Contract Specialist

at  City of Edmonton

Job Number: 51020
Join our team as a Contract Specialist and play a pivotal role in managing the City’s diverse contract portfolio. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to oversee the entire contract lifecycle, from initiation to closeout. This position offers the opportunity to exercise your expertise in contract administration, risk management, and supplier relations.
You will operate with a high degree of autonomy, using your professional judgment and strategic thinking to ensure contract compliance and deliver best value to the City.
While the majority of contracts fall within the low to intermediate risk range, you will also provide valuable insights on higher-risk procurements, ensuring comprehensive risk management. If you are a seasoned contract professional seeking a challenging and impactful role, we invite you to apply.

SKILLS REQUIRED FOR SUCCESS:

• Excellent/detailed knowledge and understanding of contract management best practices, policies, procedures, tender/contract law, trade agreements and various procurement strategies/approaches
• Strong ability to determine appropriate contract management approach and oversight sufficient to the contract to ensure compliance and expected value
• Proven ability to identify where non-standard processes should apply; make recommendations and seek approval for action as required
• Perform work with a high degree of accuracy and completeness of files/documentation
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to rapidly changing situations and conflicting priorities while maintaining a high degree of professionalism
• Highly independent; ability to take initiative and be resourceful
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment
• Strong ability to develop and maintain effective and professional working relationships with colleagues, business areas and suppliers. Displays confidence in interactions with business areas and suppliers
• Excellent listening, verbal and written communication skills. Ability to lead/facilitate meetings with business areas and suppliers
• Excellent customer service skills
• Solid analytical, critical thinking, decision-making and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated ability to identify risks and mitigation strategies in procurement processes
• Self-motivated and willingness to participate in professional development and learning opportunities
• Demonstrate the key behaviours and attributes of the City’s six leadership competencies: Courage, Inclusivity, Values-Based Influencer, Collaborative Networker, Systems Thinker and Creative Innovator
• Alignment to our Cultural Commitments and Leadership Competencies (https://bit.ly/4brRrXm)
• Embracing a culture of equity, diversity, reconciliation and inclusion (https://bit.ly/3hd2d95)
• Applicants may be tested

Qualifications:

• Completion of a University Degree in a related discipline such as public administration, public policy, supply chain, business, or project management and 4 years of relevant full-time work experience, including at least three (3) years experience in a corporate centralized supply chain environment performing end to end contract management responsibilitiesOR
• Completion of a two-year post-secondary diploma OR associate degree in a related discipline such as public administration, public policy, supply chain management, business, or project management and 6 years relevant full-time work experience, including a minimum of three (3) years experience in a corporate centralized supply chain environment performing end to end contract management responsibilitie

• In collaboration with Operational Contract Users, strategize and lead the implementation of new contracts, including formal contract kick-off meetings
• Discuss contract management needs with Operational Contract Users and, as required, ensure these components are built into the scope of work, including but not limited to service level agreements (SLA) and key performance indicators (KPI)
• Develop the contract management plan for high-risk contracts in collaboration with the Operational Contract Users
• Where required, proactively identifies and manages contract risks to mitigate them in advance to successfully meet organizational obligations and achieve the planned outcomes of the contract, and actively participate in meetings to anticipate demand, evaluate business requirements and identify optimization opportunities
• Provide strategic advice to leadership, Operational Contract Users, and other appropriate stakeholders throughout the contract lifecycle
• Works proactively with business areas, and other leaders to establish and maintain stakeholder and supplier relationships to identify and minimize risk, and maximize the value of the contract, particularly for high-risk and complex contracts
• Lead and establish the supplier performance management plans of all assigned contracts using standardized metrics, ie. key performance indicators and/or service level agreements in accordance with the Manage Supplier Performance procedure
• Leading and supporting Operational Contract Users in resolving disputes as they arise, establishing dispute resolution strategy and executing
• Lead contract close-out process and ensure supplier performance feedback is gathered for future reference and manage performance issues
• Review compliance and completion of deliverables before formal contract closure
• Working with Contract Administrator/Assistant ensure the completion of contract closeout documentation

Qualifications:

• Completion of a University Degree in a related discipline such as public administration, public policy, supply chain, business, or project management and 4 years of relevant full-time work experience, including at least three (3) years experience in a corporate centralized supply chain environment performing end to end contract management responsibilitiesOR
• Completion of a two-year post-secondary diploma OR associate degree in a related discipline such as public administration, public policy, supply chain management, business, or project management and 6 years relevant full-time work experience, including a minimum of three (3) years experience in a corporate centralized supply chain environment performing end to end contract management responsibilities