Contract Specialist

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS•Austin, TX

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

This is a temporary, time limited grant funded position. This position is necessary for contract development, contract management, invoice processing, and closeout for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act Grant, secured to prepare local mental and behavioral health authorities to respond to disasters. Develop and manage contracts with local and state partners to ensure that services and financial resources are available for impacted communities in the event of a disaster or incident. Works under minimal supervision, with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Work involves planning, developing, coordinating, and implementing senior-level contract management and technical assistance to manage the federal disaster funding.

Requirements

Knowledge of overall program; including federal and state guidelines, regulations, programs, policies, and procedures.
Knowledge of federal, state, and local disaster contracts, funding, policies, and procedures.
Knowledge of public administration and management techniques and program management processes.
Skill in responding to disaster in a behavioral health environment and working within grant parameters.
Skill in project management and the ability to lead project teams; work with multiple stakeholders and provide oversight to contracted vendors.
Skill in using personal computer application software such as Visio, MS Word, PowerPoint, MS Excel, MS Project, or similar programs.
Skill in written and oral communication, including the ability to make public presentations and write technical information in an understandable format.
Ability to gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts; to devise solutions to problems; to conduct sophisticated research; to prepare reports; and to develop, evaluate, and interpret policies and procedures.
Ability to work cooperatively as a team member in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment.
Ability to communicate effectively and to train.
Ability to provide senior-level contract management and technical assistance to manage the federal disaster contracts.
Ability to function as contract support to leadership to ensure federal requirements are budgeted and expended appropriately.
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a preferred major course work in business, public administration or human services field.
One year (18-25 semester hours) of graduate level work from an accredited college or university in a related field such as business administration or accounting may substitute for the required work experience on a year-for-year basis.
At least one year of professional work experience with contract development and management experience at the state level is required.
It is preferable that this experience is with State of Texas contracting protocols.

Responsibilities

Develop and review contracts that outline the terms of collaboration among state and local partners for disaster response. This process includes coordinating the creation of contracts and detailing how they will be activated in the event of a disaster. Additionally, provide consultative services and technical assistance to the leadership of local and state contractors regarding the planning, implementation, and monitoring of relevant programs and grant services. – 30%
Organizing and preparing materials in response to requests for program information related to contracts with local and state partners. Responsibilities include planning, developing, coordinating, implementing, and overseeing the creation, management, and closeout of disaster services contracts. 20%
May serve as a liaison between internal and external stakeholders, explaining the program and agency’s statutory requirements. Monitors required performance reports and recommends necessary changes. Analyzes operations and issues, preparing reports that detail findings and recommendations. May consult with both public and private agencies to resolve problems, identify training needs, and discuss effectiveness. Additionally, may engage with community and professional groups to coordinate, enhance, and secure financial management support for federal disaster-related funding. 20%
Develop and implement internal agency processes and external partner protocols to activate established emergency response contracts immediately upon notification of an incident. This will ensure seamless resource mobilization. The plan will include creating a protocol to identify the primary liaison between the state and external vendors. Additionally, it will involve monitoring all tracking activities and performance metrics in real time to verify that services align and comply with negotiated contracts. 10%
Involves planning, developing, coordinating, implementing, and overseeing analyses of operations and problems and the preparation of reports of findings and recommendations, and reviews to determine compliance with contract requirements, laws, regulations, policies, and related procedures. Determines trends and resolves operational problems relating to federal disaster funding. Prepares federal disaster reports and performs specialized research projects. 10%
Performs related work as assigned. 10%