Procurement & Contract Specialist 3 (Federal Grant Specialist)

Make a Difference in Oregon’s Natural Resources! 

Help the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife fulfill its mission: To protect and enhance Oregon’s fish and wildlife and their habitats for use and enjoyment by present and future generations.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is looking for a federal grant and contracting professional to join our procurement and contract team.

This full-time, limited duration position is located in the headquarters office in Salem, Oregon. The duration of this position is through June 30, 2025.

We will also consider a Job Rotation for current, regular status employees of the state of Oregon in good standing in a permanent or limited duration position (not temporary or seasonal) that is expected to continue through at least June 30, 2025. Please attach approval from your current manager to be considered for this job rotation in the resume/cover letter section of your application.

NOTE: In order to be considered, applicants must include a cover letter. In your cover letter, describe how you meet the “Requested Skills” (listed below the qualifications section in this announcement), especially writing federal grant applications and managing federal grants. Make sure your “Job History” section or resume includes experience you reference in your cover letter.

If you enjoy the outdoors, Oregon is the place for you. This position is located in Salem, Oregon, located in the Willamette River Valley. From Salem, there are mountain peaks to the east, high desert and the great basin farther east, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the spectacular Columbia River Gorge to the north. You can fish 365 days a year, there are seasonal opportunities for hunting big game, waterfowl, and game birds, and year-round wildlife viewing opportunities. The Oregon coast attracts thousands of people who clam, crab and fish for halibut, salmon, and tuna. The outdoor opportunities are endless when it comes to fish and wildlife in Oregon! Oregon is known for their vineyards, breweries, and adventures for the whole family to enjoy. To learn more about the department, the work we do, and see our beautiful state, view the following video at https://youtu.be/8CjDPiPMGAk

What you will do:

• Review and process Agency grant applications, sub-contracts/agreements. Coordinate budget development/schedules and prepare/review contract and agreement applications for funding requests with program staff. Review budget and approval to apply, as submitted by program staff. This position will serve as a liaison between the agency and grantors, which include the federal government, independently decipher grant conditions, risks, determine feasibility of obtaining grants and be independently responsible for negotiating agreements and grant conditions with grantors.

• Solicit for, negotiate, and enter into contracts that are highly visible, politically sensitive, and with complex funding sources and requirements. Analyze consultative or program service needs and develop solicitation documents and contract specifications as appropriate.  Recommend appropriate method of solicitation, advertising format, insurance requirements, methods of compensation, and other matters concerning procurement. Conducts solicitation process under agency delegation or coordinates process through the Department of Administrative Services (DAS).

• Procure or direct procurement of highly technical or complex goods or services that are highly visible, politically sensitive, and with multiple funding constraints. These procurements may include; capital equipment, information technology hardware and software.  Develop the solicitation process as required through statute and administrative rule. These solicitations are often conducted under agency specific delegation from DAS and require fulfillment of additional requirements as a term of the delegation. ODFW often has unique and new contracting requirements, due to the nature of our work, and the uniqueness of working in the environment and/or with wild or captive animals. As such new situations often arise that will require this position to rely on their experience and knowledge to determine the best path forward.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required.

Working Conditions

• General office environment with daily use of personal computers, associated local and network environments.
• Frequent exposure to highly visible and sensitive projects, short deadlines, and realigned priorities.
• Meeting deadlines, managing multiple priorities, working with staff and others under short timelines and within state and federal contract rules.
• Employee may have to mediate disputes between contractors and division staff.
• Occasionally deals with challenging customers and situations.
• Occasional travel to attend regional meetings and seminars, and to provide training sessions.
• Occasional travel to remote areas on primitive roads or no roads, often requires travel by foot.
• Visits construction sites and construction work around water.
• Exposure to severe weather sometimes encountered.
• Occasional overtime due to long/irregular hours or the need to work weekends or evenings.
• Must maintain communications with contractors, landowners, public and other agencies under controversial situations.
• Requires valid driver’s license and an acceptable driving record due to the use of state vehicles.
• This position requires a flexible work schedule that varies in the number of hours worked on a daily basis, but not necessarily each day, or a work schedule in which the starting and stopping times vary on a daily basis, but not necessarily each day, and does not exceed forty (40) hours in a workweek. Work exceeding 40 hours per week requires prior approval by the supervisor.

Criminal Records/DMV Check
Applicants are subject to both a criminal history and motor vehicles check. Driving is required for all positions. Out-of-state finalists will be required to present a current certified or uncertified driving record for review to be considered for the position. Be prepared to obtain as soon as possible. You are expected to provide the out-of-state driving record before an offer can be made unless extenuating circumstances exist. Adverse background and/or driving information may disqualify you from further consideration.

NOTE: Within three days of hire, applicants will be required to complete the U.S. Department Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States. ODFW participates in E-Verify. ODFW is not able to support VISA sponsorships.

We are seeking applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and have the following skills and experience:

Minimum Qualifications:

Five years procurement and contract experience related to the position such as developing and administering standard contracts, agreements, or solicitations. OR

A bachelor’s degree and two years of professional-level procurement and contract experience related to the position. OR

Any combination of experience and education equivalent to five years of procurement and contract experience related to the position.

Requested Skills:

• Excellent attention to detail.
• Knowledge of pertinent state and federal law/regulations, state contracting rules and principles typical to a public jurisdiction, agency policies, and business management principles.
• Experience applying for and managing grants. Preferred experience writing federal grant applications and managing federal grants.
• Experience negotiating, interpreting, and communicating complex terms and conditions for large grants and contracts.
• Certification in public procurement (OPBC/OPIC/OPAC, CPPB, CPPO, FAC-C, CPM, etc.) preferred.
• Applying good communication and decision-making skills.
• Good customer service ethic.
• Strong logic and analysis to identify the strengths and weaknesses of different available options.
• Manage and prioritize one’s time to efficiently complete tasks and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong computer skills, plus the ability to work with diverse individual/groups and prioritize workload.

Additional Information:

You may be disqualified if your experience listed in your resume or the “Job History” section does not include information used to meet the minimum qualifications of the job. If any of the positions listed in your application are part time or seasonal, be sure to include the dates you worked (month and year) and the average amount of hours worked per week in the duties section. Only those individuals who most closely match the requested skills will be invited to an interview.

Note: You will be required to provide a copy of your official or unofficial transcripts (online transcripts are acceptable) during the selection process that show your name, the name/address of the institution, coursework with passing grades, and degree conferred (including date), if you are using education to qualify. Transcripts and cover letters can be attached to your application in the Resume/CV/Cover Letter attachments field when you apply. Cover letters may not be reviewed unless it is stated as a requirement in the job posting.

For helpful tips on filling out your job history and submitting your application, click here

Internal Applicants: The contact information that is prefilled on your application is typically your work email and work phone number. Be sure to check your state email and Workday notifications for your status regarding the recruitment process. If you are away from the office or unable to check your state email account for an extended period, contact the HR Recruitment Unit and the hiring manager to let them know your personal email and phone number where you can be contacted. This will help to ensure you do not miss out on any correspondence that may be related to an interview. If you apply for a position as an internal applicant and then terminate while the recruitment is still in process, contact the Recruitment Unit to have your contact information updated.

External Applicants (non-state of Oregon employees): If you would like to retain a copy of this job posting, please print a copy before submitting your application. Once the job posting has closed, you will not be able to access the posting.

The job posting closes at 11:59 PM (PDT/PST) on the close date. After you submit your application, be sure to respond to the two questionnaires relating to public records requests and veterans’ preference immediately following your submittal. These questions are necessary to complete the application process.

Reasonable accommodations for interviews will be provided upon request to individuals with disabilities. If you are experiencing difficulty applying for this position or have questions, please contact the ODFW Human Resources office at 503-947-6051.

This recruitment will be used to establish a list of qualified people to fill the current vacancy and may be used to fill other vacancies as they occur.

The employee in this position will be represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and will be subject to all terms and conditions of the collective bargaining agreement. Pay and benefits on all job listings may change without notice.

Veterans – If you are an eligible veteran and you meet the qualifications, veterans’ preference points will be added to your score.  For more information on veterans’ preference points visit www.oregonjobs.org and select Veterans resources under Resources. Please do not attach veteran documentation to your initial application, after you have applied you will be sent a task in your Workday account to provide your veteran documentation at that time.

Find information on State of Oregon benefits

More information about our agency can be found on our social media accounts and at myodfw.com and https://www.dfw.state.or.us/

If you are passionate about natural resources, we invite you to join our team and assist with furthering ODFW’s mission by partnering with communities and sharing how our work has a positive effect on Oregon’s fish, wildlife and their habitats. ODFW is dedicated to cultivating a diverse and inclusive workforce as we strive to represent and better serve our neighboring communities. Our most important asset is our employees, and each person brings unique, different, and important contributions to the workplace and community we serve.  With Oregon’s changing demographics, a workforce that reflects this change will make us stronger and create an opportunity for better decision making. Consider joining our team as we lead ODFW into the future!

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer