Contract Specialist

Key Responsibilities

• Cookorate and manage procurement of complex and highly technical materials, equipment, and services on a competitive basis.
• Create contract specifications and standards for the department.
• Confer with the department’s engineering, operations, maintenance, and other technical personnel to develop detailed and technical specifications.
• Research and recommend the type and quality of materials, services, supplies, and equipment.
• Cookorate with Harris County Purchasing Agents to procure contracts for different divisions.
• Research, write, review, and evaluate purchase orders, contracts, and bid specifications for complex and highly technical materials, equipment, and services, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and compliance with County and departmental policies and procedures.
• Develop or assist with solicitations (RFPs, RFQs), including writing specifications, evaluating bids, working with procurement teams, and ensuring competitive procurement practices.
• Research vendors and evaluate their ability to provide and the availability of quality materials, equipment, and services.
• Administer contract amendments, renewals, extensions, terminations, or closeouts. Ensure all modifications follow policy and are properly documented.
• Maintain contract files, records, and data systems; prepare internal and external reports on contract status, contractor performance, risks, and financials.
• Serve as a liaison between legal, finance, programming teams, procurement, and vendors. Address questions, resolve contract-related issues, and ensure alignment with programmatic goals.
• Develop or contribute to policies, procedures, and best practices related to contract management to ensure consistency, compliance, and efficiency.
• Participate in long-range purchase planning and needs analysis to simplify and standardize service and commodity types and reduce costs.
• Perform duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Education: Requires a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Materials Management, Engineering, Purchasing, or a closely related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 2 years of Relevant experience in contract development, management, monitoring, or procurement.
• Knowledge, Skill & Abilities (KSAs): Strong contract management and negotiation skills; analytical skills; attention to detail and strong organization; excellent communication skills (written & verbal); ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment; proficiency with contract management or procurement software/systems; ability to manage multiple contracts/projects concurrently, meeting deadlines.

General Information

• Position Type, And Typical Hours Of Work: Full-Time | Regular | 40 hours per week.
• Subject to early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and holidays at times, depending upon the project or workload.
• Salary: Commensurate with experience, based on 26 pay periods.
• Physical Demands And Environmental Exposure: Most assignments will be performed in an office, meeting, or operations command center environment, but some field work may be required. May be required to work extended work hours during activation of disaster recovery operations for an unspecified length of time (varies based on the extent of the event).
• Featured Benefits: Medical, vision, and dental insurance; wellness; professional development opportunity; flexible spending account; 457 deferred compensation plans; retirement pension (TCDRS); transportation assistance (Metro Ride Sponsor Program); disability and life insurance; Harris County is a Qualified Employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF).