Contract Manager

Contract Manager (COM 3)

At the Department of Commerce, we're reimagining what's possible in government. We're builders, thinkers, and change-makers, working at the intersection of innovation, community, and impact. From unlocking critical funding to fueling inclusive economic growth, we're turning big ideas into real-world solutions that uplift people and places.

Our agency's strength lies in the diversity of our workforce and the breadth of the lived experiences and perspectives employees bring to the work. We believe equity is not just a value but a practice, which is reflected in how we design programs, engage communities, and deliver outcomes. We foster a workplace culture where curiosity is encouraged, bold thinking is welcomed, and collaboration drives our impact.

Let's build what's next, together.

The Local Government Division (LGD) partners with local governments, nonprofits, and others to strengthen the ability of all forms of local government and community-based organizations to fund and develop critical services to their citizens. The division provides leadership in local government finance and statewide infrastructure initiatives that help create and retain jobs. We also provide grants, loans, and planning and technical assistance to local governments for community development needs, infrastructure improvements, and economic development opportunities.

This position is within the Community Capital Facilities Unit (CCF). CCF provides capital grants to non-residential community facility projects through a variety of programs. This position is responsible to oversee direct appropriations, dental capacity clinic program and capital contract projects as assigned. This position oversees the entire contract lifecycle from project solicitation, award, and initiation to project closeout, ensuring long-term consistency through sustained project engagement. Responsibilities include managing pre-contract activities such as grant application development, scope and budget review, and compliance with state capital funding requirements. Responsibilities continue through contract execution and administration, including ongoing budget oversight, expenditure tracking, reimbursement processing, and compliance monitoring. The position also provides continuous technical assistance to stakeholders and grantees, ensuring that all programmatic and statutory requirements are met. Project oversight extends through completion, with a focus on performance reporting, closeout documentation, and final audits, ensuring seamless, end-to-end

contract management. This position will also assist with the administration of other CCF competitive grant application processes.

Contract Administration of Local and Community Projects/ Dental Capacity Clinic and Capital

Projects

Tasks include:

• Negotiate, draft and execute capital contracts and amendments scope of work and special terms and

conditions with both new and re-appropriated capital funds, appropriately storing and maintaining public

records.

• Utilize the Department's Contracts Management System (CMS) and other systems to record, track, and

manage various contracting tasks and related components throughout the contract lifecycle.

• Ensure grantees understand the requirements to pay state prevailing wages, implement Executive Order

21-02 archeology and historic preservation requirements, and LEED building requirements, which requires

an interpretation of RCW 39.35D (High Performance Building Requirements) and respond to inquiries

about grantees' compliance with these regulations.

• Work with Legislative staff to revise legislative intent documentation as needed in support of direct

appropriation grantees.

• Work independently in consultation with the Assistant Attorney General (AAG) to scope complex contracts

and limit agency risk.

• Collaborate with the unit's Property Securitization team to ensure all site security requirements have been

satisfied to ensure the public benefits from the project construction.

• Monitor contract deliverables and perform risk assessments as necessary of contractors and/or projects.
• Manage and address contract risk in accordance with unit, division, agency, and statewide compliance

standards.

Program Administration

Tasks include:

• Implement program guidelines, application tools, forms, and technical assistance resources. Additionally,

provide feedback and assistance with updating program guidelines every biennium.

• Coordinate and prepare the program's competitive and non-competitive grant award processes, with

assistance from Section Manager and Team Supervisor.

• Provide technical assistance to individuals and organizations and assist them with project readiness and

contracting with Commerce.

• Provide technical assistance to grantees to ensure that shovel-ready projects are contracted for awarded

funding.

• Coordinate with the other Community Capital Facilities staff and external Subject Matter Experts to

support specific projects and ensure the appropriate staff, aligning subject matter expertise when possible

and an equitable distribution of the workload.

• Work with Community Capital Facilities leadership and Legislative staff to obtain and refine legislative

intents that support the projects listed as well as any details available on the project at the time the

funding request was initially made.

• Notify successful and unsuccessful applicants of the outcome of the competitive grant process and/or

direct appropriations. Communicate relevant information and documents related to next steps in the

awarding/contracting processes.

• Ensures projects are in compliance with all state and programmatic regulations throughout the full contract

lifecycle by maintaining regular communication with grantees, reviewing and validating all requests for

reimbursement, using independent critical thinking to evaluate grantee-provided information, monitoring

project progress relative to intended project timeline and contract budget, maintaining clear and complete

files for all projects, and other activities, as appropriate.

• Prepare program data, spreadsheets, reports, presentations, and public record request responses.

Fiscal Management

Tasks include:

• Review, authorize, and process contract reimbursements, informing and consulting with division and

agency fiscal services staff, as needed.

• Ensure expenditures are within the appropriated authority and are submitted for allowable expenses.
• Track contract budgets, expenditures, and balances using the Department's Contract Management System

(CMS) and the unit's other tracking systems, as needed.

• Track the timing and estimated projected requests for contract reimbursements.
• Provide technical assistance to contractors as fiscal discrepancies or issues arise or as requested by

contractors.

• Track contract spending and project spenddown timelines to report to section and unit leadership and

inform allotment and re-appropriation processes.

Required Position Qualifications:

Seven (7) years of combined experience and/or education as described below:

Experience in community, trade, or economic development with a focus in two or more of the following areas:

• Contract management experience on project funds with state or federal grants or loans.
• Reviewing customer, contractor, and/or grantee invoices for payment.
• Experience with grant program rollout and process administration.
• Reviewing, interpreting and implementing state and federal requirements.
• Providing technical assistance to customers.

Education involves finance, business, public administration, social services, education, or related field.

Qualifying education post High School or equivalent may be substituted year for year for experience.

Examples of how to qualify:

• 7 years of experience
• 6 years of experience and one year of education
• 5 years of experience and two years of education
• 4 years of experience and three years of education
• 3 years of experience and four years of education
• 2 years of experience and five years of education
• 1 year of experience and six years of education

Lived experience working in a family run business, previous volunteering experience working with a

community-based organization that focused on serving and supporting underserved or vulnerable populations,

or any allied experience in economic development, procurement or contracting will substitute for two years of

professional experience.

• What is lived experience? Lived experiences is relevant expertise derived from the accumulated

personal life and professional experiences of an individual. Experience can be gained through life

events, volunteer role/capacity, any experience gained outside of professional paid and unpaid

experience, academic or a combination of experiences. The above-listed experience will demonstrate

that a candidate possesses the necessary knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies to successfully

qualify for and perform the duties of the position.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:

• Demonstrated technical/knowledge and aptitude of state legislative and capital budget processes and

capital contracting and financing.

• Professional level experience with state capital financing, grant and loan administration.
• Technical knowledge and aptitude of state legislative and capital budget processes.

To be considered for this position the following are needed:

• A complete and detailed online application.
• A cover letter (enter online).
• At least three professional references (enter online).

For questions about this recruitment, please contact our recruitment team via email: - please reference the job number in your message.

Work from Anywhere in Washington State

This position may be located anywhere within Washington State though occasional travel to a Commerce office building or in-state travel to attend events or meetings may be required. If selected, you will need to travel to pick up equipment and receive instruction. Many Commerce employees work remotely or have a hybrid schedule.

This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies over the next 60 days.

Technical support is provided by NEOGOV, can't log in, password or email issues, error messages). DES job seeker support may answer general questions regarding the recruiting system at

Our Commitment to Equal Opportunity

The Washington State Department of Commerce is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons needing accommodation in the application, testing, or interview process or this job announcement in an alternative format may email Human Resources at Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or

Department of Commerce also offers a competitive benefits package including: medical and dental insurance benefits, retirement and deferred compensation plans, 11 paid holidays each year, 14-25 vacation days per year (depending on length of employment), 8 hours of sick leave per month (if full time employed), bereavement leave, an employee assistance program, as well as other benefits. Please see the Benefits Tab for more details.