Contracting Officer

California-Institute-of-Technology; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 87,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement savings plans

Paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

California Institute of Technology in Pasadena is seeking a Contracting Officer to support purchasing and contract administration across departments. You will handle complex procurements, negotiate terms, generate purchase orders, and ensure audit-ready documentation.

The role emphasizes collaboration, vendor relations, and strategic sourcing to optimize value. The ideal candidate has a bachelor’s degree with purchasing experience (4+ years or 6 years total) and strong communication, customer

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree + 4 years purchasing experience or 6 years purchasing experience.
• Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills.
• Strong customer focus and demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Handle moderate to complex procurements of supplies, equipment, and services with high financial exposure.
• Communicate with suppliers and internal customers to develop technically sound contracts and/or procurement documents.
• Source, obtaining quotations/bids, making awards, and preparing and issuing purchase orders.
• Monitor, amending, and closing out standard and declining balance purchase orders.
• Processing and reconciling credit card purchases.
• Preparing competitive and non-competitive procurement justifications.
• Performing cost or price analyses and recommending options that best meet customer requirements.
• Negotiating specifications and terms and conditions and administering procurement contracts.
• Documenting procurement packages to comply with internal and external audit requirements.
• Being a self-starter with the ability to work as part of a team or independently as an individual contributor.

Skills

Communication skills

Customer focus

Team player

Self-motivated

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree in business administration

Job description

Caltech is a world-renowned science and engineering institute that marshals some of the world's brightest minds and most innovative tools to address fundamental scientific questions. We thrive on finding and cultivating talented people who are passionate about what they do. Join us and be a part of the diverse Caltech community.

Job Summary

The Contracting Officer reports to the Purchasing Contracting Manager and is a key member of the purchasing team. The Contracting Officer performs all the tasks necessary to acquire goods and services for one or more departments/divisions and provides general purchasing and contract administration.

• Handling moderate to complex procurements of supplies, equipment, and services with high financial exposure
• Communicating with suppliers and internal customers to develop technically sound contracts and/or procurement documents
• Sourcing, obtaining quotations/bids, making awards, and preparing and issuing purchase orders
• Monitoring, amending, and closing out standard and declining balance purchase orders
• Processing and reconciling credit card purchases
• Preparing competitive and non-competitive procurement justifications
• Performing cost or price analyses and recommending options that best meet customer requirements
• Negotiating specifications and terms and conditions and administering procurement contracts
• Documenting procurement packages to comply with internal and external audit requirements
• Being a self-starter with the ability to work as part of a team or independently as an individual contributor.

Special assignments may include:

• Developing and issuing solicitation documents, coordinating the evaluation of proposals, and negotiating specifications and terms and conditions
• Lead project-based work or task teams, including preparing for and leading monthly TechMart training sessions, and speaking or presenting to internal or external customers
• Participating in Purchasing’s Supplier Relations Committee, which seeks to foster and build relationships among Caltech’s e-procurement catalog suppliers and Campus customers
• Assisting Procurement’s Systems Analyst in building and generating reports for the purpose of strategic sourcing
• Responsibility for creating, maintaining and overseeing supplier contracts/master purchasing agreements using Purchasing’s Compliance Contract Tracker tool

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 4 years of purchasing experience OR 6 years of purchasing experience.
• Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills.
• Strong customer focus and demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in business administration or equivalent degree.
• Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM) certification.
• Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) certification.
• Experience in higher education. NCMA membership.
• Experience with government procurement and government property accountability.

Required Documents

• Resume.

Hiring Range

$86,700 to $90,000

The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training.

• As one of the largest employers in Pasadena, CA, Caltech is committed to providing comprehensive benefits to eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Our benefits package includes competitive compensation, health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings plans, generous paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick time, parental leave, bereavement, etc.), tuition reimbursement, and more.
• Non-benefit eligible employees will have access to some benefits such as onsite counseling and sick time.

Learn more about our benefits and staff perks .

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Caltech is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

Caltech complies with the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We consider reasonable accommodation measures that may be necessary for eligible applicants and employees to perform the essential functions of a position.

If you would like to request an accommodation to complete this application, interview, or otherwise participate in the employee selection process, please contact Caltech Recruiting at [e-mail].

Additionally, if you do not meet the basic qualifications of a role but believe you can perform the essential functions of the job with reasonable accommodation, please reach out to Caltech Recruiting at [e-mail].