Contract Specialist I

State of North Carolina

About The Position

This is a professional position in the North Carolina Department of Administration (NCDOA) for a motivated, enthusiastic, and skilled Contract Specialist (Contract Specialist I) responsible for managing the performance of the Statewide Term Contracts with internal and external customers and vendors, having the ability to be astute and knowledgeable about the details, benefits of assigned contracts.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an appropriately accredited institution and two (2) years of progressive procurement or contract administration experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
Completion of the North Carolina Contract Management Certification Program within one year of hire into the position.
Working knowledge of the principles of contract administration and management.
Demonstrated experience working in a cooperative/collaborative environment.
Demonstrated negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Demonstrated written and oral communications skills.
Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and commitments while maintaining a high level of quality and professionalism.
Ability to work independently and with minimal supervision.
Demonstrated ability to maintain professional demeanor during interaction with the public and key agency stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

Excellent research, writing, and editing skills.
Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate records.
Strong interpersonal/ human relations skills and ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders in various disciplines.
Ability to operate a personal computer and utilize various software programs.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office software to include Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

Work closely and collaboratively with the Strategic Sourcing team on all assigned Statewide Term Contracts.
Maintains a thorough knowledge of all aspects of a wide variety of contract(s) and educates all parties on contract terms and deliverables of the contract.
Ensure contract performance is in line with requirements of the contract.
Contract modifications, including amendments, extensions and renewals.
Create and maintain relationships with vendors and agencies and serve as the point of contact for matters concerning Statewide Term Contracts.
Maintain records for correspondence and documentation in relation to established Statewide Term Contracts.
Conduct business review meetings and communicate and present information to stakeholders about contract-related matters.
Analyze spend reports and other related documents to recommend moving forward with close-out, extension, or renewal of the contract according to what is in the best interest of the state.
Conduct Business Review Meetings to strengthen engagement and relationships with vendors and to collectively look at Vendor’s performance and progress under the contract.
Resolve any contract-related problems that may arise under Statewide Term Contracts.
Assists business and technical owners from all functional areas in the selection of vendors and documentation of vendor obligations consistent with requirements.
Conduct surveys and market research.