Contracts Specialist 1

WWU College of Business & Economics; Bellingham (WA); On-site; USD 47,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Western Washington University is seeking a Contracts Specialist 1 to ensure contracts comply with university policies and regulations. The role focuses on personal services contracts, interagency agreements, internships, and MOUs, with opportunities to perform cost/price analysis and compliance tasks.

The position requires a bachelor’s degree in a business-related field or equivalent public-sector contracting experience, plus at least one year in contract negotiations or administration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business related field or equivalent experience with public sector contracting.
• One year of experience in/or supporting contract negotiations, contract administration, and/or terminating contracts.
• Strong written and interpersonal skills; ability to provide process training to diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to work well in a diverse, high production environment.
• Demonstrated experience with the Microsoft Office Suite.

Responsibilities

• Prepare contracts, interagency agreements, internship agreements, and memoranda of understanding to provide or obtain goods or services.
• Provide contract cost/price analysis, contract compliance administration or contract property administration.
• Provide guidance to the University on the appropriate course of action for procurement/contracting methodology.

Education

Bachelor's degree in business related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

If you are considering a job at Western, please sign up for our email list to get notifications of the latest jobs. Learn more about working at Western .

If you have any questionsor trouble using this page, please reach out to Stephanie Norsby .

Western Washington University, with over 15,000 students in seven colleges and the graduate school, is nationally recognized for its educational programs, students and faculty. The campus is located in Bellingham, Washington, a coastal community of 90,000 overlooking Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades Mountain range. The city lies 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. Western has additional sites in Anacortes, Bremerton, Everett, Port Angeles, and Poulsbo. Western is recognized nationally for its successes, such as being named one of the top public master's-granting institutions in the Pacific Northwest for 25 years in a row by U.S. News & World Report.

Western Washington University is committed to achieving excellence through advancing inclusive success, increasing our Washington impact, and focusing on transformational education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and based on innovative scholarship, research, and creative activity. Western's greatest strength is the outstanding students, faculty, staff, and alumni/ae who make up its community. Western supports an inclusive governance structure for all and provides a learning and working environment in which everyone can thrive. In pursuit of this excellence, individual employees are expected to establish and maintain productive and effective inclusive working relationships amongst diverse populations including staff, faculty, administration, student, and external constituents. Further, individual employees are expected to have the ability to operationalize sustainability concepts (economic, societal, environmental) into all aspects of performing their job duties.

About the Department

The Business Services Department supports Western's mission , which states that together with our students, staff, and faculty, we are committed to making a positive impact in the state and the world with a shared focus on academic excellence and inclusive achievement. We encourage applications from women, people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and other candidates from underrepresented backgrounds and with diverse experiences interested in this opportunity.

About the Position

The Contracts Specialist 1 performs a key role in Contract Administration by ensuring contracts are processed in accordance with University policies and state/federal regulations. With a focus on personal services, this position prepares contracts, interagency agreements, internship agreements, and memoranda of understanding to provide or obtain goods or services. They provide technical contract support activities such as contract cost/price analysis, contract compliance administration or contract property administration. This position provides guidance to the University on the appropriate course of action for procurement/contracting methodology.

Western Washington University is committed to achieving excellence through advancing inclusive success, increasing our Washington impact, and focusing on transformational education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and based on innovative scholarship, research, and creative activity. Western’s greatest strength is the outstanding students, faculty, staff, and alumni/ae who make up its community. Western supports an inclusive governance structure for all and provides a learning and working environment in which everyone can thrive. In pursuit of this excellence, individual employees are expected to establish and maintain productive and effective inclusive working relationships amongst diverse populations including staff, faculty, administration, student, and external constituents.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business related field or equivalent experience with public sector contracting.
• One year of experience in/or supporting contract negotiations, contract administration, and/or terminating contracts.
• Strong written and interpersonal skills; ability to provide process training to diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to work well in a diverse, high production environment.
• Demonstrated experience with the Microsoft Office Suite.

Preferred Qualifications

• Two years of experience with procurement/contract management in higher education.
• Knowledge of state procurement statutes and administrative code, government contracting and procurement techniques, regulations, policies and procedures for contract preparation and agreements, business and professional services, practices and trends, sources of supply and budgets, and contract terminology and development.
• Proficient with database applications.

Conditions of Employment

All employees must comply with our Immunization policies, including Proof of Rubeola Measles Immunity within 60-days of hire. Please reach out to [e-mail] if you need information regarding medical or religious exemption and applicable accommodations.

Salary $4,174 - $5,952/month depending on qualifications and experience

Bargaining Unit This position is part of bargaining unit PT and is covered by the collective bargaining agreement with Public School Employees of WWU.

Closing Date Notes Position closes 10/19/2026 at 11:55 pm.

Western Washington University (WWU) is an equal opportunity employer. In compliance with applicable laws, WWU does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, age, citizenship or immigration status, pregnancy, use of protective leave, genetic status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, creed, religion, veteran or military status, disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal (including a service animal in training) by a person with a disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law, in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs. See WWU’s Policies on Prohibiting Discrimination Based on A Protected Class and Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Sex . Inquiries may be directed to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance, Title IX and ADA Coordinator, Western Washington University, Old Main 126 (MS 9021), 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225; 360.650.3307 (voice) or 711 (Washington Relay); [e-mail]

WWU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources Disability Services , 360.650.3751 or 711 (Washington Relay).

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: This report is provided pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act ("The Clery Act"). It includes statistics for the previous three calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on Western's campus; in certain off‑campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Western; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. You can obtain a copy of this report in printed or alternate formats by contacting the Office of Student Life at [e-mail] . The report can be found at: Annual Security and Fire Safety Report .

All new employees must comply with the immunization policy and show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service before beginning work at WWU. A thorough background check will be conducted on all new hires which includes a sexual misconduct background check .