Senior Contract Specialist

City of San Diego, CA; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

City of San Diego, CA seeks a Senior Contract Specialist to handle complex contract administration across architecture, engineering, and construction projects, including consulting and pre-purchased materials. You will negotiate and recommend contract awards, administer terms, and help manage contractor relationships.

The role requires three years of professional contract experience, including one year at a level equivalent to a Contract Specialist with this city, with strong negotiation and

Qualifications

• Three years of full-time contract administration experience in architecture, engineering, and/or construction.
• Must include at least one year at a level equivalent to a Contract Specialist with the City of San Diego.
• Experience must include contract development, evaluation of bids/proposals, negotiation of contracts/changes, and administration of terms.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate, recommend contract awards, administer and terminate various types of contracts including consulting, architectural and engineering projects, design, construction and construction management, and pre-purchased materials and equipment.
• Develop and maintain commercial terms and conditions of contracts; develop negotiation plans and strategies; prepare reports and correspondence.
• Make presentations to City Council, community groups, consultants and contractors; supervise and review the work of subordinate Contract Specialists; perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Contract development

Bid evaluation

Contract negotiation

Contract administration

Education

Bachelor's Degree or equivalent education

Job description

See NOTES below for future wage increases and/or additional compensation opportunities.

Senior Contract Specialist positions open, negotiate, recommend contract award, administer and terminate various types of contracts including consulting, architectural and engineering projects, design, construction and construction management, and pre-purchased material and equipment contracts; develop and maintain commercial terms and conditions of contracts; develop negotiation plans and strategies; prepare reports and correspondence; make presentations to City Council, community groups, consultants and contractors; perform the more difficult contract administration assignments; supervise and review the work of subordinate Contract Specialists; and perform other duties as assigned.

You must meet the following requirements on the date you apply, unless otherwise indicated.

EDUCATION

Bachelor's Degree or equivalent education (i.e., minimum completed units = 120 semester/180 quarter).

NOTE:

• Employees in job classifications represented by Municipal Employees Association (MEA) are scheduled to receive the following general wage increases:
  • 3.5% effective 7/1/27
  • 2% effective 7/1/28
  • 2% effective 1/1/29
• Eligible benefitted employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).

EXPERIENCE

Three years of full-time professional-level contract administration experience in architecture, engineering, and/or construction which MUST include one year of full-time experience at a level equivalent to a Contract Specialist with the City of San Diego (a position that opens, negotiates, recommends contract award, administers and terminates various types of public works contracts including consulting, architectural and engineering projects, design, construction and construction management, and pre-purchased material and equipment contracts). Qualifying experience MUST include ALL of the following:

1. Contract development.
2. Evaluation of bids and/or proposals.
3. Negotiation of contracts and contract changes.
4. Administration of contract terms and conditions.

NOTE:

• City of San Diego employees using Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA) experience to qualify must submit written documentation signed by their appointing authority or payroll specialist, detailing the work performed, dates, and total number of qualifying OCA hours. OCA experience without the required documentation will NOT be considered.

LICENSE

A valid California Class C Driver License may be required at the time of hire.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (MUST SUBMIT WITH APPLICATION)

• Proof of degree/transcripts, if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
• For City of San Diego employees, proof of Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA), if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.

Required documents should be attached electronically to your application. If you are unable to attach at the time of application submittal, you must submit them as soon as possible via fax: [phone]; or to the Employment Information Center: City of San Diego Personnel Department, 1200 Third Avenue - Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92101. Include your name and the title of the position for which you are applying.

Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental questions will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in this initial screening process, your application will be reviewed for applicable education, experience, and/or training to ensure all minimum requirements have been met. Successful candidates will be placed on a list which will be used to fill position vacancies during the next six months (180 days). For each vacancy, only those candidates with the most appropriate qualifications will be contacted by the hiring department for an interview.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS

Employment offers are conditional pending the results of all screening processesapplicable to this position, which may include the following: confirmation of citizenship or legal right to work in the United States; completion of a pre-employment medical review and exam (which may include drug and alcohol testing); reference checks; and fingerprinting. Fingerprints will be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Justice for a conviction record report. Certain positions may require additional screening processes,including a polygraph examination and/or background investigation. All screening processes must be successfully completed before employment begins. A positive test result for alcohol, cannabis/marijuana, illegal drugs, or inadequately explained prescription drugs, or misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of pertinent facts in any step of the screening or selection process, may constitute cause for disqualification or termination of employment. Nothing in this job posting constitutes an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego. Candidates must notify the Personnel Department of any change in their name, mailing address, email address, or phone number, otherwise they may miss employment opportunities.

Associate Engineer – Civil (Option Title: Senior Contract Specialist)

Rev. 10 - November 6, 2026 (New Recruitment Date)