Information Technology Specialist 4 - Contract Manager

State of Iowa•Des Moines - 50309 - Polk County, IA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Department of Management (DOM), Division of Information Technology (DoIT), is seeking a Contract Manager to support and strengthen our contracting and vendor management activities across state agencies. This role plays a key part in developing and managing procurement documents, evaluating vendor proposals, overseeing information technology purchasing, and ensuring compliance with applicable regulations and policies. The ideal candidate is skilled in coordinating complex procurement processes, collaborating with legal and technical teams, and guiding staff through best practices in contract and vendor management.

Requirements

Strong knowledge of government procurement processes, including competitive bidding, vendor evaluation, and contract compliance.
Ability to draft, review, and manage procurement and contract documents with clarity, accuracy, and adherence to regulations.
Skilled in collaborating with vendors and internal teams to negotiate terms, monitor contract performance, and resolve issues.
Experience supporting information technology procurement activities, including developing specifications and ensuring alignment with organizational and regulatory requirements.
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in any field, and experience equal to two years of full-time work in application development and database management, business analysis, systems and network administration, technical training and reporting, IT vendor and purchasing management, IT project management, IT product management, system testing and quality assurance, mainframe and platform administration, and/or information technology security.
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in computer science, computer applications, software engineering, computer engineering, management information systems, business analytics, or cyber security, and experience equal to one year of full-time work in application development and database management, business analysis, systems and network administration, technical training and reporting, IT vendor and purchasing Information management, IT project management, IT product management, system testing and quality assurance, mainframe and platform administration, and/or information technology security.
Two years of full-time work experience in application development and database management, business analysis, systems and network administration, technical training and reporting, IT vendor and purchasing management, IT project management, IT product management, system testing and quality assurance, mainframe and platform administration, and/or information technology security; and a total of four years of education and/or full-time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university coursework in any field equals one year of full-time experience.
Four years of full-time work experience in application development and database management, business analysis, systems and network administration, technical training and reporting, IT vendor and purchasing management, IT project management, IT product management, system testing and quality assurance, mainframe and platform administration, and/or information technology security; and either of the following: Certification from an authorized educational institution/major computer or software producer in one or more of the specialty areas listed in part a; or Eighteen semester hours from an accredited college or university in one or more of the specialty areas listed in part a.
Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes experience equal to six months of full-time work as an Information Technology Specialist 3.

Responsibilities

Participate in the full request for proposal process, ensuring compliance with laws, regulations, and government procurement policies.
Draft, edit, and review procurement documents such as requests for proposals, requests for quotes, bids, statements of work, and related materials.
Conduct or attend formal bid lettings to ensure procurement activities follow written policies and procedures.
Evaluate vendor proposals, lead vendor negotiations, and support supplier selection based on pricing, quality, and delivery criteria.
Assist with negotiating and finalizing vendor contracts, ensuring adherence to state procurement regulations and best practices.
Monitor contract performance, track compliance, and collaborate with vendors and internal stakeholders to resolve issues or implement corrective actions.
Serve as a subject-matter expert for contracts and procurement, providing guidance to agency staff on processes, compliance requirements, and contract management.
Write detailed product specifications for technical or major information technology purchases and verify that procured items meet those specifications.
Oversee strategic information technology procurement activities across state agencies, ensuring efficient processes and compliance with organizational and governmental regulations.
Collaborate with legal, security, and information technology contracting teams to review and develop procurement agreements—including statements of work, service level agreements, quotes, and bid documents—and monitor compliance with service level agreements, key performance indicators, and contractual obligations.