Contracts Analyst II/III

Western Riverside Council of Governments (CA); Riverside (CA); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 117,000; Full time

Job summary

Western Riverside Council of Governments in Riverside, California is seeking a Contracts Analyst to develop and administer contracts for a wide range of services. The role involves high-volume workloads managing 40+ active contracts through the procurement lifecycle, including professional services, construction, and technology contracts.

Hybrid work with a base in Riverside, CA, and opportunities for advancing procurement practices.

Qualifications

• Advise program managers on procurement methods and strategies.
• Prepare and review contracting documents and amendments.
• Coordinate advertising and outreach for solicitations.
• Review proposals and assist in evaluations and negotiations.

Responsibilities

• Advise program managers regarding appropriate methods and strategies for acquiring goods and services.
• Coordinate advertising, posting, and outreach for solicitations and bid opportunities.
• Prepare and review contracts, amendments, task orders, and service agreements.
• Analyze scopes of work for completeness and risk, review schedules, budgets, and insurance requirements.
• Assist with negotiation of contracts and review of cost proposals and overhead rates.
• Oversee procurement operations and ensure compliance with policies and regulations.
• Develop and maintain records, reports, and performance metrics.
• Provide guidance on vendor performance and dispute resolution.

Skills

Contract administration

Procurement

Vendor management

Public agencies

Cost analysis

Tools

Procurement software

Job description

This recruitment has been reopened to accept additional applications. The new filing deadline is 09/21/2026. Candidates who previously applied and were found to meet the minimum qualifications will remain on the eligibility list and will continue to be considered for further steps in the selection process. New candidates who meet the minimum qualifications are also encouraged to apply and will be evaluated alongside the existing candidate pool.

Under general supervision, the Contracts Analyst performs responsible administrative, financial, and analytical work in support of WRCOG and its departmental activities. The position is primarily focused on developing and administering contracts for a wide range of services in accordance with WRCOG standards, policies, and legal requirements. Additional responsibilities include developing and maintaining administrative and fiscal records, recommending process improvements, and assisting in the formulation of contracting policies and procedures.

We are seeking an experienced professional who can make an immediate impact. The ideal candidate brings hands‑on contracts and procurement administration experience within a public agency setting and is comfortable partnering with program managers, contract administrators, and departments across the organization to support their contracting needs.

This role carries a high‑volume workload — Contract Analysts concurrently manage 40 or more active contracts at any given time, spanning various stages of the procurement lifecycle from solicitation and award through administration and closeout. Procurement types include professional services, construction, operational supplies, and technology equipment and services. The ability to prioritize effectively, meet deadlines, and keep multiple workstreams organized without sacrificing accuracy or compliance is essential to success in this position.

The right candidate takes initiative, operates with minimal supervision, and communicates clearly and professionally with both internal stakeholders and external vendors. A collaborative approach and the ability to build strong working relationships across departments is equally important.

This position is assigned a 9/80 work schedule, with every other Friday off. WRCOG maintains a hybrid work arrangement in accordance with agency and operational needs. The position is based in Riverside, California. Positions will be filled at a level commensurate with the qualifications, experience, certifications, and demonstrated competencies of the selected candidate, as determined by WRCOG.

Supervision Received and Exercised

Receives direction from management and supervisory staff. Exercises no direct supervision over staff.

Class Characteristics

Analyst II: This is the journey-level classification in the Analyst series. Incumbents at this level perform the more difficult assignments, projects, analyses, and studies assigned to positions within the series, requiring the use of considerable discretion and independent judgment in performing assigned work and full and thorough knowledge of the concepts, practices, procedures, and policies of assigned program(s). Assignments are given with general guidelines, and positions are responsible for establishing objectives, timelines, and methods to deliver work products or services. Work is typically reviewed upon completion for soundness, appropriateness, and conformity to policy and requirements.

Analyst III: This is the senior-level in the Analyst class series. Incumbents independently manage assigned projects, studies, or programs; research, analyze, and develop solutions to a wide range of issues; participate in agency-wide planning discussions related to assigned area of responsibility; demonstrate independent judgment in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions; and/or serve as a professional-level resource for analyses and studies which are complex in nature and diverse in scope. The work involves a high-level of problem-solving requiring analysis of unique issues or increasingly complex problems without precedent and/or structure, managing multiple stakeholder interests, and formulating, presenting, and implementing strategies and recommendations for resolution. Work assignments are typically given as broad, conceptual ideas and directives, and incumbents are accountable for overall results and responsible for developing guidelines, action plans, and methods to produce deliverables on time and within budget. This class is distinguished from the Program Manager classification in that the latter are responsible for planning, developing, implementing, and managing assigned programs, serving as agency and/or regional technical experts, and managing assigned staff.

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonableaccommodationsso that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Advise program managers regarding appropriate methods and strategies for acquiring a broad range of goods and services needed for agency programs, projects, and business operations; conduct research and propose options for conducting effective procurements.
• Provide technical assistance to program managers with the development of solicitation documents such as Requests for Offers (RFOs), Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Requests for Qualifications (RFQs), Requests for Information, and Invitations for Bids (IFBs).
• Prepare, research, and review various contracting documents, including contract amendments, task orders, assignments, purchase orders, scopes of work, and service level agreements in cooperation with program managers and the Office of General Counsel.
• Analyze scopes of work for thoroughness and completeness and identify potential legal or other risks; review and provide feedback regarding project schedules, milestones, technical specifications, cost estimates, project budgets, insurance requirements, evaluation criteria, and other components of the solicitation package; coordinate the identification of Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goals and commitments, as appropriate.
• Coordinate advertising of solicitation documents, posting to electronic bid systems, and other outreach efforts.
• Coordinate pre-proposal meetings; prepare meeting materials; serve as meeting facilitator; prepare meeting minutes and questions and answers from attendees; post summary information.
• Review submitted proposals for responsiveness; perform cost analyses; facilitate Evaluation Committee activities regarding the evaluation selection and recommendation process; and determine applicability of prevailing wage requirements.
• Assist program managers with the negotiation of contracts, review records of negotiation, cost proposals, and overhead rates.
• Oversees the agency’s procurement and purchasing operations, including purchasing mechanisms such as credit cards, ensuring compliance with applicable policies and regulations.
• Research, draft, and review various types of contracts and agreements, including amendments, task orders, and purchase orders; ensure binding documents are consistent with WRCOG guidelines and funding agency requirements; coordinate activities to execute contract documents with selected contractors/consultants.
• Develop and maintain records, documents, and reports; gather information, perform analyses, and provide recommendations.
• Advise staff administering contracts on how to address vendor performance issues and apply contract terms to ensure vendor compliance; assist with the resolution of disputes and initiate corrective actions; administer revisions, terminations, and follow-up work.

Licenses and Certifications:

• A valid California driver's license and the ability to maintain insurability under WRCOG’s vehicle insurance policy.

Knowledge Of:

• Knowledge of the rules, regulations, and laws related to public agency contracts; experience with various types of public agency funding sources as it pertains to procurement requirements.
• Principles, practices, and methods of public sector procurement and contracting, including contract preparation, execution, and administration.
• Policies and procedures governing the bidding process.
• Various contracting processes and their impact on public agency contracts.
• Project life cycles, milestones, and compliance regulations.
• Theories, principles, and practices of contract administration and management techniques for public agencies
• Knowledge of financial management, project management, and procurement software is desirable.
• Methods and techniques utilized in analyzing the quality of equipment, materials, services, and supplies.
• Principles of business administration and economics as applied to the purchasing function.
• Budget and accounting procedures and practices.
• Business arithmetic.
• Record-keeping principles and procedures.
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned areas of responsibility.
• WRCOG and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and Agency staff.
• The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and programs, projects, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.

Ability To:

• Facilitate the procurement of various types of goods and services; ability to review and provide guidance regarding scopes of work, technical specifications, project schedules, cost estimates, project budgets, insurance requirements, and proposal evaluation criteria.
• Coordinate advertising, posting, and outreach efforts for programs, projects, and services; experience supporting various tasks related to coordinating the efforts of project teams.
• Analyze and review documents, data sets, and processes with a detail-oriented and analytical eye; experience preparing recommendations and reports for review and approval.
• Research and analyze information, write grammatically correct documents, and edit the writing of others.
• Ability to coordinate multiple concurrent projects at various stages of completion; ability to follow-up with employees and managers to keep procurements on track.
• Advise and explain contractual policies, procedures, and standards.
• Prepare and maintain contracts, specifications, and service agreements.
• Coordinate structured bidding activities.
• Serve as a resource to departments on proper bidding processes to be used for specific types of service procurements.
• Prepare clear and concise reports.
• Make thorough and accurate arithmetic, financial, and statistical computations.
• Establish and maintain a variety of filing, record‑keeping, and tracking systems.
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Understand, interpret, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures, and standards relevant to work performed.
• Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy and procedural guidelines.
• Effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to work performed, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Physical Demands: Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer/laptop; to operate a motor vehicle, and visit various meeting sites in Western Riverside County to conduct WRCOG business. This is primarily a sedentary office classification, although standing in and walking between work areas may be required and travel to and attendance at off‑site meetings. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve information using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects up to 15 pounds.

Mental Demands: While performing the duties of this class, the employee must be able to use written and verbal communication skills; read, analyze, and interpret data, guidelines, and documents; prepare and evaluate reports; use math and mathematical reasoning; learn and apply new information or new skills; and interact with applicants, Agency staff, vendors, consultants, management, general public, and other parties.

Working Conditions: This is primarily a sedentary classification, and the employee works in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no known direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. The employee interfaces with staff, management, other departmental representatives, government officials, business representatives, and the general public to explain WRCOG programs and request and provide information.

Salary Range

• Analyst II: $84,885.00 to $117,000.00
• Analyst III: $93,579.00 to $128,960.00

For More Information

For more information regarding this job opportunity, please contact the Hiring Manager at [e-mail].