Procurement & Contracts Officer

The Superior Court of California, County of Riverside is seeking an experienced and strategic procurement professional to serve as our Procurement & Contracts Officer. This senior management opportunity is ideal for an experienced procurement leader who can balance strategic priorities, regulatory compliance, operational needs, and strong stakeholder partnerships to support the Court’s objectives.

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Procurement & Contracts Officer leads the Court's procurement and contracting operations and provides expert guidance to executives and managers on procurement strategies, contracts, sourcing, risk, and regulatory requirements.  

The Opportunity

As Procurement & Contracts Officer, you'll provide leadership across the full procurement and contract lifecycle, from sourcing and competitive solicitations through negotiation, contract execution, performance monitoring, renewal, and closeout. You'll have the opportunity to strengthen procurement practices, develop policies and procedures, advise leadership on complex contracting matters, and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, manage expenses, and better support Court-wide operational needs. 

What You'll Lead

In this role, you will:

• Direct and evaluate the Court's procurement and contracting operations, including RFPs, RFQs, RFIs, and non-competitive procurements.
• Manage the full procurement lifecycle, including sourcing, market research, vendor evaluation, solicitation, negotiation, contract development, execution, monitoring, renewal, and closeout.
• Develop and implement procurement policies, procedures, guidelines, and internal controls.
• Ensure compliance with applicable requirements, including Judicial Branch Contract Law, Public Contract Code, the Local Contracting Manual, Rules of Court, and other applicable mandates.
• Advise Court executives, managers, and stakeholders on procurement strategies, contract terms, sourcing options, compliance, and risk.
• Evaluate contractor and supplier performance and address issues involving quality, service levels, deliverables, and contract terms.
• Conduct contract reviews, risk assessments, and compliance evaluations.
• Partner with General Counsel on high-value and high-risk purchases and develop recommendations for executive consideration.
• Provide guidance regarding exemptions, emergency purchases, and sole-source procurements.
• Lead audit preparation and implementation of improvements resulting from audit findings.
• Supervise, mentor, develop, and evaluate staff while promoting accountability and excellent customer service.

The Leader We're Looking For

We're looking for a strategic thinker, skilled negotiator, collaborative leader, and trusted advisor who can navigate complex procurement issues while keeping the Court's broader goals in focus.

The successful candidate will be comfortable interpreting laws and policies, developing sound procurement strategies, making recommendations on complex issues, and building consensus among stakeholders with different priorities. This role requires the ability to communicate complex information persuasively, exercise expert independent judgment, and approach sensitive matters with tact and diplomacy. 

Minimum Qualifications

Candidates should possess a combination of education and experience that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for successful performance, such as a bachelor's degree with major coursework in public or business administration, criminal justice, finance, economics, or a closely related field.

Candidates must also possess six years of increasingly responsible procurement and contract administration experience, including experience with competitive bidding, developing specifications, writing justifications, and managing contract lifecycles. 

A qualifying Certified Purchasing Manager certification, master's degree, or Juris Doctor may substitute for two years of the required experience. Additional qualifying work experience may substitute for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis. 

Experience in a supervisory capacity or with a California Trial Court or government agency is desirable. Professional credentials such as Certified Purchasing Manager, Certified Professional in Supply Management, Certified Professional Contracts Manager, or a Juris Doctor are also desirable.

For a complete list of the qualifications and essential duties, please refer to the job description.Riverside is the fourth largest county in California and the 10th largest in the United States. There are fourteen court facilities spanning 7,300 square miles that serves Riverside’s 2.4 million residents. The courts and its employees hold a unique role in the public sector. The mission of the Riverside Superior Court is, “…in a fair, accessible, effective, and efficient manner, resolve disputes arising under the law and interpret and apply the law consistently, impartially, and independently to protect the rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitutions of California and of the United States.”

All applicants are required to submit a completed online application and supplemental questionnaire. To learn more about how to create an application, click HERE.

Résumés will not be accepted in lieu of the required application and supplemental questionnaire.

Human Resources will review applications to identify candidates who meet the minimum qualifications; therefore, it is to your benefit to include all current and previous related work experience. When listing Court experience, please include dates and classification of each position held, if more than one.

Selection Procedures:

This recruitment will remain open until the needs of the Court have been met and may close at any time. However, the deadline to apply for first round consideration is Sunday, October 18, 2026, at 11:59 PM PST. 

All applications will be reviewed to identify candidates who meet the minimum qualifications; those candidates deemed most qualified may be invited to an online or written assessment, if applicable. Candidates who take and successfully pass the assessment may be invited to an oral panel interview. Candidates who are successful in the interview may be placed on an eligible list. Placement on an eligible list is not a guarantee of employment. Additional steps for the selection process may include a comprehensive background check and drug test.

Status Notifications

You will be notified by email and/or text message during the process of this recruitment through governmentjobs.com. Please check your email spam/junk folders and accept emails ending with governmentjobs.com and riverside.courts.ca.gov. If your information changes, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com.

Reasonable Accommodations

Riverside Superior Court provides reasonable accommodations upon request for applicants with disabilities. Please contact the Human Resources Department at 951-777-3017 or [email protected] if you feel you will need an accommodation for any aspect of the selection process. The Human Resources Department requests that it be advised of special needs at least five days prior to the examination so that a reasonable accommodation may be made.