Contracts and Procurement Manager

City of Seattle•Seattle, WA

9h•$62 - $93•Hybrid

About The Position

Seattle’s Human Services Department (HSD) connects people with resources and solutions during times of need so we can all live, learn, work, and take part in strong, healthy communities. We offer a continuum of services focusing on youth, families, aging and disabilities, safety, homelessness, and public health. HSD is a funder, direct services provider and convener. HSD’s role as a funder is core to meeting our mission. To support this work, HSD is seeking a strategic and experienced leader to oversee the department’s competitive funding procurement and contract management policies and business practices in support of over $300 million in social service investments. This seasoned professional will lead efforts to advance, standardize, and implement best practices across the department and ensure that HSD’s investment lifecycle is streamlined and compliant with legal requirements and department policies. The Contracts and Procurement Manager will collaborate with HSD’s program divisions where procurements and contracts are administered to strengthen accountability and deliver strong service outcomes. The Contracts and Procurement Manager will report to the Business Operations Director in the Leadership and Administrative Division.

Requirements

Demonstrable leadership and proven experience in contracts and procurement management (e.g., Request for Proposals, Request for Qualifications) and systems including a proficient understanding of contract law and regulations, as well as the ability to interpret legal documents and language.
Demonstrated ability to provide excellent customer service and build positive, trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Demonstrated ability to adapt to rapidly changing environments and take on varied work as it arises.
Ability to work effectively in a high volume, politically sensitive, and complex environment.
Excellent written and verbal skills in communicating complex subject matter and terminology through succinct, accessible information to government and community leaders and staff.
Ability to prioritize, organize, and delegate work to meet deadlines, and function effectively as a team in a high-pressure, outcome-driven environment with minimal supervision, and the ability to work across teams and manage change.
Apply racial equity framework to all work and engage in departmental efforts to eliminate racial disparities and advance equity in City government and broader community.
Outstanding interpersonal skills and the ability to engage with a multidisciplinary team and collaborators, including a wide array of partners from diverse backgrounds and in a hybrid work environment.
Bachelor’s degree in business, prelaw or another discipline that includes a heavy emphasis on administration, legal reviews, public policy, or similar
Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in funding, contracting, or public policy
Five or more years working in federal, state, local government, academic, or community-based settings
Three or more years as a people manager
Demonstrable and thorough knowledge of public sector contracting and procurement techniques and the ability to apply and teach them
Ability to assess risk in contracting and procurement environments
An equivalent combination of education and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the position duties

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree (MA, MS, MBA, MPA, JD) in administration, law, public policy or similar
Experience leading organizational change management efforts
Experience supporting federal funding requirements and compliance
Advanced experience in contract development and negotiation
Advanced experience in best practice procurement design
Experience with Artificial Intelligence platforms

Responsibilities

Lead the development, adoption, and sustainability of consistent procurement and contract management practices that strengthen accountability and risk management while preserving the department’s commitment to equity and community-centered service delivery.
Supervise 3-4 staff, including Contracts Policy Advisor, Procurement Policy Advisor, and Planning and Development Specialist.
Convene department-wide leadership and contracting and planning staff to identify opportunities to streamline and advance department processes and systems, including procurement, contract development and compliance monitoring, and reporting, in collaboration with HSD’s Data, Performance, and Evaluation and Finance teams.
Identify and develop staff training opportunities and approaches that support department-wide standardization and reinforce expectations for strong internal controls, audit readiness, and performance transparency.
Lead change management efforts that help establish a culture of stewardship and accountability in the department’s procurement and contracting work.
Elevate the department’s support for community service providers throughout the procurement and contracting process including access to technical assistance, development of clear communications and, wherever possible, alignment with other public funding processes and best practices.
Ensure that all Requests for Proposals/Qualifications and contracts are executed in accordance with funder requirements, legal requirements, and city standards.
Integrate customer-centric and compliance approaches to ensure processes are streamlined and equitable.
Lead in resolving any contract-related disputes, in partnership with other leaders as appropriate.
Conduct regular contract audits to ensure compliance with legal regulations and HSD policies.
Identify potential risks and issues that could affect contract and procurement administration and propose solutions.
Generate reports for HSD leaders and other key decision-makers.
Use technology to streamline processes and identify opportunities for improvement.
Serve as primary point of contact on HSD contracting and procurement to various internal and external stakeholders.
Establish and advance partnerships with public sector funders and leaders, city departments, and other partners to ensure HSD’s approaches are aligned with industry and researched-backed best practices.
Build relationships with King County agencies, other regional municipalities, and other leading funders to align and leverage procurement and contracting for greater community impact.
Build relationships and trust with human service provider agency partners and other key constituents to support continuous improvement and communication of transparent, predictable, and accessible department contracting and procurement practices.
Create a learning environment which ensures policies and practices reinforce stewardship, compliance, analytical thinking, and problem-solving at all levels of the department.
Lead staff training on contract compliance including assessing risk, onsite monitoring, invoice processing, technical writing, and reviewing contracts to ensure quality, clarity, and legality.
Identify and implement process improvement recommendations based on national and local conditions, industry best and promising practices, and proven strategies related to high-quality human services investments.