Director Of Purchasing and Contracts

Kern High School District; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 114,000 - 136,000; Full time

Job summary

Kern High School District in California seeks a seasoned Director of Purchasing and Contracts to plan, direct, and manage the district's procurement operations, including public works and labor compliance. You will oversee contract administration, bid processes, and master contracts, coordinate with attorneys and district sites, and ensure compliance with PCC, Education Code, and Federal regulations.

Starting salary is $11,179.39 per month with a 12-month schedule; 8 hours daily, 7:30 a.m.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in a related field.
• Five years of increasing procurement or contract management responsibility.
• Professional certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Direct planning, directing and managing the district's Purchasing and Contracts Department.
• Ensure procurement processes and contracts comply with federal and state laws and district policies.
• Lead bid specification development, contract renewals, and supplier oversight.
• Supervise staff, develop teams, and coordinate with attorneys and other departments.

Skills

Procurement

Contract management

Public works

Labor compliance

Negotiation

Risk management

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Five years procurement/contract management experience

Tools

CMAS agreements

Bid management software

Online requisition system

Job description

• Position Type:
  Business Services/ Director of Purchasing and Contracts
• Date Posted:
  11/5/2026
• Location:
  District Office--Business Services
• Date Available:
  11/05/2026
• Closing Date:
  11/24/2026

QUALIFICATIONS:

This position requires knowledge of principles and procedures of public school property & liability insurance, risk management, contract administration, labor compliance and procurement; federal and state laws, regulations, codes and requirements related to public school contract administration, labor compliance and procurement; public works and procurement contract principles, practices and standards, including bid specifications, public notices, bid openings, bid awards and purchase orders; principles and practices of management and supervision, including planning, organizing, assigning and reviewing work, performance appraisal and discipline, and employee selection and development.

Must have the skill to interpret and successfullyapply federal and state laws, regulationsand guidelines as they relate to District purchasing and contracts operations; plan,direct and managecontractadministration,procurement,andfunctionsforalargepublicschoolsystem;prepareclearspecificationsandtechnicaldocumentsinaccordancewithestablishedproceduresandformats;analyzecomplexandvariedinformationfromavarietyofsources,developpracticalalternativeswith justifications,determine appropriate solutions and successfully implement them effectivelyandtactfullycommunicateinbothoralandwrittenforms; supervise,motivateandevaluatetheworkoftechnical,professionalandsupportemployees; plan,manageandprioritizeawidevarietyoffunctionswithin agiventimeframeandavailableresources; prepareanddirectthepreparationofreports,correspondence,biddocumentsandmaterialsforBoardof Trustees consideration; establish and maintain effective working relationshipswith those contacted in the performance of required duties.

Applicant must possess the ability to direct,plan,develop,andmanagetheprocurementoperationsoftheDistrict.Directpreparation ofupdatestostrategicsourcing andpricing; cooperative purchasing programs, California Multiple Award Schedules (CMAS) agreements and potential bulk purchase items. Direct maintenance of routine contracts with applicable vendors and coordinate theissuance or renewal of annual contracts, agreements and purchase orders.Direct and coordinate the bid specification process, including preparation of specifications and related bid documents. Provideoversightofin-servicetrainingforsitepersonnelregardingtheonlinerequisitionsystemandPCards.Direct and monitor processes for public notices, bid dates, bid openings and bid awards, and coordinate these items for Board of Trustees meeting agendas. Select, train, supervise and evaluate assigned personnel and coordinate work with District departments, school sites, vendors, consultants and public agencies.Provide direct oversight to contract coordinators for construction, modernization, routine maintenance and repair contracts toensure compliance withBoard policy, Public Contract Code(PCC), Federal procurement and best practices insurance requirements.Direct and monitor processes associated with creating and updating master contracts, general conditions, and supplemental contract provisions.Coordinate with attorneys to ensure that processes, documents and actions comply with legal requirements; participates in the District's real estate purchase and sale team.Coordinate the sale or disposal of surplus District property in accordance with applicable policy and regulations. Develop,update,provideoversightanddistributionoftheDistrict'scontractingandprocurementbid thresholds, practices, guidelines & requirements and the District's purchasing manual.Performrelated dutiessimilartotheaboveinscopeandfunctionas required .

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor'sdegreeinrelatedfieldand/orequivalentexperience andtraining.Fiveyearsofincreasinglyresponsible procurement and/or contract management experience. Experienceinaschool district orpublic entity along with a professional certification is preferred.

A CRIMINAL HISTORY CHECK WILL BE REQUIRED OF THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE PRIOR TO EMPLOYMENT.

DUTIES OF POSITION:

To plan, organize, direct and manage the administrative activities of the District's Purchasing and Contracts Department to include public works & non-personnel contract management, renewable energy contract management, purchasing, warehousing and labor compliance. Employees in this classification receive administrative direction from the Assistant/Associate Superintendent of Business within a framework of overall policies and objectives. Employees in this classification direct, supervise, and formally evaluate the work of others. This job classification is responsible for ensuring procurement processes and executed contracts are in compliance with pertinent federal and state laws, codes, regulations, District policies and procedures. This job classification requires strong technical knowledge of applicable Education Code, Public Contract Code, Government Code, and Federal Regulations as well as a high degree of organizational planning and management skills.

STARTING SALARY: $11,179.39 (monthly)

NUMBER OF MONTHS: 12 (to begin as soon as possible)

NUMBER OF HOURS: 8 (daily working hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)