Salary : $135,262.40 - $187,345.60 Annually
Location : 400 Civic Center Drive, West, Santa Ana, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 8276MA-0826-017 (O)
Department: County Executive Office
Opening Date: 08/20/2026
Closing Date: 9/4/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

CAREER DESCRIPTION
Procurement Contract Assistant Deputy Director

Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

This recruitment will establish an open eligible list that will be used to fill current and future Procurement Contract Assistant Deputy Director positions. The eligible list established may also be used to fill positions in similar and/or lower classifications throughout the County of Orange.

DEADLINE TO APPLY
This recruitment will be open for a minimum of five (5) business days and will close on Friday, September 4, 2026 at 11:59 P.M. (PST)

THE OPPORTUNITY
Under the County Procurement Officer's direction, the Procurement Contract Assistant Deputy Director will oversee all procurement and contract activities, ensuring compliance with laws, policies, and procedures for all departments. They will also serve as the principal procurement official in the officer's absence.

Responsibilities and duties for this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

Executive Leadership & Board Governance

• Direct procurement and contract functions across all County departments.
• Present complex procurement and contract proposals to the Board of Supervisors via Agenda Staff Reports (ASRs) and executive briefings.
• Serve as the primary spokesperson for County procurement in media inquiries, Public Records Act (PRA/FOIA) requests, and agency audits.

Compliance & Strategic Oversight

• Enforce strict compliance with internal procurement policies, procedures, and statutory requirements.
• Provide strategic oversight on high-value contracts for services, supplies, construction, and capital improvements.
• Leverage comprehensive knowledge of public sector procurement laws, state/federal regulations, and the Contract Policy Manual to mitigate risk.
• Advise executive leadership on emerging procurement legislation and industry best practices.

Operations & Program Management

• Formulate strategic procurement plans to maximize buying power and eliminate operational inefficiencies.
• Administer centralized County programs, including policy development, supplier engagement, surplus property, and procurement systems.
• Drive continuous improvement by designing measurable, solutions-oriented business practices.

Talent & Relationship Management

• Manage procurement human resources functions, including talent acquisition, staff training, performance evaluations, and disciplinary actions as required.
• Collaborate with internal departments and external agencies to streamline cross-functional workflows.
• Cultivate stakeholder relationships and resolve highly complex procurement challenges.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
In addition to the minimum qualifications, the ideal candidate will possess a minimum of seven (7) years of significant procurement and contracts experience related to the duties and responsibilities described above, with at least five (5) years in public sector procurement. The ideal candidate will also have expertise in government procurement and contracting principles, strong knowledge of public procurement laws, contract law, and administrative management, as well as proven skills in managing complex procurement processes and projects.
Additionally, the ideal candidate will have five (5) years of supervisory experience and have demonstrated leadership experience in motivating teams, managing change, and implementing continuous improvements.
While not required, the ideal candidate will also possess a Bachelor's degree and a Master's Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, or other field, and/or professional certifications such as a Certification from the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (CPP), Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO) and/or Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) from the Universal Public Purchasing Certification Council (UPPCC) or the Institute for Supply Management (CPM, CPSM, CPSD).

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Please click for details on the Procurement Contract Assistant Deputy Director classification, including the physical, mental, environmental and working conditions.
NOTE: Foreign degrees require an evaluation of U.S. equivalency by an agency that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (N.A.C.E.S.).

RECRUITMENT PROCESSHuman Resource Services (HRS) will screen all application materials to identify qualified applicants. After screening, qualified applicants will be referred to the next step and notified of all further procedures applicable to their status in the competition.

Application Screening (Refer/Non-Refer)
Applications and supplemental responses will be screened for qualifications that are highly desirable and most needed to successfully perform the duties of this job. Only those applicants that meet the qualifications as listed in the job bulletin will be referred to the next step.

Structured Oral Interview | SOI (Weighted 100%)
The Structured Oral Interview is a timed assessment. Applicants will provide answers to job-related questions, which will be rated by a panel of subject matter experts using standardized evaluation criteria. Only the most qualified candidates will move forward to the next step in the recruitment process or will be placed on the eligible list.

Eligible List
Once the assessment has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.

Based on the County's needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedures.
Veterans Employment Preference
The county is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please clickhere to review the policy.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Reasonable Accommodation
The County of Orange is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Individuals who require a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should notify the recruiter listed on the job posting as soon as possible. Documentation supporting the accommodation request may be required.

EMAIL NOTIFICATION
Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account.

NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply. Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com." If your email address should change, please update your profile at
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Click for additional Frequently Asked Questions.
For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, contact Michelle Kozai at or 714-834-7308.

Please note that Extra Help employees are not eligible for the benefits listed.
Please go to the following link to find out more about Defined Benefit Pensions and OCERS Plan Types/Benefits.
01

INSTRUCTIONS: The information you provide will be used to evaluate your qualification for the position. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing these questions. If you have no experience, include "no experience" for the appropriate question. Responses of "See Work History" or "See Resume" or a copy and paste of work experience are not a qualifying response and will not be accepted in lieu of required information. By selecting yes below, you acknowledge that you have ready and understand the application requirement.

• Yes
• No

02

Please indicate if you have one or more of the following certifications:

• Certified Procurement Professional (CPP)
• Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM)
• Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB)
• Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO)
• Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM)
• Certified Professional in Supplier Diversity (CPSD)
• None of the Above

03

Please select your highest level of education.

• High School Diploma or G.E.D.
• Some College
• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• PhD or Doctorate Degree
• None of the above

04

How many years of increasingly responsible public sector procurement and contract administration experience do you possess?

• I do not possess this experience.
• Less than five (5) years.
• At least five (5) years but less than seven (7) years.
• Seven (7) or more years.

05

Please select the option below that best describes your experience overseeing procurement and contract administration functions related to the duties of this position.

• I do not possess this experience.
• Less than five (5) years of procurement and contract administration experience related to the duties of this position.
• At least five (5) years but less than seven (7) years of procurement and contract administration experience related to the duties of this position.
• Seven (7) or more years of procurement and contract administration experience related to the duties of this position.

06

Please describe your public and/or private sector procurement experience. Include the name of each employer, your dates of employment, the procurement programs or functions you oversaw, any procurement policies or procedures you developed or implemented, and your specific responsibilities. If you do not possess this experience, please write "N/A."
07

Please select the option below that most closely aligns with your experience as a supervisor, overseeing procurement and contract functions related to this position.

• I have no supervisory experience.
• I have greater than one (1) year but less than three (3) years of experience as a supervisor overseeing procurement and contract functions as it relates to this position.
• I have greater than three (3) years but less than five (5) years of experience as a supervisor overseeing procurement and contract functions as it relates to this position.
• I have greater than five (5) years of experience as a supervisor overseeing procurement and contract functions as it relates to this position.

08

Based on your answer to question #7 please elaborate on the or your scope of supervision and detailed responsibilities including where you gained this experience. If you do not possess this experience, please write "N/A".
09

Please describe your experience independently developing and managing large-scale programs, policies, and/or initiatives related to the procurement and contract functions of this position. Please include where you gained this experience. If no experience, please write "N/A".
Required Question