Senior Manager, Contracts & Procurement

Southern California Regional Rail Authority•Los Angeles, CA

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Contracts & Procurement performs complex procurement work for major capital construction projects, professional services, materials, and equipment, including rolling stock. The role supervises buyers and contract compliance administrators who handle purchases of supplies, equipment, goods, and services, as well as more complex procurements and related compliance activities. The position leads departmental process improvement, including developing and monitoring key performance indicators; implementing and administering a Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) system; and overseeing solicitation and contract templates, forms, document management, and standard operating procedures. It also provides staff and industry training, oversees contract compliance and quality reviews, supports negotiations and contract administration, and develops and monitors staff. The position receives supervision from director- or executive-level management and supervises a regular group of employees or department. Work is primarily in a normal office environment, with occasional work at outdoor locations, construction sites, railroad track and right-of-way environments, and warehouses. The job may involve exposure to loud noise, moving mechanical parts, hostile or irate individuals, and railroad activity.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Business, or a related field; a combination of training and experience may be considered, with a minimum of an associate degree and/or relevant experience, and advanced relevant coursework may substitute for some required experience.
At least seven years of professional buyer, contract administration, and compliance experience.
At least three years at a senior level leading or supervising staff performing buying or contract administration work.
Knowledge of public procurement and contracting principles, including solicitation preparation, contract negotiation, contract law and finance, California and federal laws applicable to public agency contracts, and familiarity with the Federal Acquisition Regulations and/or Federal Transit Administration Circular 4220.1G.
Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, budgetary concepts, and procedures.
Knowledge of public works statutory requirements.
Critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Leadership, team-building, communication, delegation, and time-management skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Ability to comprehend and draft complex contracts and terms and conditions.
Ability to handle highly confidential information.
Ability to balance multiple initiatives simultaneously and drive them to successful completion.
Ability to evaluate contract proposals and pricing files to assist staff as needed.
Ability to prepare comprehensive reports, contracts, specifications, procedures, correspondence, RFPs, and IFBs.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
Ability to respond to emails and meet deliverables with minimal supervision.
Ability to make professional presentations to the Board of Directors.
Ability to transition between desk or work-location duties and movement around facilities or other work sites; operate computers, office equipment, and work-related machinery; and transport equipment or boxes weighing up to 25 pounds.
Ability to exchange ideas through communication and meet the stated physical demands, including visual and auditory awareness, balance, climbing, kneeling, stooping, bending, crouching, or crawling in assigned work areas.

Nice To Haves

Certification as a Public Purchasing Officer.
Public transportation or railroad industry experience.
Ability to delegate effectively and use interpersonal skills to manage and develop employees.
Business process improvement experience.
Five years of managing a procurement, sourcing, commodities, or buying team.

Responsibilities

Identify and implement procurement process improvements while considering impacts on Finance, Materials Management, and Project Management.
Create and maintain solicitation and contract templates, forms, and other required documents.
Develop, implement, and maintain departmental standard operating procedures.
Lead implementation of the Contract Lifecycle Management system and serve as its administrator for ongoing maintenance and support.
Develop and present training on purchasing procedures and policies for agency staff, industry, and other organizations.
Participate in contract file audits and perform quality-control reviews of purchasing activities for compliance with established standards.
Organize, direct, and lead contract negotiation teams; process change orders when applicable.
Serve as a subject matter expert and answer contractors’ questions about contractual compliance.
Assist the team with complex contract amendments, revisions, terminations, and closeouts.
Review award recommendations and other documents before they are routed for approval.
Collaborate with departmental staff and cross-functional stakeholders to achieve organizational objectives.
Participate in professional group meetings and stay current on new trends and innovations.
Monitor, evaluate, and develop staff to optimize departmental resources and meet objectives and expectations.
Enforce county, state, and federal regulations, laws, and ordinances, and recommend corrective action for non-compliance.
Conduct thorough offboarding for departing staff to transition in-progress work to remaining staff.
Perform additional duties as assigned and provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable laws.