FCS Contract Specialist V- Lead

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

8d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) Family Clinical Services (FCS) unit seeks a highly qualified Contract Specialist V to serve as a team lead for 8 Contract Specialist IV positions. Under the supervision of the Manager of Contracts, performs highly advanced (senior-level) contract management Reviews, revises, and manages competitive Request for Proposals (RFPs), renewal documents, Open Enrollments, and other types of procurements for client services contracts. Works closely with the Procurement and Contracting Services (PCS) on determination of appropriate solicitation method. Coordinates with PCS staff on the development of procurement timelines, submission of procurements for posting, and management of the procurement review process. Responsible for all contract development activities, oversight, interpretation, and daily management for assigned FCS contracts. Acts as the liaison between contractors and FCS program staff. This position will support the Family Planning Program, Healthy Texas Women, Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening, Title V Children Health and Dental, Title V Prenatal Health and Dental, the Primary Health Care program and other specialty programs as determined by the needs of the Office. Facilitates communication and collaboration between all contract stakeholders and serves as the single point of contact for all contractual accountability activities between the State and contractors. Develops policies and procedures related to procurement and contracting activities. work. Work involves coordinating, developing, and evaluating a broad range of contracts. This is a team lead position, works under minimal supervision, with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Requirements

• Knowledge of state procurement and contract management requirements, regulations, and best practices; of negotiating contracts; of developing contracts; of business administration and accounting principles and practices; and of policies and procedures of contract management.
• Knowledge of public health practice and of the laws and ordinance governing public health operations.
• Knowledge of public administration and management techniques.
• Knowledge of community health care delivery needs and barriers to care among diverse Texas populations.
• Knowledge of contract management theory and practice including personnel and financial management, process improvement, and quality management
• Knowledge of contracting and procurement regulations, of developing contracts, and of policies and procedures of contract management.
• Skill in the use of a computer and applicable software.
• Skill in identifying measures or indicators of program performance.
• Skill in the use of a computer and applicable software.
• Skill in editing documents.
• Skill in analyzing, evaluating and solving work problems and implementing effective solutions.
• Skill in training and group leadership methods.
• Ability to evaluate contracts and recommend future status; to interpret policies, procedures, and regulations; to evaluate fiscal data for reasonableness, necessity, and conformity with contract requirements; to write and edit contract requirements and specifications; to negotiate features of a contract; to communicate effectively; and to supervise the work of others.
• Ability to gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts; to devise solutions to problems.
• Ability to foster relationships with internal/external stakeholders, as well as intra and extra office staff.
• Ability to prepare reports; to develop, evaluate, and interpret policies and procedures.
• Ability to develop complex procurement documents including RFPs and Open Enrollments
• Ability to interpret policies and procedures and health care regulations.
• Ability to plan and organize short-term and long-range assignments and objectives.
• Ability to work on legislative tasks.
• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university. Work experience in public sector contract development, monitoring, contract management, or similar job functions may substitute for education year-for-year
• Experience in managing complex programmatic and financial information in support of programs, and managing multiple and competing priorities in an environment of change.
• 2 years experience in the contract management life cycle
• 2 years experience interpreting contract deliverables.

Nice To Haves

• 2 years experience working in a project management role
• Currently certified as a Certified Texas Contract Manager.
• Experience working with current systems used including CAPPS Financial, SCOR, Sharepoint.

Responsibilities

• Performs written and oral communication with contractors as the single point of contact for all contractual accountability activities between the State and contractors.
• Facilitates and ensures delivery of financial and programmatic technical assistance and training.
• Coordinates resolution of contractor issues, initiates all contract amendments (to include terminations) and sanctions, obtains approval of amendments/sanctions with appropriate FCS managers, communicates impact of changes to appropriate contractor and FCS staff, and ensures implementation and resolution of contract sanctions.
• Ensures all contract closeout activities are performed according to HHSC policy.
• Monitors the reviews of needs assessments to ensure requirements for the purchase of goods or services are complete and justified.
• Monitors contract performance by examining billings, fiscal data, and eligibility determinations for compliance with terms of contract and policies and recommends cancellation of contracts when deviations occur.
• Monitors legal and regulatory requirements pertaining to contracting.
• Reviews and/or administers the billing process and eligibility monitoring functions for contract billing.
• Negotiates contracts renewals and amendments.
• As the subject matter expert for FCS procurements, develops, reviews and revises multi-million dollar competitive and renewal Request for Proposal (RFP) documents, Open Enrollments, and other types of procurements for client services contracts in the FCS section.
• Writes and edits procurement documents using HHSC-approved tools, and ensures that competitive procurements meet HHSC procurement requirements, standards and timelines.
• Collaborates with FCS program subject matter experts on the inclusion of program-specific information for the procurement documents, and the development of review criteria and review tools.
• Works closely with FCS program staff, Procurement and Contracting Services (PCS), budget, legal and management to ensure that contracts resulting from competitive procurements contain appropriate program and legal requirements and are completed in a timely manner.
• Manages procurement-related meetings such as kick-off and pre-proposal meetings, post-award conferences, team briefings, and evaluation scorings.
• Coordinates, reviews, and/or develops solicitations, contracts, and amendments by identifying provider resources, describing services to be rendered, evaluating information supplied by bidders, and negotiating contract specifications.
• Completes monitoring visits with assigned contractors to ensure appropriate contractor performance and to build relationships with contractor and regional staff.
• Resolves audit exceptions by defining causes of errors and recommending appropriate dispositions.
• Completes analysis of contractor performance by synthesizing contractor expenditure data, performance reports, quality management reports, technical assistance and training documentation, and other pertinent data as it relates to contractor performance.
• Communicates the results and recommends actions on a routine basis to program staff as appropriate.
• Develops training materials and presentations to management and staff related to procurement and contracting requirements.
• Serves as subject matter expert on assigned workgroups.
• Prepares management reports, correspondence and other materials on FCS client service contracts.
• Develops policies and procedures related to procurement and contracting activities for FCS.
• Provides guidance to staff in the development and integration of new methods and procedures.
• Assists with audit activities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees