are. We value Access, Love, Belonging, Equity, and Stewardship.

We understand that a work environment that respects your work/life balance is key; that's why many of our positions are eligible for flexible work schedules and teleworking opportunities.

Through support, value, and trust, our employees are empowered to grow and develop into their best self.

Opportunity for All

We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, ethnic, racial, religious, sexual orientation, and gender identity diversity.

Women, racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, people over 40 years of age, people with religious beliefs, veterans or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

The Employment Security Department is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

If you are a person needing assistance in the application process, if you need this job announcement in an alternate format, or if you have general questions about this opportunity, please contact Katie Swanson, 360-742-8208 or the Talent Acquisition Team, or Washington Relay Service 711 prior to the recruitment closing.

If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please contact careershelp@des.wa.gov or (360) 664-1960 or toll free (877) 664-1960, Washington Relay 711.

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