Contract Specialist II

Salary : $104,987.58 - $133,077.57 Annually Location : Seattle, WA Job Type: Career Service (Exec) Job Number: 2025GM25666 Department: DCHS - Community & Human Srvcs Division: Comm & Human Svcs Admin Opening Date: 03/06/2026 Closing Date: 3/21/2026 11:59 PM Pacific FLSA: Exempt Bargaining Unit: C22 : PROTEC17-Staff Finance(DCHS) Full- or Part-Time: Full Time Hours/Week: 40 hours/week Summary The Department of Community and Human Services values diverse perspectives and life experiences. The Department encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with lived experiences. King County's provides equitable opportunities for people to be healthy, happy, and connected to community. DCHS invests more than one billion dollars a year via public procurements and contracting with local human services organizations to provide a robust array of programs to create equitable opportunities for people to be happy, healthy, and connected to the community. DCHS is looking for two skilled, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic team players to join our centralized Contracts & Procurement (C&P) unit, supporting staff to develop and conduct procurements and draft contracts that are effective, efficient, and equitable. We are recruiting for two career service positions and one Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Special Duty position. The Contract Specialist II is a professional classification that reports directly to DCHS's Contracts & Procurement Manager. The most competitive candidates will have experience in government procurements and contract management, and a proven track record partnering with staff to creatively solve problems and continually improve processes. The ideal candidates will also prioritize equity, race, and social justice in advising staff on approaches to procurement and contracting, and working with partners and coworkers. The Term-Limited Temporary position is anticipated to end 12/31/2026. If filled by a King County employee who has passed their initial probation, the TLT will be as a Special Duty Assignment (SDA). WHO MAY APPLY: This position is open to all qualified candidates who meet the minimum qualifications. Interviews for this selection process will take place on or around 4/6/2026. APPLICATION PROCESSIf you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, or if you have questions, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement. The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy: NeoGov Job Application (The responses on your job application should be thorough and complete, and will be used in the screening process) Supplemental Questions (The responses to the supplemental questions should be thorough and complete, and will be used in the screening process) Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted. This selection process may also be used to create a pool of candidates for current and future career service, term-limited temporary, and special duty opportunities. The pool will be active for 6 months. WORK SCHEDULE/CONDITIONS: We are recruiting for two career service positions and one TLT/SDA position. The Special Duty Assignment (SDA) or Term-Limited Temporary (TLT) position is anticipated to end on 12/31/2026, but is subject to change depending on operational need. All positions are scheduled to work 40 hours per week, Monday - Friday, 8 am - 5 pm, and are not eligible for overtime. The positions are represented by PROTEC17. MISSION CRITICAL POSITION STATUS: This position has been designated Non-Mission Critical. Unless otherwise directed by the County Executive, department director or agency head, all employees, regardless of designation, are expected to report to work or request leave during an emergency or inclement weather. For more detailed information, please visit and the TELEWORKING REQUIREMENT: DCHS works in a hybrid model, with days in the office as well as telecommuting. The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. The primary onsite location is the Chinook Building at 401 Fifth Avenue Seattle, WA 98104. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. King County has a robust collection of to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. RECRUITER: Greg Mallory, Job Duties Support the preparation and implementation of competitive solicitations; coordinate public pre-bid/pre-proposal meetings; open submittals and assure compliance with bid or proposal requirements. Work with subject matter experts to edit scopes of work, technical specifications, and other solicitation/contract documents for clarity and consistency, technical specifications, and other solicitation/contracts. Review, draft, and advise program staffonal lterms andconditions ona varietyofcontracts implementing human and related services throughout the department. Regularly meet with program work units to design appropriate alternative procurement approaches, andensure process meets all applicable federal, state, and county requirements. Assist and provide direction and training for other DCHS program staffin the requirements and regulations concerning procurement and contracting processes. Supportthemaintenanceandenhancementofcontract templates. Performotherrelateddutiesas assigned. Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills A minimum of three (3) years of experience administering contracts that fund human services or closely related programs. Demonstrated understanding and experience withthe principles, practices, and terminology typically used to procure contractfunding for human services. Knowledge of contract administration and federal, state, and county statutes and regulations pertaining to procurement of human service contracts. Experience and knowledge of procurement theory, principles, and practices; contract development; and contract negotiations. Experience facilitating discussion, resolving conflict, and finding creative solutions to contract and procurement issues. Demonstrated ability to provide excellent customer serviceto interested parties both within and outside the organization. Strong communication and training experience, writing, problem-solving, analytical,andinvestigativeresearch skills. Demonstrated ability and comfort in prioritizing workloads, working successfully under pressure with tight timelines, changing priorities, and ambiguous information. Ability to work collaboratively with program staff and to interface effectively with County officials and senior management. Demonstrated proficiency with the MS Office suite. Desired Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, SkillsExperienceusingcontractlifecyclemanagementsoftware, such as Agiloft, lcertis, Periscope, etc. Experience streamlining work processes, improving operations, and decreasing turnaround time in procurement and contracting processes. Experience with SharePoint, MSTeams, and other collaborative online tools. Supplemental Information Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers. Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.Guided by our , we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans. King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation. To Apply If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement. King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs: Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what's best for themselves and their eligible dependents Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan Transportation program and ORCA transit pass 12 paid holidays each year plus two personal holidays Generous vacation and paid sick leave Paid parental, family and medical, and volunteer leaves Flexible Spending Account Wellness programs Onsite activity centers Employee Giving Program Employee assistance programs Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position Training and career development programs For additional information about employee benefits, visit our This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails. NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass. For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting. 01 Are you applying to this position as an eligible Priority Placement Program Participant who is a current or previous King County Employee impacted by layoff? ANDIs this position the same or lower percentage of full-time when compared to the position held at the point of the notification of layoff? ANDDo you possess the skills and abilities to qualify for this position? Yes, I was given a layoff notice from my Career Service role at King County and I am within two years of the effective date of my layoff. Additionally, the position I was laid off from was the same or a higher percentage of FT status when compared to this one. No. 02 If you answered yes to the question above and you are applying for this position as a Priority Placement Participant, to be considered, you must provide the following three pieces of information in the space provided:1. The title you held when you received your layoff notice2. The department you worked in3. The effective date of your layoff 03 How many years of professional experience do you have administering contracts that fund human services programs or closely related social service programs (for example, behavioral health, housing stability, youth development, reentry, public health, or community-based services)? I do not have this experience yet Less than 1 year of experience 1 - 2 years (less than 3) 3 - 5 years 6 (or more) years 04 Do you have a demonstrated understanding and experience with the principles, practices, and terminology typically used to procure contract funding for human services? Yes No 05 Which of the following best describes your professional experience with competitive procurement processes (for example, RFP, RFQ, or ITB) used to select providers for human services or related programs? I do not have experience with competitive procurement processes I have participated in procurements as a subject matter expert, evaluator, or panel member I have assisted with procurement processes, but was not responsible for managing the process I have independently managed or coordinated competitive procurements from solicitation development through evaluation and contract award 06 Describe your experience developing and facilitating competitive procurements. Include any government or human services experience, if applicable. List the organization names and dates.If you do not have this experience, type N/A. 07 Describe your experience negotiating, preparing, monitoring, and/or managing service contracts. Include any government or human services experience, if applicable. List the organization names and dates.If you do not have this experience, type N/A. 08 Describe your understanding of equity and social justice principles and practices. How are these reflected in your approach to contracting and procurement?If you do not have this experience, type N/A. 09 Describe a time when you facilitated a discussion or resolved a disagreement related to a contract, procurement process, or scope of work. What steps did you take to resolve the issue, and what was the outcome?If you do not have this experience, type N/A. Required Question

Created: 2026-03-10