Central Contracts Specialist / Contract Administrator V - Hybrid

State of Colorado; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Colorado, Department of Personnel and Administration (DPA) is seeking a Contract Administrator V to support the Central Contracts Unit by drafting model contracts, agency contracts, and policies, and by developing training materials.

You will monitor contracts, provide guidance on procurement rules, review high-risk agreements, and ensure compliance across agencies, with a focus on accessibility and clear legal terms.

Qualifications

• At least eight (8) years of professional experience in contract administration or legal document drafting, contract or legal negotiation, or contract management.
• Experience with reviewing and drafting high-risk contracts for government or private-sector organizations.
• Excellent written and oral communication, and ability to interpret laws, rules, and policies.

Responsibilities

• Draft model contracts, agency-specific contracts, rules and policies.
• Review and approve contracts for high-risk or delegated agencies; monitor performance.
• Provide guidance to agencies on procurement laws and templates; develop training materials.

Skills

Contract administration

Legal drafting

Contract negotiation

Job description

This position is only open to Colorado state residents.

This posting may fill more than one vacancy.

Colorado for All Philosophy

Colorado for All means working toward a Colorado where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. It means we support the basic human rights of our neighbors regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, education level, disability, socio-economic status, or any other visible or invisible identity.

Department of Personnel & Administration (DPA)

The Department of Personnel & Administration (DPA) is the foundation for dependable state government, leading with responsiveness, integrity, and teamwork. We provide services to other government agencies and all Coloradans by taking bold initiative toward a government with engaged employees, innovative solutions, and constructive partnerships.

DPA provides a wide range of programs and services, from custodial & maintenance to financial and human resources support, which assist other state agencies in fulfilling their missions. At DPA, there are countless opportunities to contribute to meaningful work that supports and serves the people of Colorado. The wide variety of positions in DPA allow individuals to learn about state operations and provide for long-term career growth.

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference and build greater public confidence in good government, consider joining the dedicated people of the State of Colorado; it's a chance to combine your expertise with public service. Our professionals strive to support state government and the residents of Colorado. Customer service is a key component for every position in state government as is the focus on ideas and ways to redesign the delivery of services in making state government more.

Why We Want You

We want your expertise, positive energy, drive to succeed, and love of this great state as we work to elevate the expectations Coloradans have of their government.

What You'll Get From Us

In return for the skilled work you do, DPA provides a competitive compensation and benefits package to accompany employment opportunities. Please see the Benefits Overview video for details on the benefits offered to employees.

Description of Job

This position is charged with assisting the Central Contracts Unit (CCU) Manager in drafting legal documents, including, but not necessarily limited to, model contracts, agency-specific contracts, rules and policies; conducting monitoring and developing monitoring reports, and developing training materials and conducting training.

Responsible For

• Reviewing and approving all contracts for non-delegated assigned Agencies and Institutes of Higher Education (IHE), and all high-risk contracts for assigned delegated agencies,
• Reviewing contracts submitted for pre-approval, including Release and Settlement Agreements as needed.

Consultation

• Provide guidance to agencies on the impacts of any laws that affect the Procurement Code and Rules, the Controller Statute, Fiscal Rules, or Office of the State Controller (OSC) contract policies.
• Develop and approve Agency specific contract templates as needed.
• Assist in the implementation of new policies and procedures, including those for accessibility, as requested.
• Provide guidance, as needed, to Agencies on the proper use of new templates and the impacts of new procurement and contract related policies.
• Assist Agencies with drafting complex terms in high risk contracts.

Fiscal Rule Waivers and Statutory Violation Ratification

• Review Fiscal Rule Waiver, Limitation of Liability, and Purchase Order and Small Dollar Grant Award Modification Requests submitted by Agencies via eSubmission and approve those that are appropriate. Recommend alternative solutions where identified that make the waiver unnecessary.
• Review statutory violations requests and approve those that are appropriate, and provide recommendations to agencies to help reduce future violations.

Training: Providing training to Agencies and IHEs for matters under the CCU Purview, including:

• Develop and present scheduled training classes as assigned by the Central Contracts Manager.

Monitoring

• This position is responsible for monitoring the performance of Agencies and IHEs for matters under its purview.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions Of Employment & Appeal Rights

• A Human Resources Analyst will only review the work experience/job duties sections of the online job application to determine whether you meet the minimum qualifications for the position for which you are applying. Cover letters and resumes WILL NOT be accepted in lieu of the official State of Colorado online application, but may be attached. Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications to continue in the selection process for this position. Work experience and qualifications must be specifically documented on your online application. Do not use "see resume" or "see attached" statements on your application. Resumes will not be reviewed for minimum qualification screening. If it is determined that you meet the minimum qualifications, your application will also be used as part of the comparative analysis process to identify a top group for further consideration.

Residency Requirement

This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application.

Class Code & Classification Description: H1H5XX

Contract Administrator V

Minimum Qualifications

Experience Only:

At least eight (8) years of professional experience in contract administration or legal document drafting, contract or legal negotiation, or contract management at any government or private-sector organization.

or

Education And Experience

A combination of related education and/or professional experience in contract administration or legal document drafting, contract or legal negotiation, or contract management related to the work assigned equal to at least eight (8) years.

The exceptional candidate will possess the proven ability or accomplishment in the following preferred qualifications:

• Contract drafting and negotiating experience gained in government service (federal, state, local), or the private-sector
• Experience with cooperative contracts
• Highly proficient in reviewing, drafting and analyzing legal terms and conditions;
• Ability to clearly interpret and explain laws, rules, policies, and procedures
• Ability to foresee potential future issues and proactively take steps to resolve those issues
• Excellent customer service, written communication, and oral communication.

Conditions Of Employment

• A pre-employment criminal background check will be conducted as part of the selection process.

Comparative Analysis Process

The comparative analysis process for this position may consist of a structured application review and a structured interview.

Appeal Rights

An applicant who has been removed from consideration during the selection or comparative analysis process, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board and/or request a review by the State Personnel Director. A standard appeal form is available on the State Personnel Board website,https://spb.colorado.gov/forms-and-filing. If you appeal, your appeal must be submitted in writing on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative, and received at the following address within ten (10) days of your receipt of this notice: Colorado State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director, Attn: Appeals Processing, 1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver, CO 80203. Fax: [phone]. Phone: [phone]. Email address: [e-mail]. The ten-day deadline and these appeal procedures also apply to all charges of discrimination. Refer to Chapters 4 and 8 of the State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, 4 CCR 801, for information about the appeals process. The State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures are available at spb.colorado.gov.

Supplemental Information

Employment Philosophy: The State of Colorado strives to build and maintain workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans. We are building a Colorado for All through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness. The State is committed to non-discriminatory practices in hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities.

Accommodations

The Department of Personnel & Administration is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, Heather Siegal [e-mail].

The State of Colorado offers permanent employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, life and disability insurance, as well as a comprehensive leave program.

Please click the following link for detailed information: www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/benefits

Requirements

Per the requirements of the Step Pay Program implemented on July 1, 2024, any State employee must be paid a rate that is equal to or greater than the appropriate step pay rate within their classification's pay range based on completed years in their current class series as of June 30. All current and former State employees must ensure that your entire work history within the State Classified System, including at Institutions of Higher Education, is indicated in your application so that your time-in-series can be calculated accurately. If you are a current State of Colorado employee, please list all State of Colorado Departments or institutions of Higher Education for which you have worked for and your Employee ID (if known).