Contracts Manager

Socket.dev; Helena (MT); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Montana Judicial Branch seeks an experienced contracts and purchasing officer to lead and oversee large, diverse contracting programs. You will guide staff in contracting procedures, develop monitoring schedules, and ensure compliance with procurement laws and rules.

You will also manage RFP processes and vendor relations, reporting to the Financial Services Director. Responsibilities include auditing invoices, creating contracting manuals, and maintaining collaboration with state procurement

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business management, public administration or a similar field.
• Two years of experience with managing public contracts.
• Experience with state procurement rules and statutes is required.

Responsibilities

• Direct and manage very large, diverse contracting programs and projects.
• Develop and enforce standard contract and RFP processes and manuals.
• Coordinate solicitations for contracted services with the Department of Administration and State Procurement.
• Audit contracts for clear scope, responsibilities, and compensation statements.
• Maintain compliant procurement practices with state laws and procurement rules.

Skills

Contract management

Procurement rules

Negotiation

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in business management/public administration

Job description

The Judicial Branch is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

• Less than full time may be considered for the right candidate.
• An employee new to the Judicial Branch will serve a one-year probationary period.
• The successful candidate will be subject to a criminal background check.

The Montana Judicial Branch offers a variety of opportunities to help you make a difference in your community, and further your career. As a service-oriented employer, we seek employees with a passion for customer service to help us fulfill our mission to provide an independent, accessible, responsive, impartial, and timely forum to resolve disputes; to preserve the rule of law; and to protect the rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitutions of the United States and Montana.

Benefits of working for the Judicial Branch:

• Work/life balance
• Family friendly policies
• Dedicated and caring colleagues
• Health coverage
• Retirement plans
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and Holidays (combination of up to 38 per year)
• Opportunities and room for professional growth
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness - Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive student loan forgiveness under the PSLF

Job Overview:

This position is one of two Office of the Court Administrator’s contracts and purchasing officers for the Judicial Branch. The position reports to the Financial Services Director. The position is responsible for providing direction and technical assistance to staff in developing contracts, trains all staff involved in contracting procedures, develops contract monitoring schedules, and assists with overseeing contractor compliance. This position is also the leader for all Request for Proposal processes including resulting contracts. This position works with Judicial Branch personnel for purchasing of copiers, vehicles, office equipment, etc. to ensure compliance with procurement requirements.

• Incumbent is responsible for directing and managing very large, diverse projects and needs that are unique to the Judiciary; researches and formulates recommendations to the court administrator or staff person.
• Receives and monitors PIF plans from Youth Court chiefs and forwards recommended plans to the Court Administrator.
• Works to develop agenda for Cost Containment Panel.
• Schedules meetings and provides meeting minutes.
• Audits and processes PIF contract invoices for payment.
• Authors, revises, and enforces use of standard contract and Request for Proposal shells.
• Authors and revises the contracting manual which includes drafter's use instructions.
• Distributes manuals to all Judiciary locations and support personnel which sets forth the standards for uniform consistency of contract format, structure and contracting requirements in compliance with state contracted services and procurement laws (18-8-101 through 18-8-112).
• Consults and collaborates with Department of Administration, State Purchasing, whenever solicitation of contracted services must be administered under their authority.
• Reviews contracts for appropriate format, written clarity of contractor's scope of work, responsibilities, and compensation statements.
• Verifies that independent contractor status has been obtained, and that insurance limits and indemnification language is balanced with the level(s) of contractor's risk exposure.
• Incumbent keeps regular contact with supervisor, judges, court personnel, state and local government officials including the State Procurement Office and court organizations to provide explanations, coordinate activities, gather information, respond to inquiries, and resolve complaints.
• Incumbent is instrumental in automating the contracting process for the Judicial Branch including implementation of eMACS.

Working Conditions:

Work is performed in a standard office setting. Some travel may be required.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills:

Extensive knowledge of the theory and principles of state procurement, risk management and contracting laws and procedures.

Must possess ability to effectively organize, manage, and efficiently direct a diverse contracting program.

Ability to negotiate effectively and successfully with contractors and their agents, often under very stressful circumstances.

Capable of providing effective, professional leadership to professionally diverse staff, individually and in large group situations, and possess superior communication skills both written and oral.

Ability to maintain effective working relationships with employees, contractors, other agencies, the public and elected officials is critical to this position.

Qualifications:

A bachelor’s degree in business management, public administration or a similar field and at least two years of experience with managing public contracts. Experience with the state procurement rules and statutes is required. Alternative combinations of relevant education and experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis.