Senior Contract Specialist

Salary : $117,707.20 - $142,105.60 Annually
Location : City of San Diego, CA
Job Type: Varies by Position
Job Number:
Business Area: 1514 - Purchasing & Contracting
Opening Date: 11/06/2026
Closing Date: 11/16/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

JOB INFORMATION
See NOTES below for future wage increases and/or additional compensation opportunities.

Senior Contract Specialist positions open, negotiate, recommend contract award, administer and terminate various types of contracts including consulting, architectural and engineering projects, design, construction and construction management, and pre-purchased material and equipment contracts; develop and maintain commercial terms and conditions of contracts; develop negotiation plans and strategies; prepare reports and correspondence; make presentations to City Council, community groups, consultants and contractors; perform the more difficult contract administration assignments; supervise and review the work of subordinate Contract Specialists; and perform other duties as assigned.

NOTES:

• Employees in job classifications represented by Municipal Employees Association (MEA) are scheduled to receive the following general wage increases:
  • 3.5% effective 7/1/27
  • 2% effective 7/1/28
  • 2% effective 1/1/29
• Eligible benefitted employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

You must meet the following requirements on the date you apply, unless otherwise indicated.

EDUCATION: Bachelor's Degree or equivalent education (i.e., minimum completed units = 120 semester/180 quarter).

NOTE:

• Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for education lacked on a year for-year basis. One year of full-time experience = 30 semester/45 quarter college-level units.

EXPERIENCE: Three years of full-time professional-level contract administration experience in architecture, engineering, and/or construction which MUST include one year of full-time experience at a level equivalent to a Contract Specialist with the City of San Diego (a position that opens, negotiates, recommends contract award, administers and terminates various types of public works contracts including consulting, architectural and engineering projects, design, construction and construction management, and pre-purchased material and equipment contracts). Qualifying experience MUST include ALL of the following:

1. Contract development.
2. Evaluation of bids and/or proposals.
3. Negotiation of contracts and contract changes.
4. Administration of contract terms and conditions.

NOTE:

• City of San Diego employees using Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA) experience to qualify must submit written documentation signed by their appointing authority or payroll specialist, detailing the work performed, dates, and total number of qualifying OCA hours. OCA experience without the required documentation will NOT be considered.

LICENSE: A valid California Class C Driver License may be required at the time of hire.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (MUST SUBMIT WITH APPLICATION):

• Proof of degree/transcripts, if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
• For City of San Diego employees, proof of Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA), if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.

Required documents should be attached electronically to your application. If you are unable to attach at the time of application submittal, you must submit them as soon as possible via fax: (619) 533-3337; or to the Employment Information Center: City of San Diego Personnel Department, 1200 Third Avenue - Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92101. Include your name and the title of the position for which you are applying.
SCREENING PROCESS
Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental questions will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in this initial screening process, your application will be reviewed for applicable education, experience, and/or training to ensure all minimum requirements have been met. Successful candidates will be placed on a list which will be used to fill position vacancies during the next six months (180 days). For each vacancy, only those candidates with the most appropriate qualifications will be contacted by the hiring department for an interview.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS: Employment offers are conditional pending the results of all screening processes applicable to this position, which may include the following: confirmation of citizenship or legal right to work in the United States; completion of a pre-employment medical review and exam (which may include drug and alcohol testing); reference checks; and fingerprinting. Fingerprints will be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Justice for a conviction record report. Certain positions may require additional screening processes, including a polygraph examination and/or background investigation. All screening processes must be successfully completed before employment begins. A positive test result for alcohol, cannabis/marijuana, illegal drugs, or inadequately explained prescription drugs, or misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of pertinent facts in any step of the screening or selection process, may constitute cause for disqualification or termination of employment. Nothing in this job posting constitutes an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego. Candidates must notify the Personnel Department of any change in their name, mailing address, email address, or phone number, otherwise they may miss employment opportunities.
Associate Engineer - Civil (Option Title: Senior Contract Specialist)

Rev. 10 - November 6, 2026 (New Recruitment Date)
City employees may be eligible to participate in a benefit program including holidays, vacations, savings and retirement plans, health programs, and other benefits.

Eligible City employees initially hired or assuming office on or after July 10, 2021, with the exception of Police Recruits participating in the City's Police Academy, will participate in the City's Defined Benefit Plan administered by the San Diego City Employees' Retirement System (SDCERS).

Benefits may change due to employer-employee contract negotiations.

or review the
01

I understand that failure to respond to the following questions in the spaces provided may result in the rejection of my application. In addition, I may miss out on employment opportunities. Résumés are NOT reviewed for assessing the minimum requirements.

• Yes
• No

02

Are you a current or former City of San Diego government/municipal employee?

• Current city employee
• Former city employee
• Current & former city employee
• None of the above

03

If you have previously worked or are currently working for the City of San Diego, please enter your PERNR.
04

The minimum age for this job is 18, unless you are 17 and a high school graduate. Do you meet the minimum age requirements for this job?

• Yes
• No

05

Are you meeting the education requirement with a Bachelor's Degree or equivalent education (i.e., minimum completed units = 120 semester/180 quarter)? NOTE: Attach proof of degree/transcripts to your application.

• Yes
• No

06

If you are using a combination of experience and education to qualify, which of the following best describes your level of education?

• 0 to 29 semester/44 quarter units
• 30 semester/45 quarter units to 59 semester/89 quarter units
• 60 semester/90 quarter units to 89 semester/134 quarter units
• 90 semester/135 quarter units to 119 semester/179 quarter units
• 120 semester/180 quarter units or more

07

How many years of full-time professional-level experience do you have performing contract administration in architecture, engineering, and/or construction which includes contract development, evaluations of bids and/or proposals, negotiation of contracts and contract changes, and administration of contract terms and conditions?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year to less than 2 years
• 2 years to less than 3 years
• 3 years to less than 4 years
• 4 years to less than 5 years
• 5 years to less than 6 years
• 6 years to less than 7 years
• 7 years or more

08

In which of the following areas do you have full-time professional-level contract administration experience?

• Architecture
• Engineering
• Construction
• None of the above

09

In which of the following areas do you have full-time professional-level experience performing contract administration in architecture, engineering, and/or construction?

• Contract development.
• Evaluations of bids and/or proposals.
• Negotiation of contracts and contract changes.
• Administration of contract terms and conditions.
• None of the above.

10

For each area listed in Question 9, describe your full-time professional-level contract administration experience. Specify from which employer the experience was gained, your title, level of responsibility, percent of time spent performing the duties, and the total length of your experience. If you do not have any experience in a specific area, write "None."
11

How many years of full-time professional-level contract administration experience do you have at a level equivalent to a Contract Specialist with the City of San Diego (a position that opens, negotiates, recommends contract award, administers and terminates various types of public works contracts including consulting, architectural and engineering projects, design, construction and construction management, and pre-purchased material and equipment contracts)?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year to less than 2 years
• 2 years to less than 3 years
• 3 years to less than 4 years
• 4 years to less than 5 years
• 5 years to less than 6 years
• 6 years to less than 7 years
• 7 years or more

12

Describe your full-time professional-level contract administration experience at a level equivalent to a Contract Specialist with the City of San Diego (a position that opens, negotiates, recommends contract awards, administers and terminates various types of public works contracts including consulting, architectural and engineering projects, design, construction and construction management, and pre-purchased material and equipment contracts). Specify from which employer the experience was gained, your title, level of responsibility, percent of time spent performing the duties and the total length of your experience. If you do not have any experience in this area, write "None."
Required Question