Contracts & Procurement Unit Manager

This role represents an important organizational shift– creating a dedicated unit and manager for procurement and contracting activities in recognition of the exponential growth in our capital program, changing needs of our operations & maintenance partners, as well as the Countywide priority of compliance and financial stewardship. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to influence long-term change, limit risk, protect county resources, and lead a high-functioning team in ongoing process improvement.

About the Role

The Contracts & Procurement Unit Manager position leads a critical team responsible for ensuring effective, efficient, and timely support to agency procurement and contract administration as well as contract compliance. You will serve in a key Finance & Administration leadership role that reports to the Chief Financial Officer and collaborates with other Finance unit managers and supervisors to ensure the suite of Finance services are provided with unified and coordinated excellence. 

This position will have two direct reporting supervisors with the potential for additional team growth. This includes a Capital Procurement & Work Order Team, as a well as a Goods, Services, and Technology Contracts & Procurement team. This is an opportunity to serve the people that live, work, and play in King County by leading the Contracts & Procurement Unit for one of the largest wastewater utilities on the west coast. You will lead the way through active engagement with staff to foster an anti-racist, pro-equity workplace where everyone can thrive, and work with Finance leadership and Division partners to ensure services are equitably provided to the residents of King County. You will foster relationships, collaboration, and teamwork across units and the division, so the division functions as “One King County.”

About the Team

This position is within WTD’s Finance and Administration(F&A)Section, which serves the essential role of ensuring that financial resources are in place to fund the Division’s priorities and decision-making is well-informed regarding financial risk, optimization trade-offs, financial equity, and compliance. In managing WTD’s large portfolio of financial activities and processes, F&A performs numerous functions including rate-setting, budget development and oversight, capital finance, contracting, technology services, central service administration, accounting, audit and compliance, payroll, utility billing, and more. In F&A we value cultivating a culture where you are encouraged to challenge the status quo and offer new ideas while building and maintaining enduring relationships.

King County Wastewater Treatment Division’s mission is to protect public health and the environment by collecting and cleaning wastewater while recovering valuable resources for a thriving Puget Sound region. We manage one of the largest wastewater treatment systems in the nation for nearly 2million people. Our diverse organization of more than 1,000 employees is committed to being at the forefront of environmental sustainability while delivering strong value to public dollars and outstanding and equitable service to our customers. If you’re passionate about making a difference and thrive in a highly collaborative and dynamic workplace, join us in creating clean water for the people who live, work, and play in King County – now and for generations to come. You can find more information about WTD in our 2025 2025 Community Report.

Commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice:

King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a Contracts & Procurement Unit Manager you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equityWhat you will be doing:

• Work with the team supervisors to facilitate procurement, contract administration and compliance
• Coordinate with other King County departments such as the Finance and Business Operation Division (FBOD) as needed to support the work of this unit, resolve issues, and represent WTD initiatives and interests
• Ensure Finance provides exceptional service to our partners and colleagues across WTD
• Build and invest in the unit team including hiring, training, facilitating resources for career advancement opportunities, and performance management and evaluation (providing guidance, support, identifying development needs, resolving issues)
• Lead change management efforts to identify and reassign appropriate contracting/purchasing/procurement bodies of work from teams outside of finance to appropriate unit staff
• Stay apprised of relevant changes to County code, state law, and federal funding requirements on procurement
• Work closely with the Project Control Officer to ensure contract compliance
  

Qualifications you bring:

• Advanced experience with procuring and administering WA state construction, architecture, and engineering contracts
• Advanced experience with procuring and administering WA state goods, services, and technology contracts including purchased services
• Experience monitoring for vendor compliance with prevailing wage, Davis Bacon, and other relevant requirements
• Supervision or leadership experience
• Experience with large government agencies
  

Competencies you bring:

Customer Focus: Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions
Decision Quality: Making good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward
Strategic Mindset: Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies
Manages Conflict: Handling conflict situations effectively, with a minimum of noise
Plans and Aligns: Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals

It would be great if you also bring:

Experience with wastewater utilities
Experience with King County procurement and contracting requirements
Working Conditions:

• Work Location:  The team works in a hybrid model, with days in the office as well as telecommuting. The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs. The primary onsite location is the collaboration space at King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson, Seattle, Washington 98104. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.
• Work Schedule: This full-time position works a 40-hour work week. This position is exempt from the overtime provision of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible
• Union Representation: This position is represented by Local 117 WTD Section & Assist Mgr Union

Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Application Process

If you are interested in pursuing this position and supporting King County’s vision for unified, equitable, and high-performing government, please follow the application instructions carefully. Provide us with your work history as applicable, ensuring that you provide details that highlight your ability to fulfill the requirements for this position.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, or you would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact Dan Sherman at [email protected].

King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us.

King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.