BID/JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
CONTRACTS COORDINATOR
DEPARTMENT OF CULUTURAL AFFAIRS AND SPECIAL EVENTS (DCASE)
Finance and Development Division
Number of Positions: 1
(additional vacancies possible pending budget approval)
Starting Salary: $90,732.00
New hires are paid the starting rate. Current employees' pay rate is determined by their job title and years of service
Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59pm CDT on 09/04/2026
This position is open to the public and all current City employees covered under the City's collective bargaining agreement with AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES (AFSCME) - BARGAINING UNITS 1, 3, 4 & 5. Only employees in City job titles in this bargaining unit are eligible to bid.
BID INSTRUCTIONS: To bid on this position, APPLY ON THE BID SITE and:
1. Check the box on your profile titled "Currently employed by the City of Chicago"
2. Enter your employee ID (located on your pay stub labeled 'payee/employee number')
3. Select your correct bargaining unit, upload your resume, and complete the application
FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS WILL RESULT IN A REJECTED BID APPLICATION
The Contracts Coordinator position in the Finance & Development division has the responsibility of directing, preparing, and coordinating the processing of contracts, suborders, and purchases for the purpose of procuring goods and services from various vendors that provide services, goods, and/or equipment. In this capacity, the position performs the following:
ESSENTIAL DUTIES
• Directs and coordinates the preparation and processing of departmental contractual documents (e.g., contracts, suborders, direct vouchers) for the procurement of goods and services
• Supervises and directs staff engaged in contract and payment processing activities
• Reviews and approves purchase requisitions, ensuring accuracy, funding availability, and conformance with City procurement policies and procedures
• Coordinates with the Department of Procurement Services to monitor minority/women-owned business enterprise (MBE/WBE) participation to ensure department contracts meet City goals
• Reviews bids and proposals and makes award recommendations to the Department of Procurement Services
• Prepares and processes contract revisions, amendments, and extensions
• Oversees the preparation and processing of vendor payments
• Serves as liaison to the Departments of Law, Finance, and Procurement Services to expedite and troubleshoot contract-related problems
• Prepares various contract status and summary reports
• Supervises the maintenance of contract records and related documents
• Reviews and revises contract specifications for goods and services
• Monitors vendor performance to ensure compliance with contract terms and conditions
• Informs and instructs relevant parties (e.g., project managers, contractors, subcontractors, delegate agencies) on current contract availability and contracting process requirements
Additional duties may be required for this position
Location: Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE)
78 E Washington St, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL 60602
Days: Monday - Friday
Hours: 8:30am - 4:30pm
THIS POSITION IS IN THE CAREER SERVICE
Qualifications
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
• Eight (8) years of work experience in the development, negotiation, and administration of procurement contracts, OR
• Graduation from an accredited college with an Associate's degree, plus six (6) years of work experience in the development, negotiation, and administration of procurement contracts, OR
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree, plus four (4) years of work experience in the development, negotiation, and administration of procurement contracts, OR
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree or higher, plus three (3) years of work experience in the development, negotiation, and administration of procurement contracts
Knowledge: Considerable knowledge of procurement practices and procedures used by the city. Considerable knowledge of legal, technical, and financial aspects of procurement. Considerable knowledge of techniques of contract negotiation
Skills: Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and customer service skills. Strong written and oral communication skills. High attention to detail. Confident contract negotiation skills. Skill in managing complex processes and accelerated timelines within a fast-paced environment. Strong proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, internet, and social media. Strong proficiency with procurement methods.
Abilities: Must be detail oriented. Ability to review and compose contracts for accuracy and compliance. Ability to prepare financial and narrative reports. Demonstrated ability to work effectively on multiple projects and tasks. Ability to plan, manage, prioritize, and follow through on projects and tasks.
SELECTION REQUIREMENTS
This position requires applicants to complete an interview which will include a skills assessment as part of the interview. The interviewed candidate(s) possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position, based on the oral and written parts of the interview will be selected.
Preference will be given to candidates possessing the following:
• Previous work experience preparing contracts in a government setting
• Previous work experience in research and development of written specifications
• Previous work experience managing multiple projects/initiatives
• Previous work experience creating and developing reports
• Previous work experience using ORACLE based databases
For information about City of Chicago employee benefits, please click here
For information about City of Chicago salaries and job titles, please click here
APPLICATION EVALUATION: Initial evaluation will be based on the information provided on the application and the documents submitted. Department of Human Resources staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow all required employment/hiring plan provisions, federal, state, and local laws, and collective bargaining agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of Chicago
COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY: To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience, the City of Chicago has adopted ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States, residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA), and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates. The learn more about our hiring processes, please click here.
ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.