Sourcing / Procurement / Buyer / Purchasing (Contract) Specialist I

King County; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

County-issued laptop

Hybrid work model

Job summary

King County’s Finance and Business Operations Division, Procurement & Payables is seeking a Contract Specialist 1 to support the Goods & Services team in a hybrid work model. The role focuses on procuring materials, services, and equipment, developing scopes of work, and ensuring contract compliance across internal and external stakeholders.

The successful candidate will facilitate multi-step procurement, conduct negotiations, and maintain standard procurement documents while collaborating with

Qualifications

• Knowledge of competitive procurement solicitations, contracting and vendor management.
• Basic understanding of contract law, regulations, procurement methods, industry principles and best practices.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook and Excel)
• Strong communication, interpersonal, writing and customer service skills.
• Intermediate level of technology proficiency using MS Office Productivity tools in daily work.
• Ability to manage your time and adapt to changing priorities, work on multiple priorities and projects simultaneously, meet quick deadlines, and produce timely and quality work products.
• Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate and manage multi-step procurement processes including; determine bidding requirements, selection criteria and general terms and conditions.
• Develop scope of work and technical specifications with clients.
• Prepare contract terms and conditions for execution Ensure compliance with applicable policies and procedures.
• Hold evaluation meetings, interviews, proprietary meetings, and debriefs with consultants and County staff.
• Facilitate contract negotiations between County agencies & suppliers.
• Resolve disputes working with Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and Risk Management.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations and contract terms and conditions; assist clients with post-award documentation.
• Update and manage standard documents used in the procurement process.
• Support strategic initiatives with Strategic Sourcing, Relationship Management, and Supplier Performance Management.

Skills

Knowledge of competitive procurement

Vendor management

Contract law basics

Microsoft Office

Communication and customer service

Time management

Diversity and teamwork

Tools

Oracle EBS

Oracle Procurement Cloud

SharePoint

MS Teams

LEAN methodologies

Job description

King County’s Finance and Business Operations Division, Procurement & Payables section, is seeking a Contract Specialist 1 on the Goods & Services team!

About Procurement & Payables: Our value stream begins with purposeful procurement planning, incorporates strategic sourcing, a streamlined solicitation process, and post award metrics to ensure that our contracts are providing the quality, cost, delivery, and service we expect. We leverage people, process, and technology to achieve these outcomes. Our Goods and Services staff is responsible for procuring materials, supplies, equipment, and services in support of King County's operational needs.

We are looking for staff members who exhibit a strong sense of team-oriented camaraderie and who understand and wholly embrace the value and importance of providing outstanding customer service to both internal and external customers.

We need employees who aren't afraid to bring creative ideas and suggestions to the workplace and have a keen ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with their customers and co-workers.

Scope of Job Duties

• Facilitate and manage multi-step procurement processes including; determine bidding requirements, selection criteria and general terms and conditions;
• Develop scope of work and technical specifications with clients;
• Prepare contract terms and conditions for execution Ensure compliance with applicable policies and procedures;
• Hold evaluation meetings, interviews, proprietary meetings, and debriefs with consultants and County staff;
• Facilitate contract negotiations between County agencies & suppliers;
• Resolve disputes working with Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and Risk Management;
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations and contract terms and conditions; assist clients with post-award documentation;
• Update and manage standard documents used in the procurement process;
• Support strategic initiatives with Strategic Sourcing, Relationship Management, and Supplier Performance Management;

Minimum Qualifications

• Knowledge of competitive procurement solicitations, contracting and vendor management;
• Basic understanding of contract law, regulations, procurement methods, industry principles and best practices;
• Knowledge of Microsoft Suite (Word, Outlook and Excel)
• Strong communication, interpersonal, writing and customer service skills;
• Intermediate level of technology proficiency using MS Office Productivity tools in your daily work;
• Ability to manage your time and adapt to changing priorities, work on multiple priorities and projects simultaneously, meet quick deadlines, and produce timely and quality work products;
• Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications

• Public procurement experience;
• Experience performing solicitations such as ITBs (Invitation to Bid), RFP (Request for Proposals) and/or RFQ (Request for Qualifications) for establishing contracts;
• Oracle EBS and/or Oracle procurement Cloud;
• Experience with LEAN processes and principles

• Experience with SharePoint, MS Teams and other collaborative online tools

The Procurement & Payables Section is part of the larger Finance and Business Operations Division portfolio of countywide services. FBOD’s vision “Count on Us” reflects the division’s deep‑stated commitment to customer success, equity, employee engagement, resource stewardship, and operational excellence. If these values align with your own, please apply and join FBOD for a rewarding career!

Position Information:

• Work Site Details: The team works in a hybrid model, with days in the office as well as telecommuting. The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change.The primary onsite location is King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson, Seattle, Washington 98104. Please reach out for additional details at the contact below.
• Location Requirement: Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
• Work Schedule: This position is non exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and therefore is overtime eligible. Employees are paid on a bi‑weekly schedule, every other Thursday, comprising a 40‑hour workweek; normally 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• Union Representation: This position is Teamsters 117 represented.

King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work in our department's hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a county‑issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work. Employees will need to be available and responsive during scheduled work hours and follow FBOD’s hybrid/remote guidelines that include on‑camera participation during virtual video meetings.

The selection process consists of different phases: screening interview, virtual interview, and if successful, pre‑hire reference checking. For some positions, additional phases may also include skill testing, writing samples or additional interviews. Candidates will be updated on the status of their application via the email address used to apply.

Each phase is set for a specific day. Different times will be available for those days only. Please reach out to the contact below to confirm dates. Rescheduling interviews may not be possible and may remove you from consideration if unavailable.

If you have any questions or concerns while applying, please contact: Michael Castro, Recruiter Email: [e-mail]

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference?Come join the teamdedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play. Guided by our "True North"values, we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.