Summary

This job involves reviewing and approving contractors who want to bid on state transportation projects, ensuring they have the right experience, financial stability, and capacity to handle the work.

You'll handle paperwork, answer questions from contractors and staff, and make sure everything follows state rules to keep projects safe and on budget.

It's a great fit for someone detail-oriented with a background in contracts or construction who enjoys independent work in a supportive government team.

Key Requirements

Ability to interpret and apply state statutes, administrative codes, and agency policies for contractor prequalification and contract processes
Experience preparing official correspondence, agreements, contracts, and bond documentation
Skills in assessing contractor financial capacity through analysis of statements, lines of credit, guarantees, and joint ventures
Knowledge of evaluating contractor capabilities across various construction types like highway, building, and marine
Proficiency in reviewing performance reports and adjusting prequalification status accordingly
Strong communication skills to respond to inquiries from staff, contractors, agencies, and the public
Ability to work independently and provide guidance on regional contract qualifications

Full Job Description

About WSDOT

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is a multimodal organization with a global reputation for excellence!

Our dedicated workforce is responsible to plan, design, build, and operate an integrated transportation system that safely and efficiently moves people and goods throughout the state.

In addition to maintaining over 18,000 lane miles of state highway and 4,100 bridges, WSDOT manages the world's longest floating bridge, executes an award-winning Active Transportation Plan, holds a record for the world's widest tunneling project, and operates the largest ferry system in the nation!

The Opportunity

WSDOT is seeking a skilled Contract Specialist to join the Contract Advertisement and Award Office, working alongside five Contract Specialist 1 positions to provide statewide support for the advertising and award of public works construction contracts.

This position provides senior-level technical support for WSDOT’s contractor prequalification program, reviewing and processing applications, renewals, and related documentation for up to 250 contracts and 600–1,000 submittals annually.

Working independently, you will evaluate contractor qualifications verifying work experience, organizational capacity, and financial strength to ensure compliance with requirements.

By ensuring that only qualified contractors can bid on WSDOT projects, this role directly supports the Department’s mission to deliver safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation infrastructure.

What to Expect

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Prequalification Analyst will:

Serve as WSDOT's senior level professional in technical support for the Department's prequalification of contractors for the construction contracts program for architectural, marine terminals, and highway construction contracts.
Prepare official correspondence, agreements, contracts, and bond documentation related to contractor prequalification status in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and agency policies, for supervisory review and signature.
Review contractor requests for bidding proposals, determines eligibility and authorizes proposals.
Receive and respond to questions regarding contractor prequalification and other procurement requirements from WSDOT staff, contractors, partner agencies and the public.
Assess contractor financial capacity by analyzing financial statements, lines of credit, parent-company guarantees, and joint venture agreements to determine bidding eligibility and allowable project costs.
Assess contractor capability across up to 90 unique work types in highway, building, and marine construction by applying construction-method expertise and verifying experience with other project owners.
Address local agency inquiries.
Provide guidance to staff in the six regions and marine and programs on contractor qualifications for region level contracts.
Evaluate Prime Contractor Performance Reports and take necessary actions to adjust a contractor’s prequalification based on these performance scores.

Qualifications

To be considered for this opportunity, the following are required:

Regulatory & Policy Interpretation: Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply state statutes, administrative codes, and agency policies to evaluate contractor prequalification, issue bidding proposals, review performance reports, and support contract advertisement and award processes.
Documentation & Correspondence: Demonstrated ability to prepare accurate, compliant official correspondence, agreements, contracts, reports, and related documentation for supervisory review and approval.
Financial Analysis & Assessment: Demonstrated ability to analyze contractor financial statements, lines of credit, parent-company guarantees, and joint venture agreements to evaluate financial capacity and project eligibility.
Contractor Qualification Evaluation: Demonstrated ability to assess contractor qualifications across diverse construction work types, applying construction methods knowledge, evaluation standards, and reference documentation submitted by project owners, agencies, and contractors.
Technical Communication & Customer Service: Demonstrated ability to respond clearly, professionally, and accurately to inquiries regarding contractor prequalification and procurement requirements from agency staff, contractors, partner agencies, and the public.
Small Works Roster Support: Demonstrated ability to provide technical support for maintaining a qualified Small Works Roster, ensuring compliance with program requirements.
Records Management: Demonstrated ability to create, maintain, archive, and close accurate paper and electronic records documenting submittals, analyses, decisions, and actions related to contractor prequalification and procurement.
Training & Staff Support: Demonstrated ability to provide technical guidance, assistance, and training to contract specialist staff, supporting consistent application of advertising and award processes for public works, facilities, and marine terminal contracts.
Collaboration & Consistency: Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with supervisory and management staff to ensure consistent statewide application of advertising and award requirements.
Ethics & Objectivity: Demonstrated ability to maintain objectivity, confidentiality, consistency, and fairness, ensuring a level playing field for all contractors.
Process Improvement: Demonstrated ability to identify opportunities to improve efficiency, consistency, and quality within procurement and contract award processes.

Growth Mindset: Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth.
Service-Oriented: Takes action to meet the needs of others.

It is preferred that qualified candidates also have:

Prequalification Process Expertise: Demonstrated knowledge of WSDOT’s contractor prequalification process, including evaluating qualifications, assessing compliance, and ensuring only eligible contractors participate in bidding.
Contract Advertisement & Award Procedures: Demonstrated knowledge of WSDOT’s contract advertisement and award procedures, including issuing solicitations, reviewing bids, and supporting award decisions in alignment with agency standards.
Construction Plans, Specifications & Contract Administration: Demonstrated knowledge of WSDOT plans, specifications, and contract administration procedures, applying this understanding to assess contractor submissions, monitor compliance, and support project delivery.

Important Notes

This recruitment may also be used to fill additional positions per business needs.
This position offers flexible/hybrid remote work options.
To review the full Position Description, please follow the directions in the “Contact Us” section of this posting.

In addition to base salary, employees may be entitled to other forms of compensation depending on the type, duties, or location of the position.

For union-represented positions, more information on other forms of compensation can be found in the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements.

Information on other compensation types for non-represented positions can be found in Chapter 357-28 of the Washington Administrative Code.

WSDOT does not use the E-Verify system, therefore we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.

Why WSDOT

Work-Life Balance – We offer flexible work schedules that allow you time for your life outside of this excellent opportunity.
Paid Leave – In addition to 12 paid holidays, full-time employees may earn up to 25 paid vacation days per year!
Tuition Assistance – Permanent employees have several options for assistance with education expenses, including tuition reimbursement programs, government discounts at participating colleges throughout the state, and eligibility for federal student loan forgiveness.
Plan For Your Future – WSDOT offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes a variety of healthcare options. Employees also have their choice of state retirement programs, and much more. Go to State Benefits for more information.

Check out this video to learn more: Why WSDOT?

How to Apply

Applications for this recruitment will be accepted electronically. Your relevant experience may be evaluated to determine salary. Therefore, it is very important that the “Work Experience” portion of the application be completed in as much detail as possible.

In order to be considered for this opportunity, please include the following with your online application:

An attached Resume outlining (in reverse chronological order) your experience to date.
An attached Cover Letter that further explains your qualifications and indicates why you believe you are a viable candidate for this role.
Contact details for a minimum of three (3) individuals who can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job-related competencies. This information can be entered in the “References” section of the online application; does not require an additional attachment.

Please click the "APPLY" button to proceed. Note that you will be prompted to either sign in or create an account. This step is required in order to submit an application to this opportunity.

WSDOT 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.

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

All persons, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, and/ or gender identity, are encouraged to apply.

Persons with disabilities needing assistance in the application process, or those needing this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the recruiter listed.

Contact Us

For inquiries about this posting, you may contact the assigned Recruiter, Amanda Strebeck, at amanda.strebeck@wsdot.wa.gov. Please be sure to reference Contracts Specialist 2 #00307 in the subject line.

✓ Fresh Listing

Prequalification Analyst (Contracts Specialist 2)

SES Pay Grade

Job Description

Summary

Key Requirements

Full Job Description

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