Contract Specialist 1 (CS1) - Olympia

State of Washington; Olympia (WA); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) seeks a Contracts Specialist 1 in Olympia to manage routine contracts, including interagency agreements, leases, and letters of understanding. You will lead competitive bidding efforts, develop terms, and coordinate contract processing and renewals to service agency programs.

The role requires 5 years combined education/experience, a relevant bachelor’s degree, and experience in contract negotiation or administration.

Qualifications

• The equivalent of five years of education and experience.
• A Bachelor’s degree as specified in education section.
• One year of experience in negotiating, administering, terminating contracts, contract property management, cost/price analysis, or contract compliance administration.
• Demonstrated ability to take action to learn and grow and to meet others' needs.

Responsibilities

• Initiates competitive contracting processes, develops specifications and terms.
• Administers contracts with other state agencies, governments, federal agencies, and vendors.
• Initiates advertising for bids or procurement efforts.
• Receives, processes, and awards contracts.
• Obtains signatures of authorized parties for agreements/contracts.
• Coordinates with Legal Counsel and other agencies on contract requirements.
• Advises departments on contracting procedures.
• Maintains contract records and internal tracking.
• Coordinates internal and external contract reports.
• Develops contract reports for DES and OWMB.
• Uploads documents to support contract creation and renewal.

Skills

Contract terms understanding

Interagency coordination

Attention to detail

Negotiation readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, business law, commerce, economics, mathematics, statistics, or closely allied field

Job description

Description

Our vision is to ensure that "Washington state's children and youth grow up safe and health-thriving physically, emotionally and academically, nurtured by family and community".

Job Title: Contracts Specialist 1 (Olympia)

Location: Olympia WA, Thurston County (Flexible/Hybrid)

Closes: September 29th, 2026

Salary: $51,600.00- $69,348.00 Annually

This position is responsible for the administration of routine contracts, including but not limited to interagency agreements, leases, and letters of understanding to provide or obtain services or goods on behalf of the agency. The person in this role will also initiative competitive bid projects, develop specifications and terms, initiate advertising for bids; while also providing for the receipt, processing, and award of contracts. Additionally, the Contract Specialist 1 will also support Contract staff with background checks for providers, as well as support the agency in the submission of DES related annual reports.

The Opportunity

As a Contract Specialist 1 with DCYF, you will help ensure the agency has the goods and services it needs to support children, youth, and families across Washington. Working with the Contracts Office, you will manage routine contracts and agreements, support competitive bidding and procurement, develop contract terms, and monitor compliance with state and federal requirements. Your work will help DCYF use public resources responsibly while ensuring programs and services are delivered effectively and on time.

Some Of What You'll Get To Do

• Initiates the competitive contracting process (competitive bid projects), including the development of specifications and terms.
• Administers contracts with other WA State Agencies, Other State Governments, federal agencies, and private vendors for goods, services, and project funding.
• Initiates advertising for bids / procurement efforts.
• Provides receipt, processing and award of contracts.
• Obtains signatures, of authorized parties or their agents, of the parties to agreements /contracts.
• Coordinates with DCYF Administrative Services Division Legal Counsel, the Office of the Attorney General, and representatives of other state agencies with regard to contract requirements and procedures.
• Advises DCYF departments, offices, and staff members on the procedures involved in contracting for goods and / or services.
• Maintain contracts records including internal tracking mechanisms.
• Coordinates reports internally and with representatives of other department divisions.
• Develops contract reports required for the Department of Enterprise Services and the Office of Women and Minority Owned Businesses.
• Uploads documents necessary to support contract creation and renewal.

Required Qualifications

• Equivalent combination of education and experience totaling five (5) years.

OR

• A Bachelor’s degree involving major study in business administration, public administration, business law, commerce, economics, mathematics, statistics, or a closely allied field.

AND

• One year of experience in negotiating, administering, or terminating contracts, contract property management, contract cost or price analysis, or contract compliance administration

AND

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications

• Knowledge of Washington State and federal laws and regulations governing contracts and agreements.
• Knowledge of contract principles, practices, theory, and application.
• Knowledge of contract terminology, development, practices, and procedures.
• Ability to communicate and write effectively.
• Ability to represent the agency in coordination and negotiations with government agencies and private industry.
• Ability to identify desirable contract terms and provisions.
• Ability to identify and address contract non‑compliance.

Supplemental Information

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is committed to Washington’s children and youth growing up safe, healthy, and thriving. We invite all candidates to join us in our mission to create a diverse and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve. If you are excited about this role but you believe that your education and/or experience might not align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we encourage you to apply anyway.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability.

This position requires a successful completion, within mandated timeframes, of employee orientation and all other mandatory annual in-service and other required training.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

More than Just a Paycheck!

Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Read About Our Benefits

The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full‑time.

Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.

Insurance Benefits

Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax‑deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long‑term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.

Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre‑tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well‑being of employees.

Retirement And Deferred Compensation

State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre‑tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security

All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

If you are employed by a government or not‑for‑profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays

Full-time and part‑time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.

Full‑time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 non‑overtime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.

Part‑time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro‑ratio basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full‑time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.

Sick Leave

Full‑time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full‑time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.

Sick leave accruals for part‑time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full‑time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

Vacation (Annual Leave)

Full‑time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full‑time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 non‑overtime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.

Part‑time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro‑rate basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full‑time employment.

Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

As provided in WAC 357-58-175, an employer may authorize a lump‑sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.

Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.

Military Leave

Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.

Bereavement Leave

Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.

Additional Leave

Leave Sharing

Parental Leave

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Leave Without Pay

Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.

Updated 01-07-2026