Senior Contracts Administrator

West Basin Municipal Water District

$109K — $151K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in business, public administration, finance, or related field;
  • 5-7 years of experience in procurement and contract administration;
  • CPPB, CPPO, or ARM designation is highly desirable;
  • Knowledge of procurement policies and public purchasing practices;
  • Ability to analyze contractual risks and enforce provisions.

Responsibilities

  • Manage the procurement lifecycle, ensuring compliance with district requirements.
  • Provide leadership in procurement policy interpretation and application.
  • Collaborate with departments to address procurement issues efficiently.
  • Prepare and monitor contractual documents with legal and stakeholder input.
  • Lead development and evaluation of solicitation packages and bid analyses.
  • Identify new supply sources and conduct vendor assessments.
  • Assess contract risk and consult on insurance requirements.

Benefits

  • Fully paid health insurance coverage for employees and their families.
  • Paid Short Term and Long Term Disability insurance.
  • Life insurance coverage up to $150,000 based on salary.
  • Annual vacation of 10-20 days.
  • 14 paid holidays per year.
  • 12 days of sick leave accrued annually.
  • Tuition reimbursement up to $9,000 per fiscal year for job-related education.
Full Job Description
Salary: $109,945.00 - $151,173.00 Annually
Location : 17140 S. Avalon Blvd., Suite 210, Carson, CA
Job Type: Full Time
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 204
Department: Finance
Opening Date: 08/03/2026

Description
Resumes will not be accepted as a substitute for a fully completed District Online Application. However, a resume is required; this will provide valuable information for the evaluation process. The most qualified candidates will be invited to proceed to the next stage, which includes a panel interview.

The Position
West Basin is seeking a skilled Senior Contracts Administrator who, under general direction, will independently manage purchasing transactions for various materials, supplies, services, and equipment, ensuring compliance with West Basin standards, policies, and all applicable legal requirements. The Senior Contracts Administrator will be responsible for providing leadership to department staff, sourcing and negotiating purchases within their established authority, creating solicitations for goods and contracted services, and performing other related duties as assigned. The District is seeking an individual with five to seven years of experience or more whose skills and abilities best reflect the qualifications for the position.

Key responsibilities are:
  • Manage and oversee the procurement lifecycle, including sourcing, negotiating, and receiving goods and services, ensuring compliance with District requirements.
  • Provide leadership in the interpretation and application of procurement, contracting, and purchasing policies and procedures.
  • Collaborate with departments to resolve procurement-related issues, ensuring accuracy and compliance in requisitions, product descriptions, and contract terms.
  • Prepare, process, and monitor a wide range of contractual documents, such as statements of work, schedules, and amendments, coordinating with legal counsel and stakeholders to secure approvals.
  • Lead the development and evaluation of solicitation packages, bid analyses, and supplier recommendations; negotiate prices and terms with final management approval.
  • Identify and evaluate new supply sources, conduct vendor assessments, and oversee comparative studies to enhance procurement strategies.
  • Assess contract risk, assign appropriate insurance requirements, and consult with Risk Management on insurance waivers and contractor compliance.
  • Ensure timely issuance of purchase orders, resolve contract disputes, and oversee delivery schedules and vendor performance.
  • Provides support with the District's online Bid Management system; assists with support to consultant/service provider to ensure satisfactory provision of service; trains, coaches, assists, and guides staff in the use of it.
  • Leads the development and administration of the Small and Local Business Enterprise Program, fostering diversity in procurement opportunities.

Qualifications
The ideal candidate will have:

  • A Bachelor's degree in business administration, public administration, finance, operations management, supply chain management, or a related field; and five to seven years of increasingly responsible procurement and contract administration experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Experience in a government or public agency is highly desirable.
  • Designation of a Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB), Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO), and/or Associate in Risk Management (ARM) is highly desirable is desirable.
  • Knowledge of operations, services, and activities of a procurement program.
  • Knowledge of principles, practices, methods, and techniques of public purchasing and contracting including competitive solicitation procedures
  • Knowledge of principles, practices, and techniques of drafting and administering purchase contracts and enforcing contract provisions.
  • Knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations and the District's Procurement Policy governing District procurement activities
  • Knowledge of principles and practices of contractual risk transfer; methods of conducting product and vendor research.
  • Knowledge of small and local business enterprise guidelines and standards.
  • Knowledge of procedures, standards, and methods relating to insurance requirements for contracting; public sector procurement and contracting
  • Knowledge of project management concepts related to public agency procurement and district labor contract provisions
  • Ability to perform the full range of procurement-related duties and responsibilities; define issues and analyze information and problems.
  • Ability to present proposals and recommended courses of action clearly and logically.
  • Ability to negotiate cost-effective contracts and purchase orders based on quality, quantity, and price; make sound judgments within established guidelines.
  • Ability to interpret and apply ethical and legal aspects of public procurement practices; understand, interpret, explain, and apply District and state law and regulations governing purchasing and contracting procedures.
  • Ability to draft concise and comprehensive contracts, purchase orders, and specifications.
  • Ability to analyze and assess contractual risk and apply appropriate contractual risk transfer methods.
  • Ability to operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.
  • Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships.


Supplemental Information
There is one vacancy for this position. The salary range is $109,945.00 to $151,173.00, based on qualifications. This position is eligible for District benefits.
APPLICATION INFORMATION:

Application Deadline: August 31, 2026. Apply online at:
For questions or additional information, contact the West Basin Municipal Water District, Human Resources Department, located at 17140 S. Avalon Boulevard, Carson, CA 90746, by phone at (310) 660-6275 or via email at
Application requirements: West Basin Online Application along with a cover letter, and resume. Resume-only submissions will not be accepted in lieu of a completed District Online Application.
The most qualified applicants will be invited to participate further in the screening process, which may include a written exam and panel interviews.
  • Health Insurance -- Fully paid employee/family coverage with expense reimbursement.
  • Disability Insurance -- Paid Short Term and Long Term Disability insurance plans.
  • Life Insurance -- Up to $150,000 based upon salary.
  • Vacation -- 10-20 days annually
  • Holidays -- 14 paid holidays annually.
  • Sick Leave -- 12 days accrued annually.
  • Employee Development Program -- Tuition reimbursement of a maximum of $9,000 per fiscal year for job-related coursework. Job related license and certification renewals fully reimbursed.
  • Deferred Compensation -- CalPERS 457 plan by employee contribution.
  • Supplemental Insurance -- Plans include cancer protection, accident, disability and critical illness insurance by employee contribution.
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) -- Fully paid EAP.
  • Hybrid/9-80 schedule

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