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Posted: 10-Mar-25
Location: Carson, California
Type: Full Time
Categories:
Required Education:
Resumes will not be accepted as a substitute for a fully completed District Online Application. However, a cover letter and resume is required to be attached, as they provide valuable information for the evaluation process. The most qualified candidates will be invited to proceed to the next stage, which includes a panel interview.
ABOUT WEST BASIN:
West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin or District) is a global leader in water recycling, conservation, resource management, and education. West Basin provides drinking and recycled water to several local retail water agencies including six cities, three private water companies, one county water agency, and one groundwater management agency. The District serves a population of nearly one million residents in 17 cities and unincorporated areas along the coastal corridor from the Palos Verdes peninsula to the City of Malibu. The District is governed by an elected five-member Board of Directors and is a member agency of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
West Basin operates the Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility (ECLWRF) in El Segundo, California, three satellite treatment plants in the cities of El Segundo, Torrance, and Carson, and over 100 miles of pipelines across the South Bay area of Los Angeles County. The ECLWRF is the largest recycled water treatment facility of its type, providing nearly 40 million gallons of recycled water each day to over 400 sites. West Basin utilizes various advanced treatment processes to produce five types of “fit-for-purpose” waters used for irrigation, commercial, industrial, and groundwater replenishment purposes.
West Basin is an equal opportunity employer, promoting diversity in its recruitment process and programs. The District is committed to customer service and seeks to provide its customers with the most qualified and exceptional professional services through those they employ while offering an excellent benefits package to its employees.
THE POSITION:
West Basin is seeking a skilled Contracts and Procurement Specialist I/II (Specialist) who, under general direction, will independently manage purchasing transactions for various materials, supplies, services, and equipment, ensuring compliance with West Basin standards, policies, and all applicable legal requirements. The Specialist will be responsible for sourcing and negotiating purchases within their established authority, creating solicitations for goods and contracted services, and performing other related duties as assigned.
The Contracts and Procurement Specialist I is an entry-level class. For this position, the individual will learn and perform a variety of assignments (non-complex) with guidance and direction.
The Contracts and Procurement Specialist II is the journey-level class in this series. For this position, the individual will independently manage the full range of contracts and procurement duties with minimal guidance and direction.
Key responsibilities are:
- Performs a variety of procurement-related duties in the review, sourcing, negotiation, and receipt of goods and services to ensure they are in accordance with the District’s requirements.
- Administers, interprets, and provides guidance on District procurement, contracting, and purchasing policies and procedures; handles technical inquiries on contract administration; advises District staff on the suitability of contract changes, how to prepare and process requisitions, and appropriate use of contracts or purchase orders.
- Creates solicitation packages, evaluates bids, conducts cost analysis, and recommends suppliers or contractors. Researches new sources of supply and compares vendor offerings for proposals.
- Recommends the development and/or revision of policies and procedures within assigned areas of responsibility; assists with the development of departmental procedures and forms to increase effectiveness and efficiency.
- Prepares a wide variety of contractual agreements and documents, performance schedules, and specifications; evaluates and revises contractual terms and conditions as appropriate; processes contract documents, contract amendments, equipment leases, and other documents; coordinates contract negotiations and other activities with District departments and staff, and contractors; coordinates and monitors contract approval processes to ensure timely completion.
- Reviews required contract and purchase order insurance requirements and certificates. Communicate any risk to the Contracts and Procurement Supervisor.
- Issues and closes purchase orders for a variety of materials, supplies, equipment leases, and services; confers with departments to resolve contract and purchase order problems relating to changes in scopes of work, requests for substitutions, and problems with delivery schedules and vendors; follows up on purchase orders to ensure products are received in a correct and timely manner; conducts research with vendors and others to resolve invoice disputes; drafts vendor correspondence and documents; analyzes and evaluates contractual problems.
- Assist with the District's Small and Local Business Enterprise Program; assists and co-lead the semi-annual vendor outreach webinar in conjunction with other public agencies; researches and attends outreach events, representing the District and sharing upcoming solicitations; participates in the creation of semi-annual vendor newsletters; conducts external customer surveys; presents on the status of the program to the Board on an annual basis; is the main point of contact for vendors during e-procurement transitions; responds to District wide requests from vendors.
- Ensures vendor compliance with contract terms. Issues and supports purchase orders, and resolves issues related to delivery, scope changes, and invoice disputes. Perform Vendor reconciliation.
- Manages and reconciles processes and transactions related to the District’s credit card procedures.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- A bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, finance, or a related field is required.
- One or more years of increasingly responsible procurement and contract administration experience.
- Contracts and Procurement Specialist I will require 1 to 3 years of experience within a government organization.
- Contracts and Procurement Specialist II will require more than 3 years of experience within a government organization.
- Experience within local government or public agency is required.
The ideal candidate will also have:
- Knowledge of operations, services, and activities of a procurement program.
- Knowledge of principles, practices, methods and techniques of public purchasing and contracting including competitive solicitation procedures
- Knowledge of principles, practices and techniques of drafting and administering purchase contracts and enforcing contract provisions.
- Knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations and the District’s Procurement Policy governing District procurement activities
- Knowledge of principles and practices of contractual risk transfer; methods of conducting product and vendor research.
- Knowledge of small and local business enterprise guidelines and standards.
- Knowledge of procedures, standards, and methods relating to insurance requirements for contracting; public sector procurement and contracting
- Knowledge of project management concepts related to public agency procurement and district labor contract provisions
- Ability to perform the full range of procurement-related duties and responsibilities; define issues and analyze information and problems.
- Ability to present proposals and recommended courses of action clearly and logically.
- Ability to negotiate cost-effective contracts and purchase orders based on quality, quantity, and price; make sound judgments within established guidelines.
- Ability to interpret and apply ethical and legal aspects of public procurement practices; understand, interpret, explain, and apply District and state law and regulations governing purchasing and contracting procedures.
- Ability to draft concise and comprehensive contracts, purchase orders, and specifications.
- Ability to analyze and assess contractual risk and apply appropriate contractual risk transfer methods.
- Ability to operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.
- Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships.
- Designation of Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) is desirable.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
West Basin is seeking to fill one position, with the title depending on the candidate's experience. The selected individual will be hired as either a Contracts and Procurement Specialist I, $84,316 to $105,309 or Contracts and Procurement Specialist II, the annual salary range is $98,351 to $122,940 based on qualifications. This position is eligible for District benefits.
APPLICATION INFORMATION:
Application Deadline: Open until Filled, first review will be Friday, March 21, 2025. To apply, please visit www.westbasin.org. For questions or additional information, contact the West Basin Municipal Water District, Human Resources Department via email at hr@westbasin.org.