Contract Manager

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS•Austin, TX

20d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) Community Services (CS) department seeks a highly qualified candidate to fill the position of Contract Specialist IV – Contract Manager. This position reports directly to the Contract Oversight and Compliance Manager of the Office of Aging and Disability Resource Centers (OADRC). An OADRC Contract Manager will be a primary liaison representative, serve as the primary liaison representative and the single point of contact for all contractual monitoring activities between the State and Texas's twenty-eight Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs). As a Contract Specialist for OADRC, this position performs highly complex and advanced consultative and technical tasks related to developing, overseeing, interpreting, and coordinating the enforcement of Health and Human Services (HHS) sub-recipient and other contracts as assigned. In addition, the selected candidate will provide leadership and support in contract management, performance monitoring, funding allocation, solicitation development, and budget reviews. The OADRC Contract Manager interacts routinely with HHS divisions and management, contractors, stakeholders, organizations, and other state agencies. The position is a subject matter expert in assigned workgroups and other contract activities. Other accountability responsibilities include authorizing disbursements; coordinating management and productivity improvements, participating in monitoring expenditures for contracted state and federal funds; ensuring grant match attainment; supporting monitoring of compliance with service provision and program requirements; developing amendments; directing and coordinating critical data requirements, and providing data analysis. This position will also maintain reports on contractor performance and provide information on goal attainment barriers and risks. The ideal candidate thrives in an environment that emphasizes teamwork to achieve excellence through high professional standards, personal accountability, and critical thinking. This position works under minimal supervision with considerable latitude for initiative and independent judgment. Responsible for other Contract Management activities as assigned. This position may be eligible for telework. Please note that all HHS positions are subject to state and agency telework policies in addition to the discretion of the direct supervisor and business need.

Requirements

Knowledge of contract administration, management, and monitoring principles and practices.
Knowledge of contract performance management and monitoring procedures.
Knowledge of state and federal laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures relevant to contracts.
Skill in communicating effectively both orally and in writing.
Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.
Ability to identify and analyze problems, evaluate alternatives, and propose practical solutions.
Ability to interpret and analyze statutes.
Effective oversight skills that include planning, developing, and implementing systems and processes.
Ability to analyze, evaluate and summarize management records for accuracy and conformance to procedures, rules, and regulations and to draft clear and concise reports and correspondence regarding findings.
Ability to use Microsoft Office products.
A Certified Texas Contract Specialist (CTCM) is required.
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university. A degree with major coursework in business administration, human resource management, finance, public administration, or a related field is generally preferred. Experience may be substituted for education, year for year.
At least 3 years of full-time professional work experience in a large public sector organization in contract management.

Nice To Haves

A Certified Texas Contract Developer (CTDM) is preferred.

Responsibilities

Provides technical knowledge related to contract monitoring and program performance.
Participates and executes fiscal and programmatic monitoring procedures, facilitates meetings for each monitoring event assigned in an effort to gain an understanding of the contract/program under review, identify risks, conduct fiscal testing of source documentation for compliance and review evidence and contractor responses for any issues identified during the monitoring engagement.
Responsible for tracking all monitoring events and monitoring tasks to ensure completion in accordance with contract life cycle and contract monitoring policies.
Responsible for fiscal and programmatic reviews of contractors to determine compliance with applicable statutes, departmental rules, and contractual requirements.
Assists the Lead Contract Monitor in the development of the preparation of administrative reports to executive management regarding required actions while determining degree of contractor compliance with established procedures, requirements, laws, and regulations; completeness of data; and presence of adequate documentation.
Provides consultation and technical assistance to contractors on contract issues and interpretation of policies and procedures related to contract monitoring.
Analyzes and reviews contractor's management operations, internal control structures and systems, and accounting records for reliability, adequacy, accuracy, efficiency, and compliance with legal regulations; reports erroneous or questionable transactions and provides interpretation of technical questions of financial compliance with applicable, state and federal statutes and regulations.
Participates in the development of the annual contract monitoring plan and coordinating with program, contract management, and contractor staff.
Assists in the preparation of monitoring reports, including the preparation of initial and final monitoring reports for leadership's review and approval.
Other duties as assigned