Contract Specialist II

In addition to the current opening, this recruitment may be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates to fill future Contract Specialist II Career Service vacancies within the Parks Division over the next 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:

The Contract Specialist II position will work in the Procurement and Strategic Sourcing (PASS) 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. A successful candidate will have knowledge of procurement and contract administration for goods, services and technology. This position will have a range of responsibilities include determining and developing a procurement approach, working with client groups to analyze and develop scopes of work, and contract negotiations.

This position follows a hybrid work model, blending remote and in-person work.

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 represent: Finance Administration; Accounting and Fiscal Administration; Budget and Financial Planning; and Procurement and Strategic Sourcing with teams dedicated to core values that embody accountability, diversity and inclusion, stewardship, and workforce development.

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.

Apply now for a rewarding career at theKing County Parks Divisionof the King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP). Join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities. Enjoy training,comprehensive benefits, and growth opportunities.

What You Will Be Doing:

• Develop and manage procurements for goods and technical services:Create procurement strategies, write and refine scopes of work, establish selection criteria and pricing schedules, and collaborate with central procurement staff to support effective procurement.
• Independently administer complex contracts:Oversee contract lifecycles, track key data, monitor performance, and recommend procurement strategies to ensure contracts are available for business continuity.
• Provide subject matter expertise in procurement processes:Support operational teams by offering guidance on sourcing strategies, contract requirements, and procurement best practices.
• Build and maintain effective stakeholder relationships:Collaborate with technical and non-technical staff, procurement and payables teams, and external partners to ensure smooth communication and issue resolution.
• Analyze departmental needs to inform procurement strategies:Research, evaluate, and recommend contract solutions aligned with program goals and operational requirements.
• Maintain accurate contract and procurement documentation:Manage databases and document systems to ensure organized, audit ready records.
• Coordinate issue resolution and compliance activities:Identify potential contract or procurement issues, recommend corrective actions, and support adherence to policies and procedures.

Qualifications You Bring:

• Experience managing procurement and strategic sourcing of goods, services, and technology contracts.
• Experience in business analysis, contract negotiation, and project management.
• Knowledge of public procurement thresholds and sourcing strategies (RFP, ITB, RFQ, Sole Source, Cooperative Contracts).
• Intermediate skills in technical writing and proofreading skills, including ability to draft contract language.
• Experience in contract administration.

Competencies You Bring:

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

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.
• Experience working in the public sector or government environment.

Working Conditions:

• Work Location:The Finance team 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 King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson, Seattle, Washington 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 tools and resources 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.
• 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.

Application and Selection Process:

We welcome applications from all qualified applicants. We value diversity, diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all background 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
• Cover Letter

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.

Signup for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.

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 teamdedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North", 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.