Senior Contract Specialist

Summary Leads a full range of divisionwide contract administration and procurement activities; advises on and facilitates the purchase of goods and services for FCPS in accordance with School Board and federal, state, and county rules and regulations. Qualifications Required Bachelor's degree. Three (3) years of experience in public sector proposal analysis and procurement. Advanced degree(s) beyond the minimum degree requirement in a relevant field may be considered for some experience. Knowledge of federal, state, and local jurisdiction contract and procurement regulations (such as the Virginia Public Procurement Act (VPPA), and guidelines, specifically in governmental purchasing. Knowledge of the principles, practices, and methods of procurement. Knowledge of supply, market, and price trends. Ability to prepare technical specifications and review, analyze, and evaluate bids and proposals. Critical thinker with decision-making skills and high standards of detail accuracy. Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with school-based administrators, central office staff, and the vendor community. Proficiency in the use of technology, data compilation, analysis, and reporting. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. Ability to exercise tact, good judgment, and initiative. Ability to work effectively under pressure. Preferred Experience in project management professional certification, mediation, or negotiation. Certification by a nationally recognized public procurement or contracting certification (e.g. CPPB, CPPO, CPCM). Major Duties/Essential Functions Exercises leadership in contracts management, which includes the collaborative development of requirements, planning, documentation, and oversight of assigned projects. Manages procurement planning discussions with department leads. Prepares specifications, requirements, terms & conditions for competitive invitation for bid (IFB) solicitations and competitive requests for proposal (RFP) documents. Conducts and facilitates pre-bid discussions, pre-proposal conferences, and evaluation teams while reviewing for recurring complex or unique procurement requirements and ensuring conformity of understanding with bid documents. Leads and manages complex contract negotiations that include license agreements, warranty, lease/purchase agreements. Develops negotiation strategies that ensure understanding between parties and smooths administration to align with business initiatives. Interprets complex guidelines and policies and negotiates difficult contract changes with vendors. Coordinates resources required to oversee comprehensive, multi-year contracts from development through completion. Performs and evaluates spend and cost analysis as required for determination of contract value, including annual value as required for contract administration and market research comparison for cost reasonableness. Ensures compliance with sole-source contract policies and alignment with sole source approvals. Recommends contract awards to procurement leadership and prepares award recommendations. Leads and facilitates discussions among groups and individuals to reach consensus, resolve conflicts, or influence outcomes on matters of significance. Debriefs unsuccessful vendors on the strengths and weaknesses of their proposal. Provides districtwide guidance and advises schools, regions, departments, and vendors, on contract administration functions and status: contract kick-off, modification, monitoring, and close-out. Communicates effectively and engages employees at all levels of the organization in the facilitation and implementation of the contract process. Assists in formulating purchasing forecasts and budgets. Identifies operational challenges and provides solutions for best-in-class service. Acts as a primary point person or liaison outside the department regarding a specific program or set of services, and presents information and recommendations to …

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