Contract Specialist (COM 3)

at  State of Washington Dept of Commerce

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Seven years total of professional experience in community, trade or economic development with a focus in
  community services and housing.

OR

• Seven years total combination of professional experience, and post-high school equivalent formal education

(including college level coursework, technical and/or vocational education and/or certification programs.
Combinations could include but not are not limited to:
o Associates degree AND five years of professional experience in community, trade or economic
development with a focus in community services and housing.
OR
o Bachelors degree AND three years of professional experience in community, trade or economic

development with a focus in community services and housing.

• A graduate or advanced degree may substitute for one year of the required professional experience.
• Knowledge of real estate or lending contracts and transactions including partnership structures.

PREFERRED/DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Knowledge of Microsoft suite, including strong Word and Excel and proof-reading skills
• Experience or knowledge with development and/or financing of multifamily housing
• Experience or knowledge of affordable housing, such as the Housing Trust Fund, the Low Income Housing Tax

Credit, the federal HOME, or National Housing Trust Fund programs

• Notary experience or license.
• Paralegal experience or certification
• Limited Practice Officer experience or certification
• Ability to openly and honestly communicate; actively engage co-workers and contractors; develop interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work well with diverse groups and personalities
• Ability to work well under stress and meet tight deadlines
• Ability to identify and advocate for change necessary to streamline systems, enhance customer service, and

improve efficiency and effectiveness.

against the contract requirements.

• Ensure insurance documents are properly imaged and indexed. Notify Project/Asse

system requirements.

• Provide guidance to unit staff on the use of data and imaging systems.
• Act as back up to CMS Super user for the unit

TASKS:

• Prepare, draft, review, and coordinate the execution of capital contracts for loans and grants
  or amendments for the state HTF and federal HOME and NHTF programs, including all
  related legal and security documents such as, Promissory Notes, Assignment Agreements,

Deeds of Trust, Covenant Agreements, and Priority and Subordination Agreements.

• Determine the correct forms, templates, documents, and language needed based on

documented instructions.

• Prepare loan terms and amortization schedules including interest and payment deferrals

and security documents for new contracts and/or amendments, ensuring that program and

legal standards are met.

• Develop contracts and related legal documents by working directly with contractors,

attorneys, title company officers, developers, as well as internal project and asset

managers.

• Collaborate with the unit project managers and asset managers to coordinate and

participate in negotiations with contractors, attorneys, title/escrow company officers, and
developers to complete and administer the unit’s legal and security documents, including
but not limited to: Promissory Notes, Assignment and Assumption Agreements, Deeds of
Trust, Covenant Agreements, and Priority and Subordination Agreements.

TASKS INCLUDE:

• Make recommendations to higher-level staff and management regarding the development
  of contracting and legal templates, as well as related policies under the HTF and the

federal HOME and NHTF programs.

• Develop and maintain processes and procedures for newly created or established

templates for contract and legal documentation (as listed above), as well as related work
methods and information systems, while ensuring program policies and legal requirements

are met.

• In collaboration with higher level staff, perform analysis and interpretation of current

legislation, budget provisos, state and federal regulations, legal issues, contract terminology
and industry practices, and assist with drafting policies related to program contracts and
other legal documents related to real estate and housing finance transactions pertinent to

the unit’s programs and projects.

• Maintain reporting and tracking tools related to necessary legal review with the Commerce

Contracts Manager.

TASKS INCLUDE:

• Input and verify data, conduct queries, and generate reports in the appropriate database

systems (internal and external).

• Enter contract, contact, organization name, and other data in the Contracts Management

System (CMS) and the Housing Contracts Management System (HCMS) databases.

• Enter and verify entries in CMS prior to submitting contracts and amendments to the

Commerce Fiscal Unit.

• Track receipt of insurance certificates from contractors and verify information on certificate

against the contract requirements.

• Ensure insurance documents are properly imaged and indexed. Notify Project/Asset

Manager, contractor of discrepancies and delinquencies.

• Assign contract numbers to new contracts and maintain log.
• Receive and process project name changes notifications from contractors and verify

completeness. Resolve discrepancies with contractors, as needed.

• Prepare correspondence to notify the unit of change, update databases, add

correspondence to imaging, complete log, and maintain file.

• Oversee and provide quality management of document tracking, retention, and imaging

system requirements.

• Provide guidance to unit staff on the use of data and imaging systems.
• Act as back up to CMS Super user for the unit.

TASKS:

• Propose contract language and policy related to program contracts and other legal

agreements.

• Perform analysis and interpretation, and propose improvement, of unit contracts and legal

documents