Contract Manager (Term Limited)

Duties and Responsibilities

• Manages a portfolio of active contracts across diverse categories, taking ownership at contract award and leading administration through the full term to ensure performance, continuity of service, and proper contract utilization.
• Oversee contract execution requirements, deliverables, milestones, and service levels, and coordinates with departments and vendors to resolve operational issues, document decisions, and maintain defensible contract records.
• Leads contract life-cycle actions including negotiations support, amendments, renewals, extensions, expirations, and close-outs, ensuring changes are properly justified, routed, and documented in accordance with contract terms and County requirements.
• Provides contractual guidance to Category Managers and Sourcing Managers by reviewing scopes, terms, risk provisions, and performance requirements and offering insights that support strategy development and successful implementation.
• Partners with Purchasing, Legal, departments, and oversight stakeholders to manage vendor performance concerns and contractual breaches, including development of remediation plans, enforcement of remedies, and escalation as needed.
• Ensures compliance with contract, strategy, and process requirements by monitoring adherence to applicable policies and procedures, identifying control gaps and risks, and recommending improvements that strengthen consistency and audit readiness.

Requirements

• Education and Experience: Master’s degree in a directly related field and two (2) years of relevant work experience required, including one (1) year public procurement experience; OR Bachelor’s degree in a directly related field and four (4) years of relevant work experience required, including two (2) years of public procurement experience.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Construction procurement experience required; Understanding of applicable procurement laws, governance, and compliance requirements, including Texas Local Government Code Chapter 262, County purchasing policies, and applicable federal requirements when federal funds apply; Skill in contract interpretation and document control, including drafting and reviewing amendments, renewals, extensions, and close-outs, and maintaining complete, audit-ready files and defensible documentation; Skill in vendor performance management and issue resolution, including monitoring deliverables and service levels, conducting corrective action follow-up, and coordinating remediation for contractual breaches; Strong negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills to coordinate with departments, vendors, Legal, and oversight partners, resolve disputes, and drive timely, compliant outcomes; Proficiency in contract, purchasing, and financial systems and reporting tools used to track contract activity, milestones, spend, and compliance metrics; translates data into actionable reporting and risk monitoring.

Preferences

• Federal contracting experience preferred; Certified Texas Contract Manager (CTCM) and/or Certified Texas Contract Developer (CTCD) preferred.

General Information

• Position Type and Typical Hours of Work: Monday - Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm; Occasional weekends, holidays, and overtime may be required based on the specific needs and demands of the department.
• Location: Harris County Purchasing Office Building - 1111 Fannin St 12th Floor Houston, TX 77002.
• Work Environment and Physical Demands: This position is based in an office environment, where the use of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, scanners, and filing cabinets is routine. The physical demands associated with this job are minimal, with occasional lifting and moving objects weighing up to 10 pounds. The role is predominantly sedentary, involving mainly sitting with occasional standing and walking.
• Reporting Relationships: Reports To: Assistant Director of Sourcing and Contracting.
• Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.
• Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.