Marketing Contract Strategy & Governance

California Lottery; Sacramento (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The California Lottery is seeking a Senior Marketing Specialist to lead contract strategy, governance, and procurement excellence within the Marketing Division. You will partner with legal, finance, and external agencies to shape framework and drive compliant, high-impact partnerships.

This role requires strong governance experience, cross-functional leadership, and the ability to turn ambiguity into clear contracts and playbooks, while maintaining audit readiness and risk mitigation.

Qualifications

• Experience in marketing operations, procurements, and contract management.
• Experience leading complex multi-stakeholder procurements in marketing or professional services.
• Strong governance, project management, compliance, or vendor performance management background.
• Ability to develop strategic frameworks and operational playbooks.
• Diplomacy and influence in cross-functional environments.
• A track record of turning ambiguity into clarity and driving operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Develop and steward the division-wide contract governance framework.
• Guide and support complex marketing procurements from concept to execution.
• Create and refine vendor scorecards, KPIs, dashboards, and performance tools.
• Monitor risks, ensure compliance, and maintain audit-ready documentation.
• Provide continuity and strategic oversight for major marketing RFPs.
• Advise executives, managers, SMEs, procurement partners, and external agencies.

Skills

Marketing operations

Procurement

Contract management

Governance

Vendor performance

Cross-functional leadership

Job description

Help shape the Future of Marketing Contract Strategy, Governance, and Vendor Performance!

The California Lottery is looking for a strategic, collaborative, and solutions-driven professional to lead one of the most important and evolving areas in marketing: contract strategy & governance and marketing procurement excellence. If you’re energized by creating structure where there is complexity, guiding high-impact marketing partnerships, and championing best practices that elevate how a statewide brand operates—this role is for you.

About The Role

As the Senior Marketing Specialist (SMS) of Contract Strategy & Governance, you will serve as the division’s high-level independent marketing strategist and lead advisor on:

• Procurement strategy for advertising agencies and other marketing contracts
• Contract governance and operational frameworks
• Compliance, audit readiness, and risk mitigation

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and steward the division-wide contract governance framework
• Guide and support complex, high-profile marketing procurements from concept to execution
• Create and refine vendor scorecards, KPIs, dashboards, and performance tools
• Monitor risks, ensure compliance, and maintain audit-ready documentation
• Provide continuity, support, and strategic oversight for major marketing RFPs
• Serve as an advisor to executives, managers, SMEs, procurement partners, and external agencies

Ideal Candidate Profile

You may be a great fit if you have:

• Experience and understanding of marketing/marketing operations, procurements, and contract management
• Experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder marketing or professional-service procurements
• A strong foundation in governance, project management, compliance, or vendor performance management
• Comfort developing strategic frameworks and operational playbooks
• Ability to navigate cross-functional environments with diplomacy and influence
• A passion for operational excellence—and a talent for turning ambiguity into clarity

You May Be a Great Fit If You Have:

• Experience and understanding of marketing/marketing operations, procurements, and contract management
• Experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder marketing or professional-service procurements
• A strong foundation in governance, project management, compliance, or vendor performance management
• Comfort developing strategic frameworks and operational playbooks
• Ability to navigate cross-functional environments with diplomacy and influence
• A passion for operational excellence—and a talent for turning ambiguity into clarity

If you’re inspired by structure, strategy, collaboration, and making an operational impact -- this is your opportunity to lead a vital function within the California Lottery’s Marketing Division.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

This position is headquartered Sacramento and is eligible for a hybrid telework schedule. Employees must be able to report to their assigned headquarters office as assigned. Travel expense to and from the assigned headquarters are the responsibility of the employee. Eligibility for telework requires the employee to reside in California per California Government Code Section 14200 which states: “telecommuting means the partial or total substitution of computers or telecommunication technologies, or both, for the commute to work by employees residing in California.

Working Conditions

• Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm with the potential for occasional extended hours during procurements or major contract activities
• Travel: Occasional travel for agency meetings or procurement-related events.
• Other: Must maintain confidentiality and adhere to state procurement regulations.

Desirable Qualifications

• Proven ability to perform highly complex and sensitive marketing work, serving as a senior-level marketing strategist with experience in marketing strategy, agency management, and contract-aligned deliverable development—capable of shaping strategic direction, defining broad marketing frameworks, translating marketing requirements into contractual obligations, and advising on large-scale, high-impact marketing initiatives.
• Experience or strong understanding of contracts, procurement frameworks/structures, and contract management, including contributing to or leading components of complex procurements, supporting solicitation development, and applying contract requirements, governance principles, and oversight practices throughout the procurement lifecycle.
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement contract governance and vendor performance management programs, such as, developing policies, SOPs, templates, tools, scorecards, KPIs/SLAs, audit controls, business reviews, corrective action plans, and cross-functional processes that strengthen oversight, maximize organizational value, and enhance strategic partnerships.
• Experience performing market research, vendor landscapes, benchmarking, and industry analysis to inform procurement decisions and strategic marketing contract governance.
• Hands‑on experience procuring or administering contracts related to advertising, marketing, communications, media buying, market research, technology, consulting, creative services, public outreach, or other professional services where outcomes are performance-based rather than commodity purchases.
• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives involving multiple stakeholders such as, procurement, legal, finance, sales, internal audits, and executive leadership.
• Strong project management, analytical skills, and change management.
• Demonstrated success modernizing business practices, improving procurement workflows, enhancing governance, and leading cross-functional process improvements.
• Experience identifying contractual, operational, and financial risks and designing governance, monitoring, and internal controls that strengthen compliance, audit readiness, and risk mitigation.
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal