Sourcing / Procurement / Buyer / Purchasing Specialist II (Contract Specialist II)

Description

This recruitment is to fill a Term-Limited Temporary position that is anticipated to end around the beginning of 2026. If filled by a King County employee who has passed their initial probation, the TLT will be a Special Duty Assignment. King County’s Finance and Business Operations Division, Procurement & Payables section, is seeking a Sourcing / Procurement / Purchasing Specialist II (Contract Specialist II) on the Goods & Services team! About Procurement & Payables: Our value stream begins with purposeful procurement planning, incorporates strategic sourcing, a streamlined solicitation process, and post award metrics to ensure that our contracts are providing the quality, cost, delivery, and service we expect. We leverage people, process, and technology to achieve these outcomes. Our Goods and Services staff is responsible for procuring materials, supplies, equipment, and services in support of King County's operational needs.

About King County: King County is the largest County in Washington State and the 11th most populous in the United States. King County is striving to be the best-run government in the United States and focused on many key initiatives, such as Equity and Social Justice and sustainability. It is the financial, economic, and industrial center of the Pacific Northwest region. The County provides a broad range of services, including public transportation, road construction and maintenance, wastewater treatment, agricultural services, parks and recreation facilities, law enforcement, criminal detention, rehabilitative services, court services, tax assessments and collections, land use planning and permitting, zoning, public healthcare, emergency medical services, election services, animal control, and the disposal of solid waste.

We seek employees whose behavior is in alignment with our division's core values: Respect, Teamwork, Results, and Innovation We are looking for staff members who exhibit a strong sense of team-oriented camaraderie and who understand and wholly embrace the value and importance of providing outstanding customer service to both internal and external customers. We need employees who aren't afraid to bring creative ideas and suggestions to the workplace and have a keen ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with their customers and co-workers.

Requirements

Scope of Job Duties:

• Interact closely with agency staff throughout King County, and work with suppliers and contractors to ensure that county business is conducted openly, inclusively, and provides the best value
• Develop alternative contracting methods and appropriate procurement and contract documents
• Exercise independent judgment and initiative when working on issues where established guidelines or procedures may not exist
• Determine bidding requirements, selection criteria and general terms and conditions
• Develop scope of work and specifications with clients
• Facilitate contract negotiations and prepare contract terms and conditions for execution
• Hold evaluation meetings, interviews, proprietary meetings, and debriefs with consultants and County staff
• Support spend analysis and benchmarking for best practices at the category level
• Support proactive procurement forecasting in conjunction with our agencies
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, contract terms, policies, and procedures

Minimum Qualifications:

• Ability to perform research, analyze and solve problems
• Ability to work individually and collaboratively as a team member
• Ability to think differently, are eager to try new things and challenge yourself to improve processes
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, contract terms, policies, and procedures
• Have critical thinking skills and bring techniques to reduce waste and increase efficiency
• Strong communication, interpersonal, writing and customer service skills
• Intermediate level of technology proficiency using MS Office Productivity tools in your daily work
• Have critical thinking skills and bring techniques to reduce waste and increase efficiency
• Ability to manage your time and adapt to changing priorities, work on multiple priorities and projects simultaneously, meet quick deadlines, and produce timely and quality work products.
• Critical thinking skills and techniques to reduce waste and increase efficiency
• Prioritize work by identifying critical issues and creating focus, and demonstrate effective and efficient time management
• Read situations quickly, negotiate solutions and resolve conflict through focused listening and the identification of common ground
• Provide excellent customer service, and establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Build rapport with people from diverse backgrounds through active, attentive listening and respect for differing points of view
• Use analysis to solve difficult problems with effective solutions and identify problems that may not be initially obvious
• Manage a dynamic workload in a sometimes-pressured environment, while maintaining composure

Application Process

The Application/Selection Process:

The recruitment for this position is open to all qualified candidates. A completed King County Application is required. Applicants from this recruitment may be used to fill future opportunities in this job classification. We highly recommend that you also provide a resume and cover letter addressing how you meet the minimum qualifications and why you are interested in this position.

The selection process consists of different phases: screening interview, virtual interview, and if successful, pre-hire requirements consist of reference checking. For some positions, additional phases may also include skill testing, writing samples or additional interviews. Candidates will be updated on the status of their application via the email address used to apply. Each phase is set for a specific day. Different times will be available for those days only. Please reach out to the contact below to confirm dates. Rescheduling interviews may not be possible.

Note: Online applications are preferred. However, if you cannot apply online, go to www.kingcounty.gov/jobs for other options.

Contact Info