Director of Contracts and Procurement

First 5 Alameda County • Alameda, CA

2d • $140,000 - $200,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Contracts and Procurement leads the Agency's contracting and procurement functions, ensuring contracts are managed efficiently, transparently, and in compliance with applicable laws and funding requirements. This role oversees procurement operations, contract administration, policy development, and process improvements that support Agency goals and responsible stewardship of public resources. Working closely with leadership and program teams, the Director helps build strong contracting systems that support services for children and families.

Requirements

• Seven (7) years of increasingly responsible experience in procurement, contracting, or contract administration, public administration, or a closely related field in a public or private organization.
• Three (3) years in a supervisory, management, or lead capacity.
• Equivalent to a bachelor's degree with major coursework in business administration, public administration, finance, accounting, law, contract management, supply chain management or a closely related field.
• Ability to write and speak effectively, including the ability to write complex technical reports and conduct effective presentations and meetings.
• Ability to exercise sound independent judgment in complex, sensitive, high-risk, and high-visibility procurement and contracting matters.
• Ability to coordinate complex cross-functional processes involving Program, Finance, Data, Technology, Evaluation, and Executive Leadership teams.
• Ability to interpret, explain, and apply laws, regulations, policies, funding requirements, procedures, internal controls, and contract terms.
• Ability to develop and implement policies, procedures, templates, workflows, internal controls, training materials, and process improvements.
• Ability to lead complex solicitations, negotiations, contract reviews, vendor performance processes, dispute resolution efforts, and corrective actions.
• Ability to analyze data, identify trends, evaluate risks, measure performance, and recommend practical solutions that balance compliance, transparency, efficiency, equity, cost, and program needs.
• Ability to communicate complex procurement and contracting requirements clearly to executive leadership, program staff, vendors, auditors, governing bodies, and other audiences.
• Ability to prepare clear reports, recommendations, presentations, policies, procedures, correspondence, and technical documents.
• Ability to lead organizational change, technology implementation, workflow improvement, staff development, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Ability to supervise, mentor, evaluate, and develop professional, technical, and administrative staff.
• Ability to plan, organize, direct and evaluate agencywide procurement and contracting operations.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with executive leadership, Agency staff, legal counsel, Finance, Technology, auditors, vendors, community partners, and others contacted in the course of work.
• All First 5 employees must live and work in California.
• Travel within Alameda County as necessary to carry out job duties and occasional travel outside Alameda County as required.
• The position may require occasional attendance at evening, off-site, or community meetings.
• Compliance with Agency confidentiality, ethics, conflict-of-interest, and background requirements, as applicable.

Nice To Haves

• A Master’s degree may substitute for one year of the required experience.
• Additional relevant work experience may be substituted to meet the college coursework/bachelor's degree standard.
• Experience in public-sector procurement, contracting, or contract administration.
• Experience with grant-funded programs, federally funded contracts, or highly regulated funding environments.
• Experience with health, human services, early childhood, education, nonprofit, or community-based service contracts.
• Experience implementing or improving procurement, contract management, workflow, reporting, or records management systems.
• Experience presenting procurement or contracting matters to executive leadership, boards, commissions, auditors, or governing bodies.
• Professional certification such as CPPO, CPPB, NIGP-CPP, CPSM, CPCM, or equivalent is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Agency's procurement, contracting, and contract administration functions.
• Develop and improve contracting policies, procedures, systems, templates, and tools.
• Oversee competitive procurements, contract negotiations, contract execution, and vendor management.
• Partner with leadership, and internal teams to develop effective contracting strategies and support Agency priorities.
• Monitor contract performance, compliance, budgets, and reporting while identifying opportunities to improve processes and reduce risk.
• Ensure compliance with laws, regulations, funding requirements, and audit standards.
• Supervise, mentor, and develop contracts and procurement staff while providing guidance and training across the Agency.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, & Vision Coverage
• $1,500 credit per year to spend on benefits
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Employer Paid & Voluntary Life & AD&D Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plans including the ACERA Pension Plan
• Commuter Benefits
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Paid vacation
• Paid time off
• Sick time
• 17 paid holidays including the week between Christmas Day and New Year's Day as paid time off.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director