Contract Specialist

Heart of Texas Behavioral Health Network is recruiting for a Contract Specialist.

Are you an experienced Contract Specialist, ready for a unique opportunity and to be a part of a team committed to making a difference in individuals' lives? The Contracts Management Team plays a vital role in supporting the programs and diverse operations of the Heart of Texas Behavioral Health Network by managing contract processes across our entire agency.

The Contract Specialist performs complex contract duties to include developing, analyzing, evaluating, reviewing, processing, ensuring applicable compliance, inspecting, implementing, and monitoring contracts and grants that are set up with federal, state and local governmental entities as well as other organizations and private entities. Work will require working together as a team with the Contracts Management Team, Chief Executive Officer and senior leadership and extensive contact with governmental agencies and private entities.

As a result of duties of the positions, the candidate must have knowledge of state procurement and contract management requirements, regulations and best practices.

EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED (not all inclusive):

• Negotiates, develops and prepares leases, permits, contracts, and other property agreements.

• Inspects properties with maintenance supervisor to ensure that they are safe and to determine need for maintenance or repairs.

• Works under limited supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgement

• Develops solicitations, contracts, and amendments by identifying provider resources, describing services to be rendered, evaluation of information supplied by bidders, and negotiating contract specifications using State of Texas guidelines, rules, policies and laws.

• Monitors contract performance by examining billings, fiscal data, and eligibility determinations for compliance with terms of contract and policies.

• Monitors contractor requirements: license, certification, training, and insurance for compliance

• Completes quarterly contract monitoring process to ensure contractor quality and compliance

• Administers the billing process and eligibility monitoring functions for contract billings

• Evaluates expenditure data and makes projections to ensure appropriate use of funds.

• Reviews fiscal expenditure reports for completeness, appropriateness and accuracy.

• Serves as a liaison with contract providers to ensure participation is consistent with program, legal and fiscal requirements

• Coordinate the risk assessment process for contract monitoring and planning.

• Coordinate with Procurement Manager to facilitate some of the more complex procurement-related meetings such as kick-off and pre-proposal meetings, post-award conferences, team briefings and evaluation scoring

• Negotiate contracts, contract renewals, and amendments

• Monitor legal and regulatory requirements pertaining to contracting.

• Develop bid evaluation scoring instruments.

• Recommend updates for solicitations, contract boilerplate language, and other contract related documents.

• Advise internal and external stakeholders on contract administration, policies and procedures.

• Provide input regarding the cancellation of contracts when deviations occur.

• Prepare specifications for requests for bids.

• Resolve audit exceptions by defining causes of errors and recommending appropriate dispositions.

• Assist with fleet management
• Assist with procurement when necessary
• Other duties, as assigned

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of state procurement and contract management requirements, regulations and best practices; negotiating contracts; developing contracts; business administration and accounting principles and practices; and policies and procedures of contract management.

• Minimum 3 years of experience developing contracts Preferred; certification is preferred but not required.

• Experience in monitoring state contracts is preferred but not required

• Skill in problem solving and in the use of a computer and applicable software.

• A team player attitude is required to succeed in a cross-departmental team…