Director of Contracts and Procurement

Department Information
This position is open to current Colorado residents only.
Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.
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CDHSCareers
Most State of Colorado employees are eligible for a great benefit package Please see the Supplemental Information section below for details
Description Of Job
Hybrid 1 - 4 days in office per week.
This is subject to change due to the BHA's business needs.
8-5 Monday through Friday
Please note: These working arrangements are subject to change.
This position is a leadership role within the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA), overseeing both the Contracts Team and the Procurement Team in the fiscal division. The role involves supervising the implementation of training, workflow, quality standards, and operational decisions for both teams. Key responsibilities include drafting and executing solicitations and contracts in adherence to federal and state statutes, serving as the lead negotiator with external parties, and ensuring compliance with State Procurement Code, State Fiscal Rules, and applicable State and Federal requirements. The position also supervises, trains, and develops two disciplinary teams: Contracts (7 positions) and Procurement (3 positions), and acts as a liaison between the BHA and the CDHS Contracts Management Office.

Duties
Contracts and Procurement Unit Operations, Leadership, and Development
Lead the Contracts and Procurement Unit (the Unit) to develop, align, and implement purchasing and community engagement services across the agency to further the BHA's goals and mission.

• Develop operational work plans for Contract, Procurement, and related communications that complement and foster the agency's strategic plan.
• Identify trends and implement best practices to meet operational goals.
• Reinforce policies and procedures that align with operational objectives and intended outcomes.
• Work closely with the CDHS Contracts Management team, the Office of Information Technology contracts and procurement unit, and the Department of Personnel and Administration, concerning the alignment of contract and procurement-related activities.
• Partners with Division Directors to determine when there is a need to develop new programs, initiatives, or new procedures or training.
• Routinely collaborate with Programs team members, other BHA program managers, fiscal compliance and accounting team members, and other relevant BHA staff to continuously improve upon contract management activities and policies
• Advises the BHA Senior Leadership Team to establish and support the overall alignment of programs and services as well as the infrastructure that supports the work.

Procurement and Contracting Functions of the BHA
The position provides leadership on procurement procedures that provides direction for the procurement team. This position makes decisions in the development and execution of Requests for Proposals, Requests for Applications, Requests for Information, Documented Quotes, and all other procurement types. BHA staff necessarily consult with this position before deciding broad program and policy decisions regarding external relationships needed to execute the BHA's work.

The position provides guidance on the contracting procedure that provides direction for the contracts team. This position makes decisions in the development, negotiation, and execution of contracts, purchase orders, interagency agreements, and all other encumbrance types. This position is the first escalation point for contract interpretation and/or contract dispute concerns.

Further Duties Include

• Provides technical guidance and direction, including interpretation of statutes to BHA staff in the formulation of programmatic design and execution strategies that impact contractual and budget administration.
• Liaise with BHA leadership and external stakeholders in the development of contract language and other contract management processes and or protocols.
• Establishes contracting criteria for all BHA agreements in consultation with program professional staff, compiles disparate components of the contracts, writes contracts, and ensures that they are fully executed before the current contract term begins.
• Leads negotiations with contractors and other stakeholders for Behavioral Health contracts.
• Composes and provides essential consultation to the Procurement Team in the development of clear, fair, and accessible solicitations.
• Composes and provides essential consultation to the Contracts Team in the development of strong and fair contract language for all agreements.
• Provides expertise and insight in the system-level design and development and ongoing execution and process improvements cycles of the Contract and Program Management duties carried out broadly across the program and business functions of the division.
• Analyzes proposed legislation for procurement, contractual, financial, and programmatic impacts.
• Interprets how rules, statutes, and correspondence from the Attorney General's office impact contractual operations.
• This position helps establish or improve upon effective contractual solutions to hold contractors accountable for quality performance and compliance
• Collaborate with BHA contract managers on contract performance measures and contract compliance issues, including issues resulting in contract performance management activities such as corrective action plans
• Coordinates with BHA Finance Unit to allocate multiple state & federal funds to contractors for distinct treatment functions, while complying with Long Bill and Federal funding requirements & parameters.
• Analyzes fiscal and client data to ensure that financial allocations correlate to programmatic requirements as defined by the Federal Block Grant requirements.

Supervision

• Responsible for supervision and workload of staff in the fiscal/contract management section of Behavioral Health Administration. Additionally, this position provides leadership and direction to BHA professional and administrative staff on contractual and fiscal work associated with all the BHA's lines of business that contractually operate, including state and federally funded areas and BHA's grants and specialized programs.
• This position provides technical guidance and direction to BHA professional staff in the formulation of programmatic and contractual design and execution strategies that impact contractual and budget administration.
• This position is responsible for starting the hiring process, interviewing applicants, and recommending hire, promotion, or transfer of all positions under its responsibility. This position conducts team meetings to relay program and workload information to make related assignments.

Minimum Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
Experience Only
Eight (8) years of relevant experience in the Public Sector, with legal and regulatory knowledge, stakeholder engagement, and financial acumen relevant to the work assigned to this position as outlined below:

• Supervisory & Leadership: Lead and manage procurement and contracts teams, including hiring, training, mentoring, and performance evaluation.
• Full-Cycle Contract Management: Oversee entire contract lifecycle from needs assessment to closeout, collaborating with budget, accounting, and program teams.
• Policy & Procedure Development: Develop, implement, and interpret procurement policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with state and federal laws and grant terms.
• Complex Solicitations: Craft innovative solutions for complex solicitations within procurement code and ethical standards.
• High-Dollar & Complex Contracts: Successfully negotiate and manage high-value contracts for professional services, construction, IT, and other specialized goods.
• Problem-Solving & Negotiation: Resolve contractual disputes, handle vendor protests, and negotiate favorable terms to optimize value and mitigate risks.
• Contract & Procurement Expertise: In-depth knowledge of federal and state statutes, grant terms, and legislative intent; ability to anticipate and resolve financial/program issues, evaluate non-compliance, and draft/execute solicitations and contracts.

OR
Education And Experience
A combination of related education (see below) and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to eight (8) years.

A Bachelor's Degree In a Relevant Field Such As

• Business Administration
• Public Administration
• Finance or Accounting
• Business Law or Legal Studies
• Political Science

Preferred Education:
A Master's Degree in a relevant field such as Business Administration (MBA) or Public Administration.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ethical Integrity : A high sense of personal and professional ethics
• Communication Skills : Exceptional written and verbal communication skills are necessary for negotiating, drafting complex documents, and interacting with executive leadership, staff, and the public.
• Analytical Skills : The ability to analyze data and make data-driven decisions.
• Judgment and Initiative : The capacity to use sound judgment and initiative in resolving highly complex and sensitive issues .
• Project Management : Strong organizational and project management skills to handle multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Knowledge of current budgetary conditions : State and Federal conditions necessary to develop contractual solutions
• Strategic Planning : The ability to provide strategic direction for the procurement function, align it with the agency's mission, and implement new technologies or process improvements.

Conditions of Employment:

• This position is delegated as a hybrid position. The employees must maintain a home office and workstation free of distraction. internet, and possibly phone to complete required job duties or report to the office when needed.
• This position requires State of Colorado residency at the time of application (unless otherwise identified in the posting), and residency within the state throughout the duration of employment in this position.
• Motor Vehicle Check , if the employee will drive a state-owned vehicle, either in an on-going capacity while performing their normal day-to-day job duties OR on occasion for training/meetings/client visits/etc.
• Standard Background Check and Reference Check Required
• Must possess a valid, non-restricted Colorado Driver's License or an non-restricted U.S. Driver's License for positions within 30 miles of the CO state border
• The position is to travel to meetings and/or conferences as needed.

• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must:

• Disclose that information on the application.

• Explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify you from the current position.
• Provide your employee number from your prior State employment. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination and failure to provide this information will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.

CDHS Selection Process Explanation
Employment history is calculated on a full-time basis (40/hrs per week). Part-time employment is calculated on a prorated basis to determine qualifications. Be sure your application specifically addresses your qualifications, experience, work products, and accomplishments as they relate to the position and minimum requirements.

• Preferred Qualifications & Competencies:

• Relevant years of state service experience.

Minimum Qualification Screening Process
A Human Resources Analyst will review the work experience/job duties sections of the online job application to determine whether your experience meets the minimum qualifications for the position. You must complete the official State of Colorado online application. Cover letters and resumes WILL NOT be reviewed during the minimum qualifications screening process. You must specifically document your work experience and qualifications. Do not use "see resume" or "see attached."

You must meet the minimum qualifications to continue in the selection process. Part-time work experience will be prorated.

Comparative Analysis Process – Structured Application Review
After minimum qualification screening, the comparative analysis process will involve a review and rating of all the information you submit. The comparative analysis step may also include your results from an eSkills Test.

Your Work Experience/Job Duties
Document your work experience/job duties to the extent to which you possess the skills, education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications.

If listed, answer all supplemental questions as your answers to these questions will be evaluated during this phase. Provide at least 4-8 sentences for each supplemental question.

Supplemental Questions
Answer the supplemental questions completely and thoughtfully. We will rate your answers based on the content of your response and your writing skills (spelling, grammar, and clarity of your writing).

Appeal Rights
You may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director if your application is eliminated. You will find the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it on the State Personnel Board website.

• You or your representative must sign and submit the official appeal form for review.
• You can find the official appeal form here .

• You must be deliver the official appeal form to the State Personnel Board:

• By email ), or

• Postmarked in US Mail to(1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203, or
• Hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or
• Faxed within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department's action.

Contact The State Personnel Board For Assistance

• At , or
• Refer to the Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, within the Rules webpage.

Supplemental Information

• How to apply to the State of Colorado (YouTube Video, Runtime 3:59, Closed Captions Available)
• The Assessment Process
• For additional recruiting questions, please contact Stacy Chinea at

About Us & Benefits
If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, join the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high-quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. Each of us is committed to contributing to a safe and accessible CDHS . In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits, including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401(k) and 457 plans
• Medical and dental health plans
• Employer-supplemented Health Savings Account
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
• State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center
• Employee Wellness program
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more
• Remote work arrangements for eligible positions
• *Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program .

Our Values

• We believe in a people-first approach: We prioritize the needs, well-being, and dignity of the individuals, families and communities we serve. We commit to respect, fairness and access in every decision, policy and interaction. We engage client voices and experiences in the development and implementation of the services we provide.
• Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.
• We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.
• Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.
• We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.
• Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.

ADA Accommodations
CDHS is committed to a Colorado for ALL qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment.

This includes completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or performing essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to .

EEO Statement
The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer

We are committed to increasing a "Colorado for ALL" of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of all backgrounds and abilities. The State of Colorado believes that a "Colorado for ALL" drives our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

Additional Support For Your Application
Toll Free Applicant Technical Support

If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV technical support at Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application 1) ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files and 2) close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it.

Required Supplemental Questions

• (Multiple Choice) The bottom of this job announcement provides links to additional information on how to apply, the assessment process, toll free applicant technical support, and about how the State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer.

• Please acknowledge below that you have read the information provided in these links.

• This information is available to me and I have read this information.

• I am unable to access the links with this information on the job posting. (If you select this option, please contact the recruiter, whose information is listed on this announcement, so that they can send this information directly to you.)

• Your legal name is used in the hiring process for background checks. Did you use your full legal name in your application? If not, please update your information before submitting your application. Yes/No

• If you are a current or former State of Colorado employee, please list your employee number (starts with 997…). Your application may be considered incomplete if you do not provide this information. An incomplete application may not move forward in the Selection process. If you are a former or current state employee, please identify what state agency you work(ed) with and how many years of relevant state service you have related to the position you are applying for. (Ensure this is listed on your application under work experience).
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application.

In the space below, please explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify your application from the current position.

*~THE STATE OF COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER~
Toll Free Applicant Technical Support*