CAREER DESCRIPTION

THE OPPORTUNITY
The Supervising Procurement Contract Specialist position requires a highly motivated individual who will supervise, conduct training, provide contracts and procurement assistance, prepare evaluations, direct staff, plan, coordinate and initiate actions necessary to implement recommendations or decisions, and review complex solicitations, contracts and related documents. The Supervising Procurement Contract Specialist also participates in reviewing complaints and/or vendor protests and assists staff with preparing responses to formal protests. The Supervising Procurement Contract Specialist is expected to maintain a standard procurement workload in addition to the duties noted above.

The Supervising Procurement Contract Specialist will assist on and/or perform the more difficult and complex tasks in the unit and will be responsible for interpreting County and department policies, rules and regulations governing procurement activities and awarding of contracts. Incumbents will be expected to remaining current on the status of prices and general market conditions.

The successful candidate will have knowledge and experience in the following areas:

• Preparation, review and negotiation of contracts and bid/proposal specifications.
• Interpretation and analysis of legislative data, laws, rules and regulations pertinent to procurement.
• Conduct complex value analysis and write precise product specifications.
• Comprehensive understanding of complex procurement assignments
• Serving as a team lead and providing training and guidance to procurement/contracts staff.
• Ability to work with various customers and stakeholders
• Contract Management and/or Contract Administration

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS AND CORE COMPETENCIES
The ideal candidate will be a self-starter, possess a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Contracts, or Finance, and possess extensive experience in Procurement and/or Contracts. In addition, the ideal candidate will possess extensive knowledge and experience in contracts and solicitation writing, negotiations skills, policy interpretation and workload management.
Extensive knowledge and/or experience in the following core competencies are:

Leadership Skills

• Comfortable assuming a leadership role, while providing a supportive team environment and maintaining positive working relationships within the team.
• Supervisory experience delegating tasks, monitoring progress, coaching and training staff, and performance reviews.
• Ability to motivate and persuade staff and vendors to act in accordance with the goals and objective of the County procurement programs.

Technical Expertise

• Knowledge and experience public sector's procurement processes, contract negotiations, and contracts management.
• Extensive knowledge and direct experience in the principles, ethics and practices of procurement.
• Possess a strong understanding and application of principles in business and/or public administration.
• Ability to perform complex procurements such as Request for Proposals (RFP), Invitation for Bids (IFB), and Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to acquire professional services, consultant services, management information systems, including alternate delivery methods and a variety of contract types involved in procuring these services.
• Ability to prepare and analyze complex contract and bid specifications.
• Ability to prepare evaluations and analysis of cost/value of vendor capacity, capability and performance.
• Ability to conduct appropriate methods of solicitations to complete bids.
• Knowledge of general market conditions and pricing through various information resources.
• Investigate and resolve sensitive or unusual issues or complaints.
• Ability to ensure contract compliance with policies, rules and regulations.
• Knowledge of laws, tax obligations pertaining to procurement including commercial Sales Code and Uniform Sales Act.
• Knowledge of the Department of Industrial Relations, Prevailing Wage, and Payment and Performance Bonds.

Critical Thinking

• Knowledgeable and experienced in analyzing technical or complex contract specifications and solicitations for bid.
• Ability to identify and resolve issues, act decisively, commit to action, and make decisions that reflect sound judgment and analysis.
• Investigate and research sensitive or unusual issues or complaints and know when to notify and/or involve management in their decision.
• Demonstrate extensive experience and knowledge interpreting multiple policies and making appropriate recommendations, addressing vendor protest processes and procedures, and carrying out contract administration and enforcement.

Communication Skills

• Possess effective communication skills verbally and in writing in both formal and informal setting.
• Possess experience communicating technical and complex information in a clear, easy to understand manner.
• Using modern technology to access and circulate information
• Ability to communicate with various audiences including persons outside of the department, vendors, all levels of staff, members of the executive management team, attorneys and political officials.

Desired License/Certification
The Supervising Procurement Contract Specialist will need to obtain a DPA Certification through the County of Orange's County Procurement Office within twelve (12) months of hire date.

Possession of a Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB), Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO), Certified Procurement Professional (CPP), or equivalent certification is highly desirable.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
For detailed information on Supervising Procurement Contract Specialist, minimum qualifications and the physical and mental requirements as well as the environmental conditions, click here.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Human Resource Services (HRS) will screen all application materials to identify qualified applicants. After screening, qualified applicants will be referred to the next step and notified of all further procedures applicable to their status in the competition.

Application Screening (Refer/Non-Refer)
Applications and supplemental responses will be screened for qualifications that are highly desirable and most needed to successfully perform the duties of this job. Only those applicants that meet the qualifications as listed in the job bulletin will be referred to the next step.

Structural Oral Interview (SOI) | (Weighted 100%)
Candidates will be interviewed and evaluated by a panel of job knowledge experts. Only the highest scoring candidates will be referred to an eligible list of qualified candidates.

Eligible List
Once the Structural Oral Interview has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.

Based on the Department's needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedure.

Veterans Employment Preference Policy (VEPP)
The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here (Download PDF reader) (Download PDF reader) to review the policy

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Please see below for important information regarding COVID-19 related recommendations.
Effective April 3, 2023, it is strongly recommended that County employees working in health care settings and correctional facilities follow vaccination and booster guidelines provided by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Please click here to see the latest guidance for more details.

EMAIL NOTIFICATION
Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account.

NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply.

Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com." If your email address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, contact Katie Koreneff at kathryn.koreneff-dale@ocgov.com or (714) 834-3306.

EEO INFORMATION

Non-Management Benefits
In addition to the County's standard suite of benefits, such as a variety of health plan options, annual leave and paid holidays-we also offer an excellent array of benefits such as a Health Care Reimbursement Account, 457 Defined Contribution Plan and Annual Education and Professional Reimbursement. Employees are provided a Retirement Plan through the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS).

Please go to the following link to find out more about Defined Benefit Pensions and OCERS Plan Types/Benefits.
http://www.ocers.org/active-member-information

Click here for information about benefits offered to County of Orange employees.