Contract Specialist

Only applicants who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and meet all selective requirements (listed below) will be placed on the eligible list. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Division of Compliance, Bureau of is seeking a contract specialist to join our team! This position will be responsible for monitoring contractor progress and performance, delivery, acceptance, reporting, compliance with specifications, and payment approvals for child welfare contracts, while adhering to applicable law and administrative rules. This position will work on a cross‑functional team, which includes contract specialists, policy, finance, legal, and operations staff. This position will also coordinate monitoring duties across programmatic, fiscal, and organizational monitoring. Responsibilities Conducting contract monitoring, including analysis of contractor fiscal and administrative performance through desk audits or on‑site reviews, adherence to contract requirements and timelines, gathering and interpreting data, overseeing improvement plans, and reporting results. Interpreting and communicating contractual requirements and laws/regulations affecting delivery of child welfare services. Acting as a liaison between contractors and state personnel, including program policy staff and leadership. Communicates information between the parties and actively works to identify and resolve issues. Performing contracting activities, including issuing, or assisting with competitive procurement activities, contract negotiations, managing contracting documentation, approving claims in accordance with contract terms, and contract close‑out activities. Participating in reviewing, making recommendations, and assisting with updating HHS contracting processes. Participating in reviewing, making recommendations, and assisting with updating programmatic policies related to contract performance or fiscal procedures. Benefits Working for the State of Iowa comes with its perks. In addition to a competitive salary, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well‑being and professional growth: Health, Dental, and Vision Coverage: Health and dental insurance packages to keep you and your family healthy at a low cost with outstanding coverage! Paid Time Off: Take time to recharge with paid time off, including vacation (96 hours/year to begin, increasing with years of service), sick leave (144 hours/year), and paid holidays (9 days/year). Retirement Plans: Participate in retirement plans such as IPERS (employees contribute 6.29% and the State of Iowa contributes 9.44%) as well as our Retirement Investors Club (RIC), Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan (the State of Iowa matches dollar for dollar up to $75/month). Flexible Spending Accounts: Take advantage of flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent care expenses. Insurance Coverage: Benefit from life insurance and free long‑term disability insurance for added peace of mind. Employee Assistance Program: Access resources and support through our Employee Assistance Program for personal and professional challenges. Employee Discount Programs: Enjoy discounts on a variety of goods and services through our employee discount programs. For additional information on benefits. Click here to see how we compare with other employers or offers by using our Total Compensation Calculator. Background Checks Applicants will be required to complete a background check to be considered for this position. EEO/AA Employer The State of Iowa is an EEO/AA Employer。 HHS values those with “lived experience” and encourages adults who were fostered as youth, foster parents, and/or parents who were in the DHS system to apply. Minorities, women, persons with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply (Hearing and Speech Impaired – Relay Iowa View phone number on click.appcast.io TDD). E-Verify and Right to Work The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit Service and Performance Contract Negotiations and Management 6 months’ experience, 12 semester hours, or a combination. Differs from labor contract negotiation. These are contracts with various vendors or other service providers and the applicant must have demonstrated experience and/or education that allowed them to review performance and service delivery and know what to do and be able to act when performance does not meet expectations. Includes: drafting or developing contracts for provision of products and/or services and the related budget components; negotiating the terms of contracts to include: costs, timeframes and performances expectations and/or work products; monitoring and managing all aspects of the contracts: to include timely submission of financial reports, performance reports, work products and determining when appropriate benchmarks for payment of invoices are met. Specific educational courses that relate to the selective might include: contract management, business law, principles of economics, business management and similar courses. Experience Interpreting Iowa Code and Iowa Administrative Code Applicant should demonstrate a minimum of 6 months’ experience, 12 semester hours, or a combination of both in the area of developing and interpreting Iowa Code and Iowa Administrative Code. Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification: Eight years of full‑time work experience in the procurement of technical, standardized, expendable, and non‑expendable items, or in services procurement and contract administration, including the review of ongoing compliance with contract requirements and terms. Graduation from an accredited four‑year college or university with a degree in business or public administration, accounting, or economics, and experience equal to four years of full‑time work in the procurement of technical, standardized, expendable and non‑expendable items or in services procurement and contract administration, including the review of ongoing compliance with contract requirements and terms. A total of eight years of education and/or full‑time experience (as described in number one), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university coursework in any field equals one year of full‑time experience. All of the following (a, b, and c): Three years of full‑time work experience in the procurement of technical, standardized, expendable, and non‑expendable items, or in services procurement and contract administration, including the review of ongoing compliance with contract requirements and terms. A total of four years of education and/or full‑time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university coursework in business or public administration, accounting, or economics equals one year of full‑time experience. A total of one year of graduate‑level education and/or full‑time experience (as described in part a), where twenty‑four semester hours of accredited graduate college or university coursework in business or public administration, accounting, or economics equals one year of full‑time experience. Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes one year of full‑time work as a Procurement Specialist 3. For additional information click on this link to view the job description. #J-18808-Ljbffr State-of-Iow