Assistant Director, Contracts and Procurement

Management & Training Corporation•San Francisco, CA

About The Position

The Assistant Director, Procurement and Contracts directs, manages, supervises, and coordinates the agency’s procurement and contract administration functions under the general direction of the Procurement, Risk, and Property Management Section Director. The role plans, develops, implements, and oversees procurement and contracting activities, including solicitations, evaluations, negotiations, contract awards, administration, performance management, vendor relationships, and policy development. The Assistant Director provides leadership throughout the contract lifecycle, ensuring contracts are administered effectively from award through closeout, objectives are achieved, vendor performance is monitored, risks are mitigated, and agency departments receive strategic support in acquiring goods and services in a timely, transparent, competitive, and cost-effective manner. The role also supervises procurement and contract administration staff and promotes customer service, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) is the transportation planning, financing, and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. MTC is the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization and state-designated Regional Transportation Planning Agency for the region, and provides services to the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG).

Requirements

An appropriate combination of education and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Typical education qualification: a master’s degree in an appropriate field related to the assignment, such as transportation planning, project management, public finance, transportation engineering, economics, business, or public administration.
Typical experience qualification: three years of increasingly responsible experience in an appropriate field related to the assignment.
Alternative qualification: a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate discipline and four years of relevant experience.
Knowledge of public procurement and contract administration principles and practices.
Knowledge of competitive procurement methods and solicitation development.
Knowledge of contract negotiation, contract lifecycle management, and post-award contract administration.
Knowledge of contract performance management, vendor relationship management, and supplier performance evaluation.
Knowledge of cost and price analysis principles and contract-related risk assessment and mitigation strategies.
Knowledge of public sector contracting for professional services, goods, technology, public works, and cooperative purchasing.
Knowledge of procurement policy development and implementation, program management, organizational leadership, supervision, and employee development.
Written and verbal communication skills.
Knowledge of database, contract management, and procurement system administration.
Knowledge of dispute resolution, contract interpretation, contract modification processes, contract closeout, strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management, and contract governance.
Ability to evaluate contractor performance, manage vendor relationships, ensure contractual objectives are achieved, negotiate contract amendments, resolve disputes, and mitigate contractual risks.
A valid California driver’s license and satisfactory driving record may be required.
Applicants using a degree issued outside the United States to meet minimum qualifications must submit an academic credential evaluation and proof of equivalency with the application, unless an exemption described in the posting applies.

Nice To Haves

Relevant procurement or contract management certifications; these may be required within a specified period after appointment.
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Contract Management, Supply Chain Management, Finance, Law, or a related field.
Additional qualifying experience substituted for education on a year-for-year basis, where permitted.
Five years of progressively responsible experience performing procurement, contract administration, or contract management functions, including contract development, negotiations, performance monitoring, modifications, and vendor relationship management.
At least two years of supervisory or management experience overseeing procurement, contract administration, contract management, or related professional staff.
Experience managing complex contracts for professional services, technology, goods, public works, or transit-related services.
Experience in public sector procurement and contracting.
Experience leading organizational process improvements related to procurement and contract lifecycle management.
Experience developing procurement and contract administration policies, procedures, and standard templates.
Experience working within an enterprise procurement, contract management, or ERP system.

Responsibilities

Direct and oversee all procurement and contract administration activities.
Develop procurement strategies and recommend appropriate solicitation and contracting methods.
Oversee preparation, issuance, evaluation, negotiation, award, and administration of solicitations, contracts, task orders, amendments, purchase orders, and related procurement instruments.
Review and approve procurement and contracting documents for completeness and accuracy.
Advise executive leadership and agency departments on procurement and contract-related matters.
Oversee contract monitoring practices and ensure proper documentation and contract file maintenance.
Ensure cost and price analyses are appropriately conducted and documented.
Develop, implement, and maintain procurement and contract administration policies, procedures, templates, and best practices.
Resolve complex procurement and contractual issues and disputes.
Lead continuous improvement initiatives related to procurement and contract management operations and efficiencies.
Establish contract administration standards and practices for post-award management and contract lifecycle oversight.
Oversee contract closeout and ensure contractual obligations, documentation requirements, and record retention standards are fulfilled.
Partner with agency departments to identify and resolve contract performance issues, service delivery concerns, and contractual risks.
Provide guidance on contract interpretation, administration, modifications, claims, and dispute resolution.
Develop vendor performance evaluation methodologies and maintain contractor performance records.
Support strategic supplier and vendor relationship management initiatives to improve service quality, contract outcomes, and organizational value.
Identify opportunities for contract optimization, cost savings, service improvements, and risk mitigation throughout the contract lifecycle.
Develop procurement and contract performance metrics and management reports.
Maintain procurement and contract databases and records.
Prepare reports and presentations for executive leadership, auditors, funding agencies, and governing boards.
Assist in developing and managing the division budget as assigned.
Oversee records management for procurement and contract documents.
Analyze procurement and contract management data to identify trends, risks, opportunities, and operational improvements.
Direct, supervise, and evaluate procurement and contract administration staff.
Develop staff capabilities through coaching, training, and performance management.
Establish work plans, priorities, and performance expectations.
Monitor workloads and allocate resources to meet operational objectives.
Promote a culture of customer service, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Foster organizational understanding of effective procurement and contract management principles and practices.