Contracts Specialist

Job Description:

Contracts Specialist

Description

Working Title: Contract Specialist

Department Name: Procurement and Contracts

Division: Administration and Finance

Classification Title: Procurement Professional III

Classification Salary Range: $5,877 - $8,561 month.

The anticipated hiring salary for this position is $5,877 - $6,361 per month.

The final salary is dependent upon qualifications and experience.

About the Department/Position:

The CSUDH Procurement & Contracts office employs best practices, ensures responsible stewardship of public funds, and adheres to a robust ethical code emphasizing fairness, transparency, integrity, and high-quality customer service. The department is the central purchasing authority for the university, offering meaningful, mission-aligned work.

Under the general direction of the Director of Procurement and Contracts, the Procurement Professional independently performs moderate to complex procurement and contracting activities for both CSU Stateside operations and University Auxiliary organizations. The position serves as a shared-services procurement professional responsible for soliciting, negotiating, executing, and administering contracts and purchase transactions in compliance with CSU, State of California, federal, and Auxiliary policies and regulations. This role exercises sound professional judgment, manages risk, and serves as a trusted advisor to campus departments and Auxiliary partners in the acquisition of goods and services.

Overview of Duties and Responsibilities:

• Draft and review terms and conditions for goods and services, MOUs, leases, real-estate-related agreements, commercial operations agreements, professional services contracts, and revenue-generating agreements.
• Conduct formal and informal solicitations (RFPs, RFQs, IFBs), including bid coordination, evaluation, and award recommendations.
• Provide shared-services procurement support to campus divisions and Auxiliary partners, ensuring compliance across multiple regulatory frameworks.
• Interpret and apply CSU, State, federal, and Auxiliary procurement policies.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, suppliers, landlords, operators, and external agencies.
• Support training, process improvement initiatives, and procurement best-practice efforts.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, finance, or a related field, and four (4) years of progressively responsible procurement or contract management experience.
  
• Additional experience that demonstrates acquired and successfully applied knowledge and abilities shown above may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis. An advanced degree in a related field may be substituted for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.
  

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge
  • Advanced knowledge of public-sector procurement principles, practices, and regulations.
  • Thorough understanding of CSU, State of California, federal, and Auxiliary procurement and contracting policies.
  • Strong knowledge of contract law, commercial terms, risk mitigation practices, insurance requirements, and indemnification standards.
  • Knowledge of competitive bidding processes (RFPs, RFQs, IFBs), cost and price analysis, and total cost of ownership methodologies.
    Familiarity with MOUs, leases, real-estate-related agreements, and revenue-generating contracts.
• Skills
  • Strong negotiation skills with demonstrated ability to develop and secure favorable contract terms.
  • Excellent analytical skills to evaluate bids, assess supplier responsibility, and identify procurement risks.
  • Superior written and verbal communication skills for contract drafting, stakeholder advisement, and vendor engagement.
  • High proficiency with procurement and financial systems (e.g., PeopleSoft, CSUBUY), contract management tools, and
  • Microsoft Office Suite.
  • Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple complex procurements simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Abilities
  • Ability to independently develop, negotiate, and administer contracts of moderate to complex scope.
  • Ability to interpret, explain, and apply laws, regulations, policies, and procedures accurately.
  • Ability to exercise sound professional judgment, analyze issues, and recommend effective solutions.
  • Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with internal departments, Auxiliary organizations, suppliers, and external agencies.
  • Ability to navigate and balance multiple regulatory frameworks in a shared-services procurement environment.
  • Ability to train, guide, and support stakeholders on procurement processes and best practices.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in higher education or public-sector procurement.
• Experience supporting both Stateside and Auxiliary or affiliated organizations.
• Professional procurement certification (e.g., CPPB, CPPO, CPSM) preferred.
• Completion of a professional procurement certification is preferred.

To view the full position description, click “Position Description” above.

General Information:

• Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or the continued employment of current CSU employees who apply for the position. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Fair Chance Hiring Ordinance and State Law.
• In accordance with the California State University (CSU) Out-of-State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California and prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU-related work outside of California.
• California State University Dominguez Hills is not currently sponsoring staff or management positions for H-1B employment visas.
• Possession of a valid Driver's License is required. Employees in this position will be enrolled in the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Government Employer Pull Notice Program.
• This position is a "designated position" in the California State University's Conflict of Interest Code. The successful candidate accepting this position is required to file Conflict of Interest forms subject to the regulations of the Fair Political Practices Commission.
• The CSU system offers a competitive total compensation benefits package for employees and qualifying dependents, including medical, dental, vision, retirement, and tuition assistance. It is our goal to compensate employees equitably and fairly. You can access a full description of our benefits here .

Closing Statement

California State University, Dominguez Hills, is strongly committed to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce. Individuals with disabilities requesting accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) may call the Human Resources Office at (310) 243-3771.

California State University Dominguez Hills is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, disability, marital status, or protected veteran status.

Employees at California State University, Dominguez Hills shall abide by the Nondiscrimination Statement .

Education Code 89521 Requirements: Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct

Learn more about working at the California State University and the impact of our mission

Advertised: Mar 18 2026 Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close: Apr 01 2026 Pacific Daylight Time