Contract Specialist

Socket.dev; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 118,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Oakland Housing Authority seeks a Contract Specialist to lead procurement for assigned departments, ensuring HUD compliance and efficient contract administration. You will develop solicitations, evaluate proposals, and guide vendors through negotiations.

The role requires strong analytical skills, ability to manage complex contracts, and coordination with city and state entities. A bachelor's degree in business or public administration plus four years of procurement experience are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business or public administration or related field with procurement emphasis.
• Four years of procurement experience involving contracts.
• Valid California driver's license and insurable driving record.
• Bilingual skills in ASL/ Mandarin/ Cantonese/ Vietnamese/ Spanish a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead procurement for assigned client departments and ensure compliance with HUD rules.
• Prepare solicitation packages, evaluate proposals, and negotiate contracts.
• Monitor contractor performance and close out contracts; address disputes.
• Maintain contract files and provide timely reports on procurement activity.
• Coordinate meetings with vendors and government entities; ensure confidentiality.

Skills

Procurement experience

Contract negotiation

Contract administration

Data analysis

Cost forecasting

Education

Bachelor's degree in business or public administration

Job description

OAKLAND HOUSING AUTHORITY

CONTRACT SPECIALIST

(Project up to 36 months)

SALARY: $4,542.90 - $5,017.71 / Biweekly

$118,115.40 - $130,460.46 / Annually

CLOSING DATE AND TIME: Friday, October 2nd, 2026 at 8:59 pm PST

Under the general direction of the Oakland Housing Authority (OHA) Director of Procurement, the Contract Specialist (CS) serves as the lead in managing procurement activities for assigned Client Departments. The CS performs complex, technical, and analytical work involving the development, administration, and oversight of contracts.

Contract Specialists will be responsible for understanding, managing, and developing solutions that address the technical, analytical, and administration elements of complex procurements, solicitations, contract negotiations, and awards related to the procurement of professional services, services in the trades, products, equipment, supplies, and in some case, complex construction, and modernization projects.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Spearheads and takes full responsibility for their assigned Client Departments procurement needs, by assisting them to organize, prioritize, implement, and realize needed, authorized, procurement activities; and
• Provides guidance and informs their assigned Client Departments regarding contracting approaches, methods, options, best practices, industry standards, the vendor pool, small and disadvantaged business, and choices at each step in the procurement process; and
• Serves as a consultant to senior and middle management staff in the interpretation of contracts and contracting policies, and procedures; and
• Prepares and issues solicitation packages for the purchase of goods and services, ensuring compliance with the Authority policies and procedures, and with established guidelines, rules, and regulations of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); and
• Prepares Board submittal packages and recommendations; and
• Makes Award Recommendations; and
• Monitors contractor performance and closes out files upon completion of contracts; and
• Assist and/or resolves contract related protests or disputes and claims; and
• Maintains accurate and current contract and relevant correspondence file system both in hardcopy and electronically and advises staff in advance of expiring contracts; and
• Prepares timely weekly reports and other correspondence related to contract and procurement activity, including expirations, disputes, resolutions, and any other concerns expressed by internal or external customers; and
• Maintains a high degree of confidentiality relative to work performed.
• Responsible for Contract Administration functions from Contract Award through Contract Close-out; and
• Coordinates and facilitates the activities of contract management including meetings with vendors on all contract administration related matters; and
• Ensures contracts are compliant with rules, regulations, policies, and procedures; and
• Leads and/or guides staff in the procurement process and best practices.
• Develops the Vendor Outreach Plan, compliance review of solicitation and checklist items; and
• Facilitates Pre-proposal meetings; and
• Develops Addendum Content; and
• Reviews proposals and facilitates process to assist with Evaluation Committee Discussion; and
• Reviews Conflict of Interest and Non-Disclosure Forms; and
• Negotiates Contracts; and
• Compliance Review on Procurement Packaging; and
• Conducts price analysis and assist with cost analysis preparation; and
• Attends CCGS weekly department meetings; and
• Interfaces with Client Department and Government Entities.

MARGINAL FUNCTIONS

• Execute special projects.
• Performs other related duties and responsibilities as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

A bachelor's degree in business or public administration or a related field, with a minor or emphasis in procurement;

Four years of highly responsible experience involving procurement, with an emphasis on the preparation, evaluation, and administration of contracts.

AND

Possession of a valid California driver's license and an insurable driving record.

Bilingual skills in ASL, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese and/or Spanish are a plus.

Equivalent combinations of education, training and experience will be considered.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Principles and practices of procurement of goods and services and construction-related contracting;
• Legislation governing the construction contracting process.
• Computer systems designed for tracking procurement activity.
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) rules and regulations as it pertains to procurement.

ABILITY TO:

• Research costs of various commodities, analyze and provide a recommendation from data.
• Forecast potential future costs for commodities.
• Negotiate, evaluate, and implement large contracts, including construction contracts.
• Work under pressure with a high degree of responsibility and accountability.
• Effectively use computer-based data processing systems.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective professional working relationships with co-workers, management, partner agencies and the community.
• Lead or supervise staff.