Contracts Manager- Warranted Procurement Officer

Job Description:

Contracts Manager- Warranted Procurement Officer

Description

About Us:

Hello! We're the Justice Information Technology Services (JITS) team at the Montana Department of Justice (DOJ). We serve the Montana Attorney General providing vital Information Technology (IT) infrastructure which Montanan's rely upon to support state and local law enforcement. Our team is dynamic and collaborative, and we have a big impact. We manage the IT systems, services, and interfaces to support approximately 900 DOJ employees, and over 3,000 Criminal Justice Information Network (CJIN) customers across the state working together to make a difference. JITS supports DOJ staff involved with legal cases concerning the State and its people, Montana missing persons, victim services, children's justice, consumer protection, criminal investigations, highway safety, motor vehicle operations, gambling control, criminal history information, and forensic laboratory services.

This is a long list of vital services but if you enjoy diversity, this challenging, exciting, and rewarding position may be what you are looking for.

The Role:

We are looking for a skilled Contracts Manager who will be responsible for managing and overseeing all aspects of the procurement lifecycle within DOJ. This includes support and assistance in the development of the scope and specifications, drafts and reviews Invitation for Bids (IFB) and Requests for Proposal (RFP), reviews, and compares vendor documents; evaluates proposals and bids; drafts, edits, negotiates, reviews, interprets and clarifies contract provisions, legal requirements, terms, conditions, specifications, and quotations; recommends contracts for award; supports divisions in monitoring contracts/agreements for statutory and terms compliance; responds to inquiries in regards to contract management. This position is also responsible for ensuring that all contracts comply with the organization's internal policies and procedures.

The contracts manager works closely with various groups within the organization, including IT, legal, procurement, and finance, to ensure that contracts are aligned with the organization's strategic objectives and budgetary constraints.

Overall, the contracts manager plays a critical role in ensuring that contracts are executed effectively and efficiently, while also managing the organization's contractual relationships with external vendors and service providers.

What You'll Do:

• Analyze and research goods and services to determine reasonable prices. Analyze and research goods and services to determine reasonable prices.
• Research and collaborate with agency staff to obtain and maintain a working technical knowledge about goods and services in order to develop specifications and contract terms.
• Evaluate and monitor contract performance to ensure compliance with contractual obligations, to determine need for contract modifications and recommend appropriate remedies for non-compliance.
• Ensure compliance with laws, rules, policy, and processes related to procurement.
• Prepare purchase orders, contracts, solicit bid and proposals, and review requisitions for goods and services for restrictive requirements.
• Ensure compliance with conditions of grants by monitoring and analyzing agreements, contracts, expenses, and activities.
• Supports and assists the planning, creation, writing, and negotiating for hardware, software licensing, and service legal agreements.
• Support divisions in monitoring IT contract performance to ensure compliance with contractual obligations, to determine the need for contract modifications and recommend appropriate remedies for non-compliance.
• Ensures contract compliance with internal and external requirements and supports negotiations on needed amendments or change orders.

What We're Looking For:

• You will serve as the main point of contact for contracts and procurement, bridging communication between all DOJ teams and the State Procurement Services Division.
• Knowledge and experience in Information Technology (IT) procurements are a significant advantage due to the high volume of IT contracts within the DOJ.
• This role is ideal for a proactive, results-oriented individual who enjoys rolling up their sleeves while maintaining a focus on the organization's strategic vision.
• NOTE: Don't quite meet the requirements, but still confident you could crush it as a Contracts and Warranted Procurement Officer? Show us. Other combinations of education and experience will be considered.

Why Join Us?

• Awesome Benefits: Paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, health, dental, vision coverage, and retirement plans.
• Student Loan Forgiveness: Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
• Fun Work environment: Be part of a team that values creativity, innovation, and collaboration.

Ready to Apply?

Submit your resume and cover letter electronically. If you have any questions, email Bri Smith at briana.smith2@mt.gov.

This is a permanent full-time position and located in Helena, Montana.

Submit your resume and cover letter electronically. If you have any questions e-mail Bri Smith at briana.smith2@mt.gov

Special Information: Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States. A valid driver's license is required with less than 12 conviction points in the most recent completed 36 months.

Eligibility to Work: In accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act, the person selected must produce within three days of hire documents that show authorization to work in the United States. Examples of such documentation include a birth certificate or Social Security card along with a driver's license or other picture I.D., or a U.S. passport, or a "green card". The State of Montana does not sponsor.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in business, public administration, communication, or related field.
• Two years of purchasing, technical writing, project management, contract administration, or other applicable experience
• Other combinations of education or experience may be substituted.

Special Instructions :

The selection procedures to be used in evaluating the applicant's qualification may include, but are not limited to, an evaluation of the cover letter, resume, a structured interview, performance test, academic transcripts, reference/background checks and fingerprint checks.

Additional materials, references or information submitted by the applicant, but not requested, will not be considered.

Successful applicant(s) will be subject to:

• Criminal History Fingerprint / Name-based Check
• Driving History

HOW TO APPLY:

To be considered for this position, you must attach a cover letter and resume at the time of application .

Tip: When attaching your resume, you must mark the attachment as a "Relevant File".

Your Resume : Please include all work experience as well as job duties that demonstrate your qualifications for this position. Include dates of employment (month & year- start & end) and the reason you left each job.

A complete online state application is not required. To initiate an application, attach the resume to be considered for this position. Failure to attach resume will result in an incomplete application that will not be considered further.

Only electronic applications will be accepted. Materials submitted but not requested will not be considered in the selection process.

All documents for Veteran or Disability preference must be received or date stamped by the closing date. Please submit preference documentation to Terri Christianson at Terese.Christianson@mt.gov via File Transfer Service .

To request an accommodation with the application process, please contact the HR office.

Your service is rewarded with competitive compensation and generous State of Montana Benefits.

• Medical, dental and vision coverage
• Retirement plans
• Generous paid vacation, sick and holidays
• Pre-tax Flexibility Spending Accounts
• Employee Assistance Program

State of Montana employment may qualify for student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program .

This Organization Participates in E-Verify .

Women and minorities are under-represented in this position and are encouraged to a pply.

Closing Date/Time: Dec 21, 2025, 11:59:00 PM

Salary:

30.00 - 34.00 Hourly