Procurement & Contracts Officer

Salary : $128,222.12 - $171,714.92 Annually
Location : Riverside, CA
Job Type: Full-time
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 26PRCO-01
Department: Procurement
Opening Date: 09/21/2026

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Procurement & Contracts Officer leads the Court's procurement and contracting operations and provides expert guidance to executives and managers on procurement strategies, contracts, sourcing, risk, and regulatory requirements.
The Opportunity
As Procurement & Contracts Officer, you'll provide leadership across the full procurement and contract lifecycle, from sourcing and competitive solicitations through negotiation, contract execution, performance monitoring, renewal, and closeout. You'll have the opportunity to strengthen procurement practices, develop policies and procedures, advise leadership on complex contracting matters, and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, manage expenses, and better support Court-wide operational needs.
What You'll Lead
In this role, you will:

• Direct and evaluate the Court's procurement and contracting operations, including RFPs, RFQs, RFIs, and non-competitive procurements.
• Manage the full procurement lifecycle, including sourcing, market research, vendor evaluation, solicitation, negotiation, contract development, execution, monitoring, renewal, and closeout.
• Develop and implement procurement policies, procedures, guidelines, and internal controls.
• Ensure compliance with applicable requirements, including Judicial Branch Contract Law, Public Contract Code, the Local Contracting Manual, Rules of Court, and other applicable mandates.
• Advise Court executives, managers, and stakeholders on procurement strategies, contract terms, sourcing options, compliance, and risk.
• Evaluate contractor and supplier performance and address issues involving quality, service levels, deliverables, and contract terms.
• Conduct contract reviews, risk assessments, and compliance evaluations.
• Partner with General Counsel on high-value and high-risk purchases and develop recommendations for executive consideration.
• Provide guidance regarding exemptions, emergency purchases, and sole-source procurements.
• Lead audit preparation and implementation of improvements resulting from audit findings.
• Supervise, mentor, develop, and evaluate staff while promoting accountability and excellent customer service.

The Leader We're Looking For
We're looking for a strategic thinker, skilled negotiator, collaborative leader, and trusted advisor who can navigate complex procurement issues while keeping the Court's broader goals in focus.

The successful candidate will be comfortable interpreting laws and policies, developing sound procurement strategies, making recommendations on complex issues, and building consensus among stakeholders with different priorities. This role requires the ability to communicate complex information persuasively, exercise expert independent judgment, and approach sensitive matters with tact and diplomacy.
Minimum Qualifications
Candidates should possess a combination of education and experience that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for successful performance, such as a bachelor's degree with major coursework in public or business administration, criminal justice, finance, economics, or a closely related field.

Candidates must also possess six years of increasingly responsible procurement and contract administration experience, including experience with competitive bidding, developing specifications, writing justifications, and managing contract lifecycles.

A qualifying Certified Purchasing Manager certification, master's degree, or Juris Doctor may substitute for two years of the required experience. Additional qualifying work experience may substitute for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis.

Experience in a supervisory capacity or with a California Trial Court or government agency is desirable. Professional credentials such as Certified Purchasing Manager, Certified Professional in Supply Management, Certified Professional Contracts Manager, or a Juris Doctor are also desirable.
For a complete list of the qualifications and essential duties, please refer to the

Competitive Compensation Package
At Riverside Superior Court, we reward hard work and dedication!
We offer:

• Annual merit increases for satisfactory job performance
• A robust benefit plan including medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance
• A pension plan provided by the California Public Employer's Retirement System also known as CalPERS. You will contribute between 7% and 8% of your biweekly pay, depending on your membership status
• Optional deferred compensation programs
• Generous leave accruals
• Fourteen (14) paid holidays
• Bereavement leave
• Tuition discounts

• Qualified employer for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) or Temporary Expanded PSLF (TEPSLF) Certification

Application Process
All applicants are required to submit a completed online application and supplemental questionnaire. To learn more about how to create an application, click HERE.

Résumés will not be accepted in lieu of the required application and supplemental questionnaire.

Human Resources will review applications to identify candidates who meet the minimum qualifications; therefore, it is to your benefit to include all current and previous related work experience. When listing Court experience, please include dates and classification of each position held, if more than one.

Selection Procedures:

This recruitment will remain open until the needs of the Court have been met and may close at any time. However, the deadline to apply for first round consideration is Sunday, October 18, 2026, at 11:59 PM PST.
All applications will be reviewed to identify candidates who meet the minimum qualifications; those candidates deemed most qualified may be invited to an online or written assessment, if applicable. Candidates who take and successfully pass the assessment may be invited to an oral panel interview. Candidates who are successful in the interview may be placed on an eligible list. Placement on an eligible list is not a guarantee of employment. Additional steps for the selection process may include a comprehensive background check and drug test.

Status Notifications

You will be notified by email and/or text message during the process of this recruitment through governmentjobs.com. Please check your email spam/junk folders and accept emails ending with governmentjobs.com and riverside.courts.ca.gov. If your information changes, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com.

Reasonable Accommodations

Riverside Superior Court provides reasonable accommodations upon request for applicants with disabilities. Please contact the Human Resources Department at 951-777-3017 or Recruitment@riverside.courts.ca.gov if you feel you will need an accommodation for any aspect of the selection process. The Human Resources Department requests that it be advised of special needs at least five days prior to the examination so that a reasonable accommodation may be made.

Here's what you get when you join our team:

• Top-Tier Health Coverage: Premium medical plans through CalPERS, plus Delta Dental and VSP Vision to keep you and your family healthy and smiling.

• Substantial Contributions: Receive court contributions towards the cost of medical, dental, and vision benefits for you and your family. Eight of our ten medical plan options are covered at 100%, which means you will have absolutely zero out-of-pocket monthly premium costs, helping you stay healthy without breaking the bank!

Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance Court Contributions:

• Employee Only: $1,324/month
• Employee + 1 Dependent: $2,463/month
• Employee + Family: $3,059/month

• Financial Flexibility: Save smart with a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for healthcare and dependent care expenses.
• Peace of Mind: Secure supplemental life insurance and comprehensive short-term and long-term disability benefits through Lincoln Financial.

• Court paid basic life/accidental dismemberment (AD&D) insurance in the amount of:
  • $50,000/$50,000

• Golden Retirement: Build a strong future with a CalPERS pension, Nationwide 457(b) retirement savings options and a 401(a) account where the court contributes $50 per pay period.
• Emotional Wellness: Access confidential support through our court provided Employee Assistance Program (EAP) whenever you need it.

Work-Life Balance You Can Count On:

• Generous Paid Time Off
• 14 Paid Holidays
• Alternative Work Schedule

• Depending on your role, you may be eligible for:
  • 9/80 Schedule: Work 80 hours over 9 days.
  • 4/10 Schedule: Work four 10-hour days with a three-day weekend, every week.
  • Hybrid Work Options: Some positions may qualify for a hybrid schedule, blending in-office collaboration with the convenience of remote work.

• Bereavement Leave for life's toughest moments
• Tuition Discounts to help you grow and learn

Crushing Student Debt?
We've got you covered. We offer eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and Temporary Expanded PSLF (TEPSLF) Certification-so you can keep building your career and wipe out your student loans.

This is more than a job-it's a career with purpose, benefits, and a team that's got your back.
01

The information you provide will be used to rate your qualifications for the position. Résumés will not be accepted in lieu of completing these questions. Please provide concise, descriptive, and detailed information when answering the question. If you do not have experience, please write "NONE". NOTE: 'See résumé', 'See above', or copy and paste of your résumé are not considered qualifying responses and will not be scored.By selecting yes below, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this application requirement.

• Yes
• No

02

How many years of increasingly responsible procurement and contract experience do you have?

• One year or less
• Two years
• Three years
• Four years
• Five years
• Six years or more

03

Which best describes your level of education?

• None
• Less than High School or GED
• High School or GED
• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Doctorate degree
• Juris Doctor

04

Do you have a valid Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) certification issued by the National Association of Purchasing Management?

• Yes
• No

05

Do you have any experience supervising a team?

• Yes
• No

06

Please describe your supervisory experience in detail. If none, indicate "none."Specify the employer, department, position held and dates when describing experience. If your experience is court or public sector specific, please indicate it.
07

Do you have a Certified Purchasing Manager and/or Certified Professional in Supply Management certification, issued by the Institute of Supply Management?

• Yes
• No

08

What interests you about this position and this organization?
09

Which previous job experience did you find the most rewarding and why?
10

Do you have any employment gap(s) within the last 10 years? If yes, please answer the question below. Failure to do so will lead to disqualification.

• Yes
• No

11

Please explain any gap(s) in employment.
Required Question