What are the responsibilities and job description for the Contracts Officer position at Portland State University?
Position Details
Proposed Start Date
07/01/2025
Classification Title
Legal and Compliance
Rank
N - No Rank
Working Title
Contracts Officer
Department
640400 - PUR Purchasing
Position Number
D91867
Representation
UU - Unclassified Unrepresented
Renewable
Renewable
End date, if applicable
Position FTE
1.00
Tenure Status
N - not applicable
Position Summary
Brief Description of PSU/School/Dept
Portland State University is Oregon’s most affordable public research university, located in the heart of one of America’s most dynamic cities. Our mission to “let knowledge serve the city” reflects our dedication to turning ideas into action – in Portland and around the world. The city is our campus, giving students unmatched access to career connections, a vibrant cultural scene, and hands-on learning experiences with hundreds of community partners.
More than 27,000 students from all backgrounds bring diverse perspectives to our classrooms and campus life, from the tree-lined Park Blocks to the bustling Urban Plaza and state-of-the-art science labs. We are proud of our world-class faculty, groundbreaking research, and international reputation for excellence in sustainability, community engagement, and innovation.
Position Summary
The Office of Contracting and Procurement Services (CAPS) is seeking a procurement professional to work in its Goods and Services and Construction groups as a contract officer. CAPS is responsible for all University agreements except those relating to Banking, Sponsored Projects, Intellectual Property, Settlements and Real Estate. CAPS also develops Requests for Proposal (RFP), Invitations to Bid (ITB), and Requests for Quotes (RFQ) on behalf of specific departments or to establish campus-wide contracts.
This position will support both the goods and services and construction contracting teams estimated as follows:
- 70% goods and services contracts
- 30% construction and construction related contracts.
Note: This position handles contracts and solicitations. This position is not a purchasing agent position. The purchasing function at PSU is decentralized, with each department/college generating its own purchase orders (in the case of goods and services).
This position is responsible for:
- Working with high level executives, deans, project managers, and administrative personnel throughout the University.
- Quickly and carefully reviewing, drafting, negotiating and signing contracts on behalf of the University.
- Tracking and prioritization of an exceedingly high volume of work.
- Providing rapid turnaround with complete attention to detail.
- Providing clear and concise, real-time guidance on University contracting practices, procedures and contract interpretation.
- Conducting group contract training to campus personnel.
- Carefully uploading contracts to CAPS contract data base – iContracts for goods and services, and AIM for construction, and keep contract records up to date.
This position will be 100% on-site for the first 90-days and then – pending successful completion of service trial period – a hybrid schedule (3 days in office, 2 days remote/home) may be considered. The CAPS hybrid schedule may be subject to change in the future based upon university and business needs
Minimum Qualifications
A Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Law or a related field OR equivalent work experience related to contracting and procurement.
Seasoned knowledge and expertise in principles, concepts, and practices:
- Three years working in procurement related positions that specifically included contract review, drafting and negotiation. A minimum of one year of combined experience must be in the public sector.
- Knowledge and understanding of public contracting law, including but not limited to Oregon Revised Statutes procurement codes.
Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills, interpersonal, and presentation skills and the ability to work with a diverse and demanding range of people. Requires active listening skills and ability to document discussions with colleagues, internal customers and vendors.
Exceptional organizational skills with ability to manage multiple projects, and work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with demanding internal customers.
Ability to be creative and flexible.
Successful completion of a criminal background check.
Preferred Qualifications
- Advanced degree from an accredited institution.
- Experience in construction contracting and procurement in university environment.
- CPPO, CPPB, C.M.P. or CPCM.
- Working knowledge of technology systems including MS Word, Excel, Banner, ESM eProcurement, iContracts, Google Docs, OnBase, AIM, and web based systems.
Key Cultural Competencies
- Create an environment that acknowledges, encourages, and celebrates differences.
- Function and communicate effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities, and cultural backgrounds.
- Seek opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement.
- Adhere to all of PSU’s policies including the policies on Prohibited Discrimination & Harassment and the Professional Standards of Conduct.
Environmental Stewardship
Contributes to a culture of environmental stewardship, practices resource conservation, and actively works toward achieving long-term sustainability goals.
Work Days/Hours
Total Compensation Range & Benefits Statement
$53,916 – $62,00, 12-month, 1.0 FTE
Salary is dependent on several factors, and new employees will typically start around the Q1 level to allow for later growth within the salary band. PSU has a structured process for determining starting compensation, taking into account years of related experience, applicable skills, knowledge and abilities, market parity, and internal equity. The starting annual salary for this position will be $53,916 but may be negotiated above this rate dependent upon the factors above, the budget of the hiring department, and approval from HR. An excellent benefits package includes 95% premium paid healthcare; a generous retirement and vacation package; and reduced tuition rates for employee, spouse or dependent at any of the Oregon University System schools : https://www.pdx.edu/human-resources/benefits-overview Please visit our total compensation calculator to see the full value of our benefits package : https://www.pdx.edu/human-resources/psu-total-compensation-calculator
Salary is dependent on several factors, and new employees will typically start around the Q1 level to allow for later growth within the salary band. PSU has a structured process for determining starting compensation, taking into account years of related experience, applicable skills, knowledge and abilities, market parity, and internal equity. The starting annual salary for this position will be $53,916 but may be negotiated above this rate dependent upon the factors above, the budget of the hiring department, and approval from HR. An excellent benefits package includes 95% premium paid healthcare; a generous retirement and vacation package; and reduced tuition rates for employee, spouse or dependent at any of the Oregon University System schools : https://www.pdx.edu/human-resources/benefits-overview Please visit our total compensation calculator to see the full value of our benefits package : https://www.pdx.edu/human-resources/psu-total-compensation-calculator
Application Instructions
Additional Information
Additional Application Instructions (deadlines, etc.)
Does this position require the employee to drive a motor vehicle?
No
Background Check Required
Yes
Position End Date (if applicable)
If you have questions
