Manager, Contracts

Position Number: CM-308-2025
Division: $ATSDiv
Department: Purchasing
FTE: 1.00
Term (month/year): 12 months/year
Annual Salary Step Range: Steps 1 - 6: $122,340 - $141,828

Initial Screening Date: 03/31/2026
Open Until Filled: Yes

Position Description

Position Overview:

Definition:

Under administrative direction, the Manager, Contracts plans, coordinates, and manages College-wide contract development, negotiation, execution, and administration for Mt. San Antonio College. The position provides advanced professional expertise in public-sector contracting and serves as the College’s central resource for contract compliance, risk mitigation, and adherence to applicable federal, state, and local laws. The incumbent performs highly complex work involving construction contracts, professional services agreements, memoranda of understanding, instructional and clinical agreements, and other specialized contracts. The position exercises independent judgment and discretion and works collaboratively with college leadership, legal counsel, Purchasing, Facilities Planning, Risk Management, and program administrators to ensure contracts support institutional priorities while protecting the College’s legal and financial interests.

Supervision Received and Exercised:

Receives administrative direction from the assigned managerial personnel. Exercises general direction and supervision over assigned professional, technical, and administrative support staff through subordinate levels of management and supervision.

Class Characteristics:

This position is within the classified administrator classification and oversees the full contract lifecycle in a complex public higher education environment. The position requires in-depth knowledge of contract law, public procurement practices, and regulatory compliance, as well as the ability to interpret and apply the California Education Code, Public Contract Code, Government Code, and related statutes. This class provides assistance to management in a variety of administrative, coordinative, analytical, and liaison capacities. Responsibilities include performing diverse, specialized, and complex work involving significant accountability and decision-making responsibility. The incumbent organizes and oversees day-to-day activities and is responsible for providing professional-level support in a variety of areas. Successful performance of the work requires an extensive professional background as well as skill in managing departmental work.

Examples of Essential Functions(Illustrative Only):

Plans, coordinates, and manages the negotiation, preparation, execution, and administration of a wide variety of College contracts, including construction, professional services, instructional services, real estate, and interagency agreements.
Reviews and drafts contract terms and conditions to ensure compliance with applicable laws, Board Policies, and Administrative Procedures.
Advises campus departments on appropriate contracting methods, requirements, and timelines; serves as a central point of contact for contract-related inquiries across the College.
Supports and coordinates with departments across campus, architects, engineers, project managers, financial advisors, bond counsel, and auditors.
Investigates and resolves discrepancies, complaints, and disputes by negotiating settlement agreements or by canceling or terminating contracts; assists in resolving claims and performance issues.
Coordinates contract review with legal counsel and Risk Management to address liability, insurance, indemnification, and dispute resolution provisions; ensures all contracts comply with federal, state, and local regulations, including the California Education Code and Public Contract Code.
Collaborates closely with Purchasing, Facilities Planning and Management, and project managers on contract development for capital construction and facilities-related projects.
Develops and prepares bids, reviews bid specifications, participates in bid openings, analyzes and evaluates bids received, and makes recommendations regarding awards and contracts.
Provides contract-related analysis and recommendations to executive leadership; prepares and reviews Board agenda items, agreements, and supporting documentation related to contracts.
Develops and delivers training and guidance for campus staff on contract processes, compliance requirements, and best practices.
Contributes to the development and maintenance of standardized contract templates, procedures, and workflow improvements.
Utilizes and supports electronic contract management and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems; maintains official contract records and ensures accurate tracking and retention.
Assists with the selection, training, motivation, and direction of department-assigned personnel; evaluates and reviews work for acceptability and conformance with department standards, including program and project priorities and performance evaluations; works with employees on performance issues; implements discipline procedures; responds to staff questions and concerns.
Oversees, leads, and provides quality customer service when interacting with the public, vendors, students, and College staff, including individuals from minoritized groups.
Serves as a liaison for managers, external consultants, vendors, contractors, and College staff.
Establishes, implements, and fosters an environment of belonging as it relates to diversity, equity, inclusion, social justice, anti-racism, and accessibility (DEISAA).
Utilizes critical thinking, sound decision-making, and problem-solving skills with tact, confidence, and diplomacy.
Implements, enforces, supports, and abides by federal, state, local policies, and Board Policies and Administrative Procedures.
Participates in and supports employee participation on committees, task forces, and special assignments, including, but not limited to, Screening and Selection Committees mandated trainings, and DEISAA related trainings as required.
Prepares and delivers DEISAA-minded presentations related to assigned areas as required.
Performs related duties as assigned consistent with the scope of the position.

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

Principles and practices of supporting adiverse, equitable, inclusive, socially just, anti-racist, and accessible academic and work environment.
Principles and practices of employee supervision, including work planning, assignment, review, and evaluation, and the training of staff in work procedures.
Principles and practices of public-sector contracting, procurement, insurance requirements, and risk management.
Contract law and applicable sections of the California Education Code, Public Contract Code, and Government Code.
Construction and professional services contracting practices.
Business and public administration principles.
Electronic contract management and ERP systems.
Principles and practices of contract negotiations and dispute resolution.
Applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility.
Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications related to the scope of responsibility.
Techniques for effectively representing the College in contacts with governmental agencies, community groups, and various business, professional, educational, regulatory, and legislative organizations.
Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively interacting with the public, vendors, students, and College staff, including individuals of various ages, disabilities, socio-economic levels and ethnic groups.

Skills and Abilities:

Implement, advocate for, and communicate the College’s vision and commitment to creating a diverse, equitable, inclusive, socially just, anti-racist, and accessible academic and work environment.
Oversee and address gaps in diversity, equity, inclusion, social justice, anti-racism, and accessibility in recruitment and retention of faculty, management, and staff.
Exercise critical thinking and sound decision-making through observing, analyzing, inferring, communicating, and problem-solving in challenging situations with ethics,tact, confidence, and diplomacy.
Develop and implement resources and strategies towards the goal of being diverse, equitable, inclusive, socially just, anti-racist, and accessible in academic and work environments.
Establish and maintain a variety of filing, record-keeping, and tracking systems.
Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
Interpret, apply, explain, and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local policies, procedures, laws, and regulations.
Communicate effectively through various modalities.
Learn and apply emerging technologies and, as necessary, to perform duties in an efficient, organized, and timely manner.
Review situations accurately and determine appropriate course of action using judgment according to established policies and procedures; understand scope of authority in making independent decisions.
Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience:

Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from a regionally or nationally accredited college or university; and
Three (3) full-time equivalent years of progressively responsible professional experience in contract administration, procurement, public administration, or a related field, including one (1) full-time equivalent year of coordination and/or leadership experience.

Desirable Qualifications:

Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, public administration, construction management, law, or a related field.
Experience in a public-sector or higher education environment.
Experience with construction and capital project contracts.
Possession of a Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM), Certified Federal Contracts Manager (CFCM), Certified Commercial Contracts Manager (CCCM), or Certified Contracts Manager (CCM) designation from a recognized professional organization (e.g., NCMA), or an equivalent certification demonstrating advanced knowledge of contract lifecycle management, public procurement principles, and contract compliance.
Experience developing, negotiating, and administering contracts in a public agency setting, preferably within a California Community College District, public higher education institution, or other California public entity.
Working knowledge of applicable provisions of the California Public Contract Code, Education Code, Government Code (including Government Code 53060), CUPCCAA requirements, prevailing wage laws, and other statutes governing public procurement and contracting.
Experience administering public works contracts, including compliance with prevailing wage requirements, DIR registration, labor compliance reporting, certified payroll review, and coordination with Facilities or Bond programs.
Demonstrated experience administering, monitoring, or supporting contracts subject to a Project Labor Agreement (PLA), including coordination with labor representatives, ensuring compliance with PLA provisions, tracking workforce requirements, resolving labor-related contract issues, and supporting reporting obligations associated with public works projects.
Experience preparing Board agenda items, supporting Board approval processes, and presenting contract recommendations in compliance with the Brown Act and public transparency requirements.
Experience interpreting and administering contracts within a unionized environment, including understanding the intersection of vendor agreements, PLA requirements, and collective bargaining agreements.
Experience implementing or utilizing electronic contract lifecycle management systems, including workflow configuration, audit tracking, and records retention compliance.
Experience reviewing insurance and indemnification provisions, and risk allocation clauses consistent with public agency standards.
Experience supporting supplier diversity initiatives, small business outreach
Experience supporting compliance with public policy requirements such as non-discrimination, accessibility (ADA), and data privacy (e.g., CCPA where applicable).
Proven track record of implementing or overseeing programs or policies relating to diversity, equity, inclusion, anti-racism, and accessibility, preferably in institutions serving minoritized populations such as Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI); OR
Proven track record of participating in programs relating to diversity, equity, inclusion, anti-racism, and accessibility, preferably in institutions serving minoritized populations such as Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI).

Licenses and Certificates:

None.

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