Lead Contracts Consultant - Contracts Specialist

Lead Contracts Consultant

Classification: Contracts Specialist 3

Job Status: Full-Time/Permanent

WDFW Program: Financial Services Program – Contracts and Procurement Office

Duty Station: Olympia, Washington – Thurston County

Hybrid/Telework: This position is required to be onsite at least three days per week.

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

Photo Caption:
Driftwood Sunrise – Photo Credit:
Blue Haught

This position supports the Contracts and Procurement Office’s mission by helping WDFW plan for and manage current and future procurement and contracting needs. It ensures contracts are properly established, administered, tracked, and reported in compliance with applicable laws, policies, and agency requirements, while promoting consistency, fiscal accountability, and transparency.

The role works closely with program staff and internal and external partners to interpret contract requirements, maintain accurate records and systems, mitigate contract-related risks, and improve contract management processes. Through strong oversight, collaboration, and continuous improvement, this position contributes to operational excellence and advances WDFW’s strategic goals.

• Serves as a subject matter expert providing advanced consultation and technical guidance to program staff on complex, high-risk, and high-dollar procurements and contracts.
• Provides consultation and technical assistance to agency staff on the development, management, and monitoring of solicitations and contracts to ensure compliance with applicable procurement rules, policies, and statutes.
• Collaborates with program staff to develop clear, well-defined specifications and performance standards that support competition and meet program needs.
• Develops evaluation criteria for solicitations; analyze and evaluate bids and proposals; and determine responsiveness, responsibility, and compliance.
• At an expert level, perform complex contract administration work. Makes decisions by considering several approaches or methods, use critical thinking and past experience to devise new or original methods or processes.
• Manage the full lifecycle of formal solicitations, including solicitation document development, scope definition with customers, procurement schedule management, evaluation facilitation, award, and contract file review and audit.
• Perform ongoing contract administration and contractor performance evaluations to ensure goods and services are delivered in accordance with contract requirements and that pricing remains competitive with market conditions.
• Conduct pre-bid and pre-proposal conferences to clarify requirements, address bidder questions, and provide procurement guidance.
• Independently determines and advises on the appropriate procurement methodology, including direct buy, competitive solicitation, sole source, and WDFW statutory exemptions from competition, based on risk, complexity, and regulatory requirements.
• Provide direction, guidance, and training to program managers and staff on procurement processes and contract administration requirements.
• Maintain expert-level knowledge of Washington State and local government procurement and contract administration laws, rules, and regulatory requirements related to goods and services.
• Advise agency staff on using the agency’s contracts management system to request contracts, monitor status, maintain accountability of assigned contracts, and request timely amendments or successor contracts.

• Serves as a team lead for procurement and contracting activities, providing day-to-day technical leadership, instruction, and quality review of work performed by Contracts Specialist I and II staff.
• Plans, assigns, instructs, and reviews procurement and contract work to ensure consistency, accuracy, compliance with laws and policies, and adherence to best practices.
• Works collaboratively with the Contracts Team Manager to plan team workload, prioritize projects, and identify training needs to support agency programs and procurement initiatives.
• Serves as Assistant Contracts Administrator, supporting the Contracts Team…