Contracts Specialist

California State University • Carson, CA

4d

About The Position

The CSUDH Procurement & Contracts office employs best practices, ensures
responsible stewardship of public funds, and adheres to a robust ethical code
emphasizing fairness, transparency, integrity, and high‑quality customer
service. The department is the central purchasing authority for the university,
offering meaningful, mission‑aligned work.

Under the general direction of the Director of Procurement and Contracts, the
Procurement Professional independently performs moderate to complex procurement
and contracting activities for both CSU Stateside operations and University
Auxiliary organizations. The position serves as a shared-services procurement
professional responsible for soliciting, negotiating, executing, and
administering contracts and purchase transactions in compliance with CSU, State
of California, federal, and Auxiliary policies and regulations. This role
exercises sound professional judgment, manages risk, and serves as a trusted
advisor to campus departments and Auxiliary partners in the acquisition of goods
and services.

Requirements

• Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, finance, or a related field, and four (4) years of progressively responsible procurement or contract management experience.
• Additional experience that demonstrates acquired and successfully applied knowledge and abilities shown above may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis. An advanced degree in a related field may be substituted for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.
• Advanced knowledge of public‑sector procurement principles, practices, and regulations.
• Thorough understanding of CSU, State of California, federal, and Auxiliary procurement and contracting policies.
• Strong knowledge of contract law, commercial terms, risk mitigation practices, insurance requirements, and indemnification standards.
• Knowledge of competitive bidding processes (RFPs, RFQs, IFBs), cost and price analysis, and total cost of ownership methodologies.
• Familiarity with MOUs, leases, real‑estate‑related agreements, and revenue‑generating contracts.
• Strong negotiation skills with demonstrated ability to develop and secure favorable contract terms.
• Excellent analytical skills to evaluate bids, assess supplier responsibility, and identify procurement risks.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills for contract drafting, stakeholder advisement, and vendor engagement.
• High proficiency with procurement and financial systems (e.g., PeopleSoft, CSUBUY), contract management tools, and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple complex procurements simultaneously in a fast‑paced environment.
• Ability to independently develop, negotiate, and administer contracts of moderate to complex scope.
• Ability to interpret, explain, and apply laws, regulations, policies, and procedures accurately.
• Ability to exercise sound professional judgment, analyze issues, and recommend effective solutions.
• Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with internal departments, Auxiliary organizations, suppliers, and external agencies.
• Ability to navigate and balance multiple regulatory frameworks in a shared‑services procurement environment.
• Ability to train, guide, and support stakeholders on procurement processes and best practices.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in higher education or public-sector procurement.
• Experience supporting both Stateside and Auxiliary or affiliated organizations.
• Professional procurement certification (e.g., CPPB, CPPO, CPSM) preferred.
• Completion of a professional procurement certification is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Draft and review terms and conditions for goods and services, MOUs, leases, real‑estate‑related agreements, commercial operations agreements, professional services contracts, and revenue‑generating agreements.
• Conduct formal and informal solicitations (RFPs, RFQs, IFBs), including bid coordination, evaluation, and award recommendations.
• Provide shared‑services procurement support to campus divisions and Auxiliary partners, ensuring compliance across multiple regulatory frameworks.
• Interpret and apply CSU, State, federal, and Auxiliary procurement policies.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, suppliers, landlords, operators, and external agencies.
• Support training, process improvement initiatives, and procurement best‑practice efforts.

Benefits

• The CSU system offers a competitive total compensation benefits package for employees and qualifying dependents, including medical, dental, vision, retirement, and tuition assistance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level