Procurement and Contract Administrator I/II - Human Services Agency (Open and Promotional)

Salary : $7,817.33 - $11,466.00 Monthly
Location : County of San Mateo, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: G248Y
Department: Human Services Agency
Opening Date: 11/09/2026
Bargaining Unit: 35

Description
The County of San Mateo's Human Services Agency is seeking highly motivated professionals for the position of Procurement and Contract Administrator. The successful candidate will have experience negotiating and executing agreements and contracts for services and strategic sourcing for goods. The candidate will be a self-motivated, highly analytical, and strategic thinker with the ability to solve business problems and deliver insights that enable timely and effective operational decision-making.

The position will work with cross-functional teams of the organization to coordinate the development, execution and administrative monitoring of programmatic, administrative, facility, technological and other solicitations, procurement, and contracts. The position will analyze programmatic requirements and needs to assist with the planning and improving of existing processes, including the monitoring of contract agreements for compliance, reporting requirements, possible amendments and site visits with a multi-disciplinary team. The position is responsible for purchasing duties in difficult or complex commodity areas of a wide variety of materials, supplies, and equipment, and perform a broad scope of purchasing transactions with independence of action. The position will provide program support and lead the coordination and facilitation of planning, budgeting, forecasting, and reporting activities for Departmental agreements and purchases as assigned.
The ideal candidate will possess:

• Solid experience in the development of contracts, negotiation of terms, and contract execution.
• Knowledge of and experience in governmental policies and practices in relation to procurement.
• Ability to develop and analyze purchasing request and evaluate specifications, proposals, bids and contracts for products and complex commodity areas and purchases.
• Knowledge of sources of supply, marketing practices, pricing methods, differentials, and other factors in public agency purchasing.
• High level of proficient writing and editing skills; experience in doing research to build scopes of work, set target levels, and develop performance measures.
• Excellent analytical, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Excellent detail-oriented and organization skills.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective work relationships with customers and vendors.
• Knowledge of principles, practices, procedures and applications of purchasing and governmental purchasing including but not limited to informal bidding.
• Knowledge of the laws and regulations governing purchasing policies and procedures in public agencies.
• Knowledge of office administrative practices and procedures, including records management and the operation of standard office equipment.
• Strong interpersonal skills with proven ability to develop and maintain effective business partner relations at all levels of the organization. Incumbents at this level are typically assigned complex procurements and contracts.

There is currently one vacancy within the Financial Services Division of the Human Services Agency.
NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.
Examples Of Duties
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Apply principles and practices of procurement and contract administration and evaluation, public agency budget development and reporting, and financial management policies and procedures.
• Conduct research on a wide variety of administrative topics including contract feasibility, cost benefit analysis, budget and staffing proposals, and operational alternatives.
• Develop and standardize procedures and methods to improve and continuously monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of operations and service delivery methods and procedures in order to maximize funding and minimize costs.
• Partner with County procurement to create strategic procurement vehicles that maximize volume discounts, and shorten the timeline of procurements.
• Perform cost/benefit analysis of procurements and operational alternatives.
• In collaboration with Program, Administrative, and Financial Management, evaluate purchasing processes and timelines to establish efficiencies and effectiveness in business processes.
• Monitor contract agreements for compliance, reporting requirements, possible amendments, and site visits with a multi-disciplinary team.
• Develop and maintain weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting mechanisms.
• Serve as liaison to branches, departments, governmental agencies, and the public to disseminate information.
• Prepare or assist in the preparation of operating manuals, organization charts, and workflows.
• Train staff in work procedures and provide technical and programmatic assistance to staff and subcontractors.
• Receive, review, and check purchase requests to determine needs, market conditions and product availability.
• Consult and assist with product selection and purchasing methods.
• Invite and accept bids, evaluate prices, discounts, and delivery conditions.
• Prepare and assist in the preparation of product specifications and contracts.
• Analyze bids for conformance to specifications; make awards on bids.
• Confer with vendors about products and services.
• Prepare reports, recommendations and correspondence.

Qualifications
Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of public administration.
• Principles and practices of program areas to which assigned.
• Principles and practices of contract development, negotiation and monitoring, including budgeting and financial record keeping.
• Principles, practices and techniques of administrative and programmatic research and analysis.
• Applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations and County and program policies and guidelines.
• Computer applications related to the work.
• Office administrative practices and procedures, including records management and the operation of standard office equipment.

Skill/Ability to:

• Develop and evaluate proposals and negotiate contracts and agreements.
• Develop, monitor and analyze budgets and program performance.
• Plan, coordinate and implement administrative and programmatic research and analysis.
• Analyze, interpret and apply various regulations and requirements.
• Train staff in work procedures and provide technical and programmatic assistance to staff and subcontractors.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with grantors, subcontractors, County staff, elected and appointed officials, the public and others.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Compile, analyze and interpret data using research techniques; draw sound conclusions and prepare and present effective reports regarding findings and recommendations.
• Exercise sound independent judgment within general policy and regulatory guidelines.
• Prepare clear and accurate reports, correspondence, procedures and other written materials.
• Organize and prioritize work and meet critical deadlines.
• Maintain accurate records and files.

Education and Experience:
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:

• Contract Administrator I: Two years of professional-level administrative or programmatic experience, primarily in the area of contract administration in a community services or related setting.
• Contract Administrator II: Four years of professional-level administrative or programmatic experience, primarily in the area of contract administration in a community services or related setting.

Application/Examination

Open and Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, extra-help/term position prior to the final filing date will receive five (5) points added to their final passing score on this examination.

Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. The examination will consist of an interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applications, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or a screening committee may select those applicants whose education and/or experience appear to best meet the needs of the position based solely on the information provided in the application documents. Because of this screening process, all applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.

Based solely on the information provided in the application materials, an application screening committee will select those applicants whose education, training and experience most closely matches the needs of the department. Those selected will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%) which may include the evaluation of a written or performance exercise given immediately preceding the interview. Selected applicants will be notified of the date, time and place of the tests.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to to apply. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Final Filing Date: Continuous until filled
Application Screening: TBDCombined Panel Interviews: TBD

Analyst: Arlene Cahill (Contract Administrator I/II - G247/G248)
We invite you to explore our page for a snapshot of the comprehensive and competitive benefits available to eligible employees of the County of San Mateo. From health and wellness to financial security, our benefits are designed to support you at every stage of your career. (Please note that benefits are subject to change.)

In addition to core benefits, the County is proud to offer a variety of wellness and professional development programs to help you grow both personally and professionally. Most of these enriching opportunities are available during work hours and come at no cost to you.

As a County employee, you'll also be covered by the federal Social Security system, earning valuable retirement benefits based on your salary and years of service.
01

IMPORTANT: Applicants for this position are required to submit responses to the following supplemental questions. Your responses will give us additional information about your background and experience related to this position and will be used in the selection process. Be concise and specific. Neatness, clarity of expression, grammar, spelling and ability to follow instructions will be considered in the evaluation process. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for your responses.)

• Proceed to supplemental questions.

02

Describe the procurement and contracting or associated documents you have drafted, their exact purpose, and the portion of the document that you were responsible for. Indicate if you have used pre-existing templates and where those were from and/or original documents you have developed.
03

Provide an example of a difficult work problem you resolved that illustrates your analytical and decision-making abilities showing initiative and independent work.
04

How did you learn about this position?

• County of San Mateo Website
• County of San Mateo Job Interest Card Notification
• County Hosted Virtual Event
• County Hosted Job Fair
• CalOpps.org
• College/University Career Center
• Community-based Organization Posting
• Facebook/Instagram
• Friend or Relative
• GovernmentJobs.com
• Indeed
• Job Fair
• LinkedIn
• Professional Publication/Website (Please specify in next question)
• X (formerly called Twitter)
• Zip Recruiter
• Other (Please specify in next question)

05

If you answered, "Professional Publication/Website" or "Other" to the above question, please indicate below how you learned about this position. Your response to this question will help us in better marketing County jobs. Type NA if not applicable.
Required Question