Contract Specialist (Project Program Manager III)
King County
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Job summary
King County is seeking a Contract Specialist/Project Program Manager to oversee contracts for capital projects such as roads, bridges, drainage, and fish passage improvements. You will partner with project managers to develop scopes, manage procurements, and ensure terms and conditions are met.
The role focuses on contract administration, data management in systems like PRISM/Unifier, and coordinating with consultants and contractors to achieve timely, compliant outcomes.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent demonstrable ability to perform duties.
- Knowledge of contract administration techniques and principles.
- Experience preparing, negotiating and administering consultant agreements.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills with ability to lead cross-functional teams.
- Experience with project management including scope, schedule, and budget.
Responsibilities
- Coordinate and oversee consultant and goods/services contracts for capital projects.
- Prepare, schedule, and monitor contract procurements.
- Collaborate with project managers to develop scopes of work, evaluation criteria, and project schedules.
- Evaluate proposals and document negotiations.
- Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations and policies.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
If you are looking for a challenging yet rewarding career in contract management, then we have the perfect opportunity for you! As a Contract Specialist/Project Program Manager for capital projects related to road, bridge, drainage, and fish passage improvements, you will have the opportunity to make a significant impact on critical infrastructure projects that benefit communities across the region. Join the Department of Local Services, Road Services Division and take your career to the next level as you develop, review, and oversee consultant contracts, manage contract procurements, and collaborate with project managers to ensure compliance with contract terms and conditions. If you are a driven and organized individual with a passion for project management and contract administration, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity!
The Road Services Division of King County's Department of Local Services designs, builds, operates, and maintains roads and bridges in unincorporated areas of King County. The Division is committed to ensuring the county's transportation system is safe and efficient for all uses and modes of travel. The Program and Project Support Services team is a highly collaborative unit within the Strategic Business Operations Section, with responsibilities that support a growing number of programs and projects within the Division as well as Department.
To learn more about the Road Services Division, visit us at: About the Road Services Division - King County, Washington
The Department of Local Services is deeply dedicated to fostering Equity, Racial and Social Justice in every aspect of our work. Our pledge is to cultivate, embrace, and celebrate the distinct experiences, viewpoints, and perspectives of our people, partners, and the communities we serve. Through this work, we dismantle systemic barriers, address inequities, and actively confront prejudices and biases. We acknowledge this journey is ongoing, and we remain steadfast in our efforts to create a positive impact for our employees and communities alike.
Applying equity, racial, and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. In this role, you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of the work.
- Coordinate, review, and oversee consultant and technical service contracts for capital projects throughout the division.
- Coordinate and review goods and services contracts to support our engineering and strategic business needs within the division.
- Prepare, schedule, and monitor contract procurements.
- Collaborate with project managers to develop scopes of work, evaluation criteria, project schedules and other contract documents, evaluate proposals, and document negotiations.
- Define, create, and monitor contract data in various databases such as, PRISM, Unifier, DCMS/DMCS, and Excel.
- Review and evaluate contract documents including invoices, work orders, change orders, and amendments.
- Work collaboratively with internal and external partners to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations and policies/procedures.
- Prepare and oversee correspondence to consultants and contractors.
- Conduct contract and project file reviews ensuring files are complete, include appropriate and necessary documentation, mitigate audit risk, and follow contract terms and conditions.
- Monitor contract performance, milestones, and deadlines and provide timely updates.
- Coordinate with project personnel to ensure timely and accurate response to contract audits.
- Perform additional duties or special projects as assigned.
- Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, construction management, public administration or closely related field OR any combination of education, skills, training, and experience that clearly demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of this position.
- Working knowledge of contract administration techniques and principles.
- Ability to facilitate cross-functional discussions, resolve conflicts, find resolutions, and make decisions.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to lead and collaborate with work groups or individuals including consultants and contractors.
- Demonstrated experience preparing, negotiating and administering consultant agreements.
- Demonstrated success utilizing project management skills, including development of scope, schedule, and budget, and managing projects from conception through to completion.
- Working knowledge of federal funding agreements and familiarity with the WSDOT LAG Manual.
- Demonstrated experience using databases to monitor contract performance and compliance.
- Driven by self-motivation and possesses keen attention to detail.
- Adept at making meaningful contributions as an integral team member while also excelling independently.
- Possess cultural awareness and be comfortable having complex and challenging discussions about equity, race, and diversity in the workplace; demonstrate a strong commitment to fostering connections and unity.
- Proficiency in the use of Adobe Acrobat Pro and MS Teams, Word, Excel, and SharePoint.
- Demonstrated predictable and reliable attendance.
- Customer Focus - Builds and delivers solutions that meet customer expectations; Establishes and maintains effective customer relationships.
- Resourcefulness - Orchestrates multiple activities simultaneously to accomplish goals; Gets the most out of limited resources.
- Analysis/Reasoning - Examines data to grasp issues, draw conclusions, and solve problems.
- Manages Conflict - Steps up to conflicts, seeing them as opportunities; Settles differences in productive ways with minimum noise.
- Resilience - Confident under pressure; Maintains a positive attitude despite adversity; Bounces back from setbacks.
- Optimizes Work Processes - Identifies and creates the process necessary to get work done; Separates and combines activities into efficient workflow.
- Experience working in the roads industry with knowledge of design and construction terminology, methodology, and outcomes.
- Experience implementing LEAN processes and principles.
- Working knowledge of King County financial systems, or equivalent, with ability to download, process, and analyze financial data.
- Skill in technical writing and interpreting contract language.
- Experience with Goods & Services contracts, including defining scopes, identifying universal contract or piggyback opportunities, and documenting waivers.
- Experience with databases, such as BI Insights and Oracle.
The first round of interviews for this position is scheduled to take place the week of October 12, 2026.
This position is open to all qualified applicants and may be used to fill current and or/future career service, term-limited temporary, short-term temporary, and or/special duty positions over the next six months. First consideration will be given to current PROTEC17 members in the same classification that are eligible for lateral transfer.
If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, or you would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact Janice Antonio at jantonio@kingcounty.gov
For interviewing tips, please see the STAR-LA method: star-la_interview_method.pdf
The work week is normally Monday through Friday, 8.00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but may at times require work outside of normal business hours. This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not eligible for overtime pay.
This position has been designated as: Non-Mission Critical - Employees who staff county functions or services that may be delayed, suspended, or diverted in an emergency while essential functions are prioritized Mission Critical. Unless otherwise directed by the County Executive, department director or agency head, all employees, regardless of designation, are expected to report to work or request leave during an emergency or inclement weather.
PROTEC17
We will work in the office at least three days a week to foster connection and responsiveness, arrive prepared and on time, and structure meetings with clear goals and next steps. The primary onsite location is at King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson, Seattle, WA 98104. Employees must reside in Washington State and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here.
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.
Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.
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