Contract Manager

Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at each stage of your life and work journey. Our comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full‑time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time‑off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more.

Explore more details on the Benefits of Working at HHS webpage.

The Contract Specialist V provides senior‑level expertise on a dynamic team within the Health and Human Services Commission, Behavioral Health Contracts Management Unit. This position performs highly complex (senior‑level) grant and contract management work, managing Behavioral Health contracts. Work involves coordinating, developing, negotiating, monitoring, and evaluating a broad range of contracts, ensuring fiscal accountability, and taking necessary contract action. Works under minimal supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment regarding daily contract management decisions, and is responsible for managing complex, high‑value contracts that support critical agency operations.

In this role, you’ll collaborate across divisions, work closely with vendors and oversight partners, and help ensure contracts deliver value, accountability, and results for the organization.

• Consults and communicates, individually and collectively, with contractors, community stakeholders, state and local agencies involved with the service delivery system to identify needs, resolve problems, and monitor and discuss effectiveness of programs and services. Serves as the vital link (conduit of communications) between HHSC and contractors. Negotiates, evaluates and accepts for approval various types of contracts (15%)
• Facilitates contract and amendments development within established protocols and oversees transfer of funds between services. (10%)
• Reviews and evaluates contract budgets, expenditures, and authorizes contract disbursements. Documents work and produces progress and summary reports that provide current and historical data in multiple areas related to assigned contracts. (10%)
• Oversees contract reviews to determine compliance with applicable statutes, departmental rules, and contractual requirements. Prepares administrative reports for executive management regarding contract actions. (5%)
• Provides technical assistance or consults with contractors on contract issues. Prepares and distributes routine and adhoc reports, responses, and feedback concerning performance measures. Provides oversight of resolution and follow‑up of all fiscal management and programmatic findings. Negotiates corrective action in collaboration with HHSC components and monitors compliance with recommendations. (10%)
• Oversees and administers contract enforcement actions due to breach of contract, which includes, but is not limited to, performance recoupment, imposing liquidated damages, withholding partial or full payments, and contract suspension or termination. (5%)
• Oversees the analysis of operations, problem resolution, and the preparation of reports of findings and recommendations. Reviews contractors’ data from multiple data systems, determines trends, and makes recommendations for improvements and/or plans of correction to resolve operational and compliance problems. May direct assigned contractors to collect certain data or information. Monitors plans of correction to ensure improvements are sustained. (10%)
• Facilitates contract termination and closeout activities. (5%)
• Participates on committees regarding assigned contracts/program area, new departmental statewide initiatives, and redesign of contract related processes requiring the development and implementation of effective techniques for evaluating performance and compliance. (5%)
• Coordinates and/or prepares responses to issues, inquiries and correspondence concerning contractor functions and activities. Meets with contractors and representatives of…