Job Description

STATE OF COLORADO RESIDENCY REQUIRED  

NOTE: This announcement may be used to fill multiple openings.  

Colorado Governor Jared Polis is committed to building a Colorado For All, a place where everyone has an opportunity to succeed and live the Colorado way of life. Governor Polis is focused on lowering health care costs for hardworking Coloradans, transitioning the state to renewable energy sources, ensuring every Colorado child gets a quality education, and building an economy that works for everyone. The Governor's staff includes offices for budgeting, communications and outreach, legal counsel, legislative liaison, operations, policy and research, and scheduling.

Committed to Diversity -  We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.  If you’re looking for a place where you can be your authentic self at work and celebrate the uniqueness of those around you, then we want to talk to you! State of Colorado employees were asked to reflect on their experience with equity, diversity, and inclusion.  Click here to learn more about their experiences  Colorado For All - Colorado Employees Reflect on Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion

We offer a generous benefits package including:

• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave

• Medical, dental, and vision plans

• State paid life insurance policy

• Choice of 2 retirement plans (defined benefit or defined contribution)

• Optional 401(k) and 457 plans

• State paid short-term disability coverage

• Additional optional life and disability plans

• Credit Union membership

• Training and professional development

To learn more about State of Colorado benefits visit: .

This position will have the opportunity for a hybrid schedule (combination of in-office and remote workplace) . **Please note - equipment provisioning and certain onboarding tasks will take place in person, in our Denver office, on the first day of employment.**

The Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) ensures the delivery of a comprehensive, community-informed, data-driven, high-quality, and equitable early childhood system that supports the care, education and well-being of all Colorado's young children, their families and early childhood professionals in all settings. CDEC provides access to collaborative, coordinated, quality early childhood programs and support to children, families, and early care professionals in an effort to best prepare Coloradans for future success. CDEC works with many partners, including parents, schools, child care providers, Early Childhood Councils, counties, Community Centered Boards, early intervention service providers, family resources centers, county human services, county public health, businesses, community organizations, and other stakeholders to provide high-quality early childhood and family support programs.

The Procurement and Contracts unit provides expert technical assistance to program managers, stakeholders and management staff in purchasing and implementation of financial operations. This includes contracting, Statement of Work and budget development, negotiation and implementation, solicitation development and implementation, development of contract language, development and implementation of policies and procedures related to purchasing goods and services.This position is accountable and responsible for selecting the proper legal vendor selection methodology, drafting, issuing, managing and awarding the solicitation and resulting commitment document. Managing a solicitation includes working with business unit to develop and/or refine sufficient specifications and scopes-of-work unique to each solicitation type, developing and finalizing solicitation evaluation methodology, handling and controlling all communications with interested contractors, guiding evaluators through the processes, obtaining committee consensus, conducting contractor presentations and debriefings and ensuring a fair and open process. Additionally, this position provides oversight of contract development and implementation processes to satisfy Federal, State and Department requirements. Position reviews and analyzes requisitions for State and Departmental pre-approvals, adherence to OIT processes, proper accounting coding and draft specifications and scopes-of-work. Activities may include identifying necessary supporting documentation to be provided by program staff or contractors, validation of information and overall quality control. This position will advise program staff on actions needed to ensure contract compliance and risk mitigation or elimination.

What you’ll be doing:

• Serves as the primary contracts administrator and Procurement and Contracts point of contact and Staff Authority for BITS & SSBI.
• This position Drafts Department requested contracts, leases, contract modifications, or other legal documents to ensure legal sufficiency under applicable legal standards, primarily for BITS & SSBI programs. 
• Negotiates various contracts, leases, or other legal documents with contractors and drafts contracts that benefit the State and the taxpayers as a whole. 
• Provide program staff consultation and guidance on contract development and implementation within the scope of the Office’s activities.
• Determines level of risk and provides ongoing technical expertise in the development and growth of the program by providing staff authority expert level technical assistance necessary to mitigate risk and prevent statutory violations.
• Works with the program to develop effective strategies, guidelines, and rules that impact overall policy for the program and the level of services provided.
• Incorporate a Performance Improvement Plan into the contract when programmatic or financial deficiencies are identified. 
• Provide customer service, training/orientation and guidance to contractors of CDEC to ensure contractors’ compliance with State Fiscal and Procurement Rules, Federal Regulations and Guidelines and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. 
• Provide training and guidance to internal program staff for Statement of Work, Budget, Contract and procurement execution and completion.
• Provides expertise on State and Federal fiscal rules and policies to internal staff and external stakeholders.
• Provides training to new staff in the procurement and contract unit as well as program staff.
• Meet independently with contractors and internal staff to provide expertise in procurement and contracting.
• Serves as the primary point of contact for BITS & SSBI for all Purchasing Activities and Purchase Order activities.
• Position is responsible for guiding, advising, and training assigned program staff, regarding delegated purchasing authority processes and procedures. 
• Provides assigned groups guidance and training on completing and obtain written sub-delegations, pre-approvals processes and procedures.
• Review and analyze requisitions for: State and Departmental pre-approvals; adherence to OIT processes; proper accounting coding; and assists in drafting specifications and scopes of work. 
• Position is accountable and responsible for selecting the proper, legal vendor selection methodology and drafting, issuing, managing, and awarding the solicitation. 
• Coordinate procurement activities with the accounts payable unit of the Controller’s office to ensure timely payment of all invoices to vendors, and with budget to rectify coding error issues.
• Manage solicitations for assigned business unit(s) including analyzing program requests and selecting the proper award and drafting award documents, negotiating specifications, statements of work, cost, delivery terms, payment methodology, and legal terms and conditions, and obtaining proper insurance certificates from contractors as well as ensuring contractors’ background security clearance checks are processed. 
• Compile supporting documentation and correspondence.
• Research inquiries, resolves discrepancies, and composes correspondence with supporting documentation. 
• Responds to inquiries regarding contracts and procurement from Department of Early Childhood staff in a timely manner.
• Compiles supporting documentation and correspondence.
• Research inquiries, resolves discrepancies, and composes correspondence with supporting documentation. 
• Provide expert-level technical assistance to grantees, vendors, program managers and management staff on the grant award process to provide subject matter expertise on Department contract and procurement policies and procedures and compliance requirements. 
• Perform other duties as assigned
• Review and recommend new or revised internal operating processes and procedures.
• Participate on various committees, training events, special projects, and focus groups, including activities to maintain current knowledge of developments in the relevant profession. Represent CDEC on various standing or ad hoc committees.

Minimum Qualifications:

Option I: Experience

Seven (7) years of experience in procurement and contracts experience.

Option II: Combination of Education and Experience

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in business, accounting, finance, law or related field AND Three (3) years of experience in procurement and contracts.

Please note:

The required experience must be substantiated within the work experience section of your application and in the supplemental questions. Your resume will not be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications; only the work experience section and supplemental questions of your application will be reviewed to determine this. “See Resume” statements on the application will not be accepted. In addition, part-time work will be prorated.  

Substitutions: 

• Additional appropriate experience will substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis.
• Additional appropriate education will substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.

Preferred qualifications:

• State of Colorado experience relevant to this role
• Working experience drafting and posting solicitations including RFPs, DQs, IFBs, RFAs, ITN’s and also Sole Sources 
• Experience planning, developing, and managing multiple solicitations at the same time 
• Working experience managing the components of a Scope of Work 
• Working knowledge of the State Fiscal and Procurement Rules
• Working experience related to the legal aspects of contracting or procurement 
• Working experience with CORE (Colorado Operations and Resource Engine)
• Experience training team members, colleagues, or constituents
• Experience navigating complex procurements
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, including the ability to prepare clear and concise contracts, solicitations and proposals.
• Progressive experience in creating, negotiating, preparing contracting and negotiation of vendor contracts

Highly Desired:

• Excellent communication skills that build consensus and support 
• Strategic thinking, planning, and execution 
• Ability to manage, balance, and complete multiple projects to accomplish goals 
• Interpersonal skills that promote teamwork and inclusion 
• Ability to work effectively with key stakeholders, speak and write authoritatively and compellingly, resolve 
• communication problems, and negotiate and manage competing interests. 
• Ability to problem solve and provide exceptional customer service 
• Strong listening and consultative skills 
• Excellent presentation/facilitation skills 
• Ethical competence and the ability to maintain confidentiality

DEFINITION OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Work that involves exercising discretion, analytical skill, judgment, and personal accountability, and responsibility for creating, developing, integrating, applying, and sharing an organized body of knowledge that characteristically is uniquely acquired through an intense education or training regimen at a recognized college or university; equivalent to the curriculum requirements for a bachelor's or higher degree with major study in or pertinent to the specialized field; and continuously studied to explore, extend, and use additional discoveries, interpretations, and application and to improve data, materials, equipment, applications and methods.

 

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Applicants must pass a thorough background check prior to employment.  

• Employees who have been disciplinary terminated, resigned in lieu of disciplinary termination, or negotiated their termination from the State of Colorado must disclose this information on the application.

APPEAL RIGHTS:

If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.

An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email ( dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us ), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.

For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to  spb.colorado.gov ; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at  spb.colorado.gov under Rules.

How to Apply (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY)

Please note that ONLY your State of Colorado job application will be reviewed during the initial screening; if you submit a resume and cover letter, they will be reviewed in later stages of the selection process. Therefore, it is paramount that you clearly describe all your relevant experience on the application itself. Applications left blank or marked "SEE RESUME" will not be considered.  

 Complete Applications must include the following documents:

1. A complete CDEC Application for Announced Vacancy (please submit online using the green 'APPLY' button at the top of this announcement)
2. A complete Supplemental Questionnaire (The questionnaire is part of the online application. You will be prompted to answer them as you are completing your online application.)
3. If you are using education to qualify, a copy of your official or unofficial transcript showing that your degree has been conferred and the name of your school, or your NACES accreditation. Please submit this as an attachment to your online application.
4. If you are a veteran, a copy of your DD214. Please submit this as an attachment to your online application.

Your application will be reviewed against the minimum qualifications for the position. If your application demonstrates that you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be invited to the comparative analysis process, which is described below . 

Comparative Analysis Process

The comparative analysis process will consist primarily of a review of applications against the minimum and preferred qualifications of this position. Applications will be reviewed in comparison to all others in the applicant pool in order to identify a top group of candidates who may be invited for a final interview. Depending on the size of the applicant pool, additional selection processes may be utilized to identify a top group of candidates. Applicants will be notified of their status via email. 

Failure to submit properly completed documents by the closing date will result in your application being rejected.

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive 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.

ADAAA Accommodations : The Colorado Department of Early Childhood is committed to the full inclusion of 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, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform 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 the Human Resources Specialist: ely.behrhorst@state.co .us

The Department  does not  offer sponsored visas for employment purposes.  

Technical Assistance
If you experience difficulty in uploading or attaching documents to your online application, or for any other technical difficulties, call NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627 anytime between 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. (Pacific Time).

Job Tags

Remote job, Holiday work, Full time, Contract work, Temporary work, Part time, For contractors, Work experience placement,

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