Contract Specialist 1 (CS1) - Olympia

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

Job summary

DCYF is seeking a Contracts Specialist 1 in Olympia to manage routine contracts, bids, and related documentation. You will coordinate with state agencies, draft terms, and assist with contract compliance while supporting annual reporting efforts for the agency.

The role requires five years of combined education and experience or a bachelor’s degree plus relevant experience. Flexible/hybrid work in Olympia is offered with a closing date of Sep 29, 2026.

Qualifications

• Five years of combined education and experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in business administration or related field.
• Experience negotiating, administering, or terminating contracts.
• The ability to learn and grow and to meet the needs of others.

Responsibilities

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

Skills

Contract negotiation

Procurement

Contract administration

Interagency coordination

Bid process management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business administration or related field

Job description

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

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"

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.

Click here to learn more about DCYF.

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 Qualifcations

• 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.