Contracts Specialist 3 (In-Training)

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Contracts Specialist 3 (In-Training) within the Financial Services Division.

Location:

• Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.
• Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

Schedule:

• This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.
• You may telework most of your work time with occasional in-person meetings and activities. 
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline:

• Apply by August 13, 2025
• This position will remain open until filled. The agency reserves the right to make a hire at any time after application review begins. Applications received after August 13, 2025, may not be considered.

Duties

In this role, you will perform senior-level professional contract administration, providing advice, review, and negotiation of contracts, interagency agreements, memos of understanding, and other contract instruments used to provide or obtain services or goods for the agency. You will also serve as an Assistant Contracts Administrator, resolving any issues that arise during the contracting process (i.e. disputes, complaints, appeals, etc.). This role provides an excellent opportunity to expand your knowledge and skills in public sector contracting and procurement and also provides an opportunity to support the agency’s efforts surrounding supplier diversity.

What you will do:

• Perform a full range of journey-level procurement and contracting, professional and technical duties to procure and contract for goods and services for agency use.
• Administer the agency contracting and purchasing processes and procedures.
• Provide guidance services to agency employees in the areas of contracting and purchasing.
• Provide direction and advice to agency management and staff on ethics in contracting and procurement.
• Support the use of contract and purchase practices that result in sensible, allowable, and economical expenditure of agency funds.
• Assist and advise programs in the bidding processes for goods and services.
• Create and maintain common agreement templates for agency use.
• Maintain compliance with all applicable federal and state procurement laws and rules.
• Ensure agency compliance with the Department of Enterprise Services procurement policies and rules and other procurement requirements.

Qualifications

This position offers an in-training plan and may be filled at the Contracts Specialist 2 or 3 level, depending on your qualifications. If you qualify at the CS2 level and are hired, you will progress through an in-training plan to become a CS3 within a specified time period.

For detailed information on how we calculate experience, please visit our Recruitment website.

Required Qualifications:

At the Contracts Specialist 2 level (In-Training)

Pay Range 53, $4,882 - $6,576 monthly

Six years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Experience in public procurements and contracts, including initiating, negotiating, awarding, administering, terminating, cost or price analyses, and managing bids and contracts for compliance. At least two years of the experience must be in state procurements and contracts.
• Education involving a major study in business administration, public administration, law, business law, commerce, mathematics, statistics, economics, or closely allied field.

Examples of how to qualify:

• 6 years of experience.
• 5 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
• 4 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree).
• 3 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.
• 2 years of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree.
• 1 years of experience AND a Master’s degree.
• 0 years of experience AND a Juris Doctor (J.D) or Master of Law (LL.M) degree

At the Contracts Specialist 3 level (Goal Class)

Pay Range 59, $5,666 - $7,622 monthly

Seven years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Experience in public procurements and contracts, including initiating, negotiating, awarding, administering, terminating, cost or price analyses, and managing bids and contracts for compliance. At least two years of the experience must be in state procurements and contracts.
• Education involving a major study in business administration, public administration, law, business law, commerce, mathematics, statistics, economics, or closely allied field.

Examples of how to qualify:

• 7 years of experience.
• 6 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
• 5 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree).
• 4 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.
• 3 years of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree.
• 2 years of experience AND a Master’s degree.
• 1 year of experience AND a Ph.D.

Required Skills: For both the Contract Specialist 2 (in training) and the Contract Specialist 3 (Goal Class)

• Working knowledge of state contract and procurement laws (RCW 39.26) and policies.
  
• Knowledge of principles, methods, procedures, and practices of public procurement, competitive bidding procedures, contract management, procurement and supply acquisition practices, negotiations, general business practices, and customer service principles.
  
• Intermediate proficiency using Microsoft Office software applications and products including Word, Excel, and Outlook; able to create, edit, modify, save, and delete documents and spreadsheets.
  
• Proven skills in business writing and proofreading, including the ability to draft contract language.
  
• Proven skills in problem solving and analytical skills related to procurement and contracts.
  
• Proven skill in preparing complex contracts, agreements, and bid documents.
  
• Demonstrated ability to accomplish multiple assignments with competing timelines.
  
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other program staff, management, vendors, outside agencies, community groups, and the general public.
  
• The ability to interpret and administer policies and procedures sufficient to educate, enforce, discuss, resolve, and explain them to staff and other interested parties.
  
• Ability to advise vendors, program management, and program staff on contract terms and conditions for mutual agreement and contract compliance.
  
• Ability to comprehend complex contracting documents in order to ensure compliance with laws and regulations, and agency policies.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 

• The employee must read, sign, and abide by the Financial Services/Fiscal Office Agreement on Confidential Information (Part A) and Internal Control Responsibility (Part B).

Desired Qualifications:

• Two to three years of experience in Washington State public procurements and contracts at a state agency, including initialing, negotiating, awarding, administering, terminating, and managing contracts for compliance.
• One year of experience with bidding and contracting for Information Technology goods and services.
• One year of experience with bidding and contracting for Public Works.
• Advanced proficiency using Microsoft Office software applications and products including Word, Excel, and Outlook; able to create, edit, modify, save, and delete documents and spreadsheets.
• At the Contracts Specialist 3 (Goal Class) level: One of the following professional certifications: Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB), Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO), Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM), or other related procurement certifications.

If you are excited about this role but not sure if your experience aligns perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply. Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At the Department of Ecology, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging. You may just be the needed candidate for this or other roles.

Supplemental Information

Ecology does not use the E-Verify system; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.

Application Process

Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities. Qualified job seekers from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

Click “Apply” at the top of this page. Complete the entire application, including full work history and responses to all supplemental questions, and attach:

• Cover letter, describing your interest in and qualifications for this position
• Resume

Because we base our selection on the information you provide, it is in your best interest to complete the application thoroughly. A resume will not substitute for the “work experience” section of the application or vice versa. Applications with blank fields or supplemental question responses with comments such as “see resume” may be considered incomplete.

For detailed application information, please visit our Recruitment website.

Application Attestation: By submitting an application, you are affirming that the information contained in your application and on all attachments is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information, and any false or misleading answers may result in rejection of your application or dismissal if employed.

Need an Accommodation?

If you need reasonable accommodation during the application and/or screening process, including this job announcement in an alternate format:

• Please contact us at 360-407-6186 or careers@ecy.wa.gov
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 711 or 1-800-833-6384.

Questions?

• For specific questions about the position location options, schedule, or duties, please contact Mark Gaffney at Mark.Gaffney@ecy.wa.gov
• If you need assistance applying for this job, are inquiring about the status of your application, would like to request the full position description, or have any other questions, please contact the Recruitment Team at careers@ecy.wa.gov

About the Department of Ecology

As the State of Washington’s environmental protection agency, we are deeply committed to protecting, preserving, and enhancing Washington’s environment for current and future generations. Joining Ecology means becoming part of a team dedicated to protecting and sustaining healthy land, air, water, and climate in harmony with a strong economy. A career in public service at Ecology allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology's work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations.

We believe that DEIR is both a goal and an action. We are on a journey, honoring our shared humanity and taking steps to demonstrate our commitment to a vision where each of us is heard, seen, and valued.

Ecology employees may be eligible for the following: Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave*, 11 Paid Holidays per year*, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver,  Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP),  Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *Click here for more information 

To learn more about Ecology, please visit our website, explore Working at Ecology, check out our Strategic Plan, and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or our blog.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

Collective Bargaining: This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.  

Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment announcement are filled, the recruitment may only be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days.