Contract Manager (Term Limited)

Harris County • Houston, TX

5d • Onsite

About The Position

Under general supervision, the Contract Manager oversees the full life-cycle administration of contractual agreements for Harris County, supporting county-wide operations serving approximately 5 million residents, 20,000 employees in 80 departments, and roughly $5.5B in annual expenditures. The role assumes contracts at award and manages performance through the full term, including execution support, compliance monitoring, amendments, renewals, deliverable tracking, issue resolution, and close-out. The position ensures contracts remain defensible and audit-ready by applying County policies and applicable procurement requirements, including Texas Local Government Code Chapter 262, Texas Government Code Chapter 2269 and applicable federal requirements when federal funds apply. The Contract Manager is expected to demonstrate strong communication, negotiation, and decision-making abilities while coordinating with departments, vendors, legal, and oversight partners to support timely, compliant outcomes. Duties and Responsibilities: The incumbent is responsible for executing the duties and responsibilities listed below and other duties as assigned. Some positions may require working before, during, or after an emergency or disaster at the department's discretion. Manages a portfolio of active contracts across diverse categories, taking ownership at contract award and leading administration through the full term to ensure performance, continuity of service, and proper contract utilization. Oversee contract execution requirements, deliverables, milestones, and service levels, and coordinates with departments and vendors to resolve operational issues, document decisions, and maintain defensible contract records. Leads contract life-cycle actions including negotiations support, amendments, renewals, extensions, expirations, and close-outs, ensuring changes are properly justified, routed, and documented in accordance with contract terms and County requirements. Provides contractual guidance to Category Managers and Sourcing Managers by reviewing scopes, terms, risk provisions, and performance requirements and offering insights that support strategy development and successful implementation. Partners with Purchasing, Legal, departments, and oversight stakeholders to manage vendor performance concerns and contractual breaches, including development of remediation plans, enforcement of remedies, and escalation as needed. Ensures compliance with contract, strategy, and process requirements by monitoring adherence to applicable policies and procedures, identifying control gaps and risks, and recommending improvements that strengthen consistency and audit readiness. Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx If you need special services or accommodations, please call [phone] or email [email protected] . This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in a directly related field and two (2) years of relevant work experience required, including one (1) year public procurement experience; OR Bachelor’s degree in a directly related field and four (4) years of relevant work experience required, including two (2) years of public procurement experience.
• Construction procurement experience required
• Knowledge of public-sector contract management practices, including contract lifecycle administration from award through close-out, performance management, and enforcement of contract terms across diverse commodity and service categories.
• Understanding of applicable procurement laws, governance, and compliance requirements, including Texas Local Government Code Chapter 262, County purchasing policies, and applicable federal requirements when federal funds apply.
• Skill in contract interpretation and document control, including drafting and reviewing amendments, renewals, extensions, and close-outs, and maintaining complete, audit-ready files and defensible documentation.
• Skill in vendor performance management and issue resolution, including monitoring deliverables and service levels, conducting corrective action follow-up, and coordinating remediation for contractual breaches.
• Strong negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills to coordinate with departments, vendors, Legal, and oversight partners, resolve disputes, and drive timely, compliant outcomes.
• Proficiency in contract, purchasing, and financial systems and reporting tools used to track contract activity, milestones, spend, and compliance metrics; translates data into actionable reporting and risk monitoring.

Nice To Haves

• Federal contracting experience preferred
• Certified Texas Contract Manager (CTCM) and/or Certified Texas Contract Developer (CTCD) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manages a portfolio of active contracts across diverse categories, taking ownership at contract award and leading administration through the full term to ensure performance, continuity of service, and proper contract utilization.
• Oversee contract execution requirements, deliverables, milestones, and service levels, and coordinates with departments and vendors to resolve operational issues, document decisions, and maintain defensible contract records.
• Leads contract life-cycle actions including negotiations support, amendments, renewals, extensions, expirations, and close-outs, ensuring changes are properly justified, routed, and documented in accordance with contract terms and County requirements.
• Provides contractual guidance to Category Managers and Sourcing Managers by reviewing scopes, terms, risk provisions, and performance requirements and offering insights that support strategy development and successful implementation.
• Partners with Purchasing, Legal, departments, and oversight stakeholders to manage vendor performance concerns and contractual breaches, including development of remediation plans, enforcement of remedies, and escalation as needed.
• Ensures compliance with contract, strategy, and process requirements by monitoring adherence to applicable policies and procedures, identifying control gaps and risks, and recommending improvements that strengthen consistency and audit readiness.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level