This posting may be used to establish a list of qualified candidates for the Contract Specialist II in the Parks Division during the following six (6) months.

Are you passionate about parks, community impact, and public service? King County Parks is seeking a detail-oriented Contract Specialist II to join a dynamic team that supports building and preserving parks, trails, and natural lands for all. Bring your procurement expertise and make a difference in a role that blends collaboration, innovation, and service to the community.

About the Role:

King County Parks and Recreation is looking for a Contract Specialist II to join the Finance team. The position will work in the Procurement and Strategic Sourcing Unit to provide excellent customer service and collaboration in a team-oriented environment with the mission to help build parks, trails, and natural lands for all. This role will be responsible for a variety of tasks including determining and developing a procurement approach; working with client groups to analyze and develop scopes of work; presenting at internal and public meetings; advising Project Managers throughout the solicitation and contract lifecycle; coordinating review and advice with  Procurement & Payables teams and multiple business units across the Parks Division; contract negotiations and compiling contract terms and conditions; and providing training for agency staff and stakeholders involving the requirements and regulations of the public procurement.  

This position performs work remotely and onsite.  

About the Team:

The Finance, Budget, and Planning Section manages the Parks and Recreation Division's financial affairs and business administration in support of its mission to steward, enhance and acquire parks to inspire healthy communities. The section is a vital internal support resource to the Parks Division and is comprised of 24 employees across four work units. The four work units represents:  Finance Administration; Accounting and Fiscal Administration; Budget and Financial Planning; and Procurement and Strategic Sourcing with teams dedicated to core values that embodies accountability, diversity and inclusion, stewardship, and workforce development.

A career in finance is dynamic!  This position offers many opportunities to engage with diverse stakeholders and will challenge you to refine your strengths, increase your adaptability, bolster your innovative and analytical skills, and ensure you are constantly intellectually stimulated.  Whether you are working in an office or on the front lines, a career with King County Parks means enhancing the quality of life for its residents through environmental conservation efforts, equity, and health and wellness.  If you have a passion for the outdoors and bettering your community, consider this opportunity!

Commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice:

King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive.  We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a Contract Specialist II, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.

What You Will Be Doing: 

• Provide expertise and training to project managers and administrative staff about the requirements and regulations concerning the public procurement process, including using an equity and social justice lens, and provide guidance to determine the most appropriate procurement method. 
• Draft contract language and participate in the review and inspection of contractual terms and conditions for compliance with Federal, State and County laws and non-discrimination requirements; analyze and make recommendations regarding compliance issues, violations of contract provisions, and policies and procedures.
• Determine and develop the procurement approach for non-routine contract awards, bidding requirements, selection criteria and general terms and conditions for procurement. Develop technical specifications, scopes of work, evaluation criteria, contract terms and conditions. Anticipate non-routine procurement/project risks and take steps to mitigate liabilities. Ensure compliance with codes, policies, and procedures. 
• Manage procurement process from planning to post-award phase, assuring notification to, and approval by, multiple County agencies at all appropriate stages in process; identify procurement issues that could impede procurement process.
• Ensure that all essential contract documentation is filed, accurate, and complete for audit accountability purposes.  Ensure that internal database information and publicly accessible information is updated in a timely and accurate manner and assist in responding to public disclosure requests, as needed.

Qualifications You Bring: 

• Minimum of (3) three years in contract administration.
• Experience managing procurement and strategic sourcing of goods, services and technology contracts.
• Experience in business analysis, contract negotiation, and project management skills.
• Knowledge of public procurement thresholds and procurement sourcing strategies including Request for Proposals (RFP); Invitation to Bid (ITB); Request for Quotation (RFQ); Waivers/Sole Source; and Piggyback/Cooperative Contracting.
• Knowledge of management and legal issues concerning formulation and administration of public contracts, claims, amendments and change orders.
• Knowledge of business law principles, procurement theory and accounting procedures.
• Strong technical writing and proofreading skills, including the ability to draft contract language.
• Exceptional organizational skills that include effective communication methods, keenness to detail, ability to multitask, problem-solving abilities and time management skills.
• Skill in establishing effective working relationships with technical and non-technical people.

Competencies You Bring:  

• Resourcefulness - Securing and deploying resources effectively and efficiently.
• Plans and Aligns - Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals.
• Manages ambiguity - Operating effectively, even when things are not certain, or the way forward is not clear.
• Courage - Stepping up to address difficult issues, saying what needs to be said.
• Communicates effectively - Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Collaborates - Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Customer Focused - Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring:

• Oracle EBS and/or Oracle procurement Cloud or related experience utilizing procurement technology.
• Experience with LEAN processes and principles.
• Experience with SharePoint, MS Teams and other collaborative online tools.
• Public sector or government experience.

Working Conditions:

• Remote and Onsite Work Details: Employees in this role work remotely from a home location, with onsite reporting requirements typically 1-2 time per quarter. The frequency of onsite work is determined by business needs and may be adjusted accordingly. Onsite reporting locations may be at various King County worksites including the  collaboration space at King Street Center (201 S. Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104). This work arrangement promotes work-life-balance and reduces carbon footprint under the department's vision of Green Where We Work.  
• Remote Work Location Requirement: Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance to King County worksites to meet onsite reporting requirements. 
• Work Schedule: This full-time position works a 40-hour work week. This position is exempt from the overtime provision of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible. 
• Union Representation: This position is represented by Teamsters 117.

Anticipated Timeline and Important Note (Timeline Subject to Change):

1^st Round of Interviews: Week of May 26, 2025

2^nd Round of Interviews: Week of June 2, 2025.

Application and Selection Process:

We welcome applications from all qualified applicants. We value diversity, diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews.  

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Application
• Resume

Note:  Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.

Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Jessica Fuqua at jfuqua@kingcounty.gov.

Discover More About the Parks Division: Visit our website and check us out atFacebook, Twitter, Instagram and Flickr.

Discover More About DNRP: Visit our website, explore aninteractive mapof our recent accomplishments and check us out atFacebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, YouTubeand Keeping King County Green News.

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

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.