Rural Texas Strong - Procurement Specialist in Austin, TX

Description

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.

Functional Title: Rural Texas Strong - Procurement Specialist 
Job Title: Contract Specialist V 
Agency: Health & Human Services Comm 
Department: OBBBA RHTP CFO Admin 
Posting Number: 16849 
Closing Date: 07/10/2026 
Posting Audience: Internal and External 
Occupational Category: Business and Financial Operations 
Salary Range: $7,155.75 - $8,200.00 
Pay Frequency: Monthly
Salary Group: TEXAS-B-24 
Shift: Day 
Additional Shift:  
Telework: Eligible for Telework 
Travel: Up to 10% 
Regular/Temporary: Regular 
Full Time/Part Time: Full time 
FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Nonexempt 
Facility Location:  
Job Location City: AUSTIN 
Job Location Address: 4601 W GUADALUPE ST 
Other Locations:  
MOS Codes: 3006,3044,8640,310X,36A,36B,51C,60C0,62S0,63G0,63S0,64PX,651X,6C0X1,751X,FIN10,F&S,LS,LSS,SEI16,SK 
 
 
 

Brief Job Description

The Rural Texas Strong Contract Specialist V serves as a highly advanced (senior level) for the Texas Rural Health Transformation Program (RHT), managing all stages of the contract lifecycle. Under the direction of the Contract Administration Manager, duties include managing the full contract lifecycle, including solicitation development, negotiations, financial oversight, risk analysis, and vendor performance monitoring. This position performs highly advanced (expert-level) contract administration work under minimum supervision and works under a high degree of autonomy. The Contract Specialist V must exercise sound judgment and independently initiate appropriate contract administration actions. This position facilitates cross-functional collaboration with leadership, staff, and stakeholders across multiple divisions and governmental agencies. This position will serve as a subject matter expert in all contract management activities related to the RHT Program.

Essential Job Functions

Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policies.

1. Contract Development and Management (25%):

• Conducts market research to determine the availability of services and/or technology during the procurement planning phase.
• Determines internal stakeholder procurement needs through conducting requirement gathering sessions.
• Works with stakeholders to develop negotiation strategies and leads negotiations as needed.
• Serves as a contract manager and subject matter expert on  interagency agreements, contracts, grants, licensing agreements, and subscriptions.
• Initiates, monitors, tracks, and reconciles activities related to purchase requisitions, budget projections,  contract expenditures, cost variances, milestones, deliverables, vendor performance, invoices, and other contract management activities.
• Facilitates and attends meetings as needed with internal and external stakeholders as related to contract administration.
• Performs quality assurance and audit to ensure compliance with state laws and/or regulations, best practices, as well as HHSC policies, regulations, and contract provisions.

1. Contract Record Management (25%):

• Processes all required contract documentation and checklists within 10 business days of the contract's effective date.
• Ensures all contract documentation is maintained and uploaded in the system of record (SCOR) for all contracts.
• Maintains contract documentation and checklists in SCOR to ensure contract records are up-to-date and incompliance with HHS and agency policies.
• Retains accurate contract documentation to ensure compliance with state law and/or regulations, best practices, as well as HHSC policies and contract provisions.
• Responds to audit inquiries and ensure documentation supports contract decisions and actions.
• Participates and contributes to continuous process improvements activities including developing internal contract policies and procedures.
• Performs all SCOR related contract closeout activities upon contract expiration and within required agency timeframes.

1. Vendor Monitoring (25%):
   • Monitors contract performance by examining billings, fiscal data, and eligibility determinations for compliance with terms of contract and policies.
   • Reviews the supporting documentation related to contract billing for eligibility.
   • Tracks, manages, and documents contract budgets, deliverable statuses, milestone completions, contract expenditures, performance data, invoicing, and other contract events throughout the contract lifecycle.
   • Monitors contractor performance by reviewing contractor expenditures data, contract documentation, performance reports, technical assistance, training documentation, and other pertinent documentation relating to contractor performance.
   • Communicates to department leadership and agency staff contract management results and recommends appropriate contract actions.
2. Stakeholder Engagement (15%):
   • Provides excellent customer service through written and oral communication with contractors and internal stakeholders.
   • Assists contractors and HHSC staff on contract issues, contract management guidelines, and interprets HHS procurement and contract policies and procedures.
   • Serves as a liaison for the CFO division with various divisions within HHS to include, but not limited to: HHS Contract Management Support, HHS Legal, HHS Information Technology (IT), and HHS Procurement and Contracting Services (PCS).
   • Maintains CFO-Procurements and Contracts internal policies and procedures and recommends changes to align with best practices, Comptroller guidelines, and agency policies and procedures.
3. Risk Assessments (10%):
   • Coordinates the risk assessment process for contract monitoring and planning.
   • Facilitates collaborative meetings with other department contract managers to determine monitoring events schedule and finalize monitoring plan.
   • Monitors reviews to encompass both financial and programmatic compliance.
   • Performs SCOR audit and work with all pertinent parties to resolve identified issues outlining criteria/requirements/processes and recommending appropriate dispositions.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Intermediate knowledge of:

• Contract management practices, tools, strategies, and cost monitoring for large scope or high-dollar contracts; of system and procedures used to evaluate a third-party vendor's performance; and of local, state, and federal laws and regulations relevant to the administration of federal funds.
• Purchasing and procurement methods and procedures, state procurement principles and practices, assigned commodities and products on the open market, supply sources, and principles of business administration and accounting.
• Organizational planning, organizational development, and implementation methods needed to establish and administer complex contracts.
• State of Texas procurement laws, regulations, procedures, principles, practices, and contract management guidelines.

Proficient Skill in:

• Leading and conducting meetings within internal and external stakeholders using Teams/Go-To-Meetings/Go-to-Webinars or related products.
• Synthesizing, analyzing, and evaluating extremely complicated and technical information and translating that information into clear and concise documents or presentations.
• Making effective presentations and preparing reports; excellent written and oral communications skills.
• Establishing quality assurance and performance measurement tools.
• Preparing written analyses and administrative reports and special projects as assigned.
• Analyzing and solving problems and making recommendations affecting overall contracting activities; and comprehensively and accurately evaluating different types of administrative reports.

Demonstrated Ability to:

• Gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts; to devise solutions to problems; to prepare reports; to communicate effectively; and ability to train others.
• Work independently and efficiently in an autonomous environment and  takes ownership of procurement projects from conception to completion.
• Adapt to rapid changes as needed to address workload and priorities.
• Rapidly resolve complex problems using critical thinking.
• Manage and track contracts in compliance with HHS policies.
• Work in a professional setting with diverse groups, stakeholders, agency departments, leadership, and contractors.
• Establish and maintain positive, effective working relationships with others.

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications:

Certified Texas Contract Manager (CTCM) and Certified Texas Contract Developer (CTCD) required.

Initial Screening Criteria:

1. Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university. A degree with major coursework in business administration, human resource management, finance, public administration, or a related field is generally preferred. Contract management experience and education may be substituted for one another on a year-for-year basis for up to four years.
2. A minimum of three (3) consecutive years of demonstrated experience in managing and monitoring complex contracts for state governments.
3. Five (5) years of experience in contract and financial monitoring preferred.

Additional Information:

Applicants who fail to follow the written instructions to complete the State of Texas Employment Application may be disqualified. All applicable fields must be filled. Incomplete job history (i.e., employment dates not provided, job description left blank or does not describe the work performed) will not be reviewed. To be considered for an interview, applicants must demonstrate a clear match to all Initial Selection Criteria in the summary of experience sections of the application. Resumes may be considered but must meet all application and job requirements.

Any employment offer is contingent upon available budgeted funds. The salary offered will be determined in accordance with budgetary limits and the requirements of the HHSC Human Resources Manual. The salary for the position will not go below the posting salary minimum or higher than the posting salary maximum.

At the time of posting, this position is eligible for telework consistent with HHSC telework policy, which is subject to change. Employees may be required to work in the office one or more days a week. The person selected for this position must have internet access for teleworking.

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Active Duty, Military, Reservists, Guardsmen, and Veterans:

Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited to those listed in this posting. All active-duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified to fill this position. For more information please see the Texas State Auditor's Job Descriptions, Military Crosswalk and Military Crosswalk Guide at Texas State Auditor's Office - Job Descriptions.

ADA Accommodations:

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHSC and DSHS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.

Pre-Employment Checks and Work Eligibility:

Depending on the program area and position requirements, applicants selected for hire may be required to pass background and other due diligence checks.

HHSC uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work. Download the I-9 Form

Telework Disclaimer:

This position may be eligible for telework.  Please note, all HHS positions are subject to state and agency telework policies in addition to the discretion of the direct supervisor and business needs.