Senior Management Analyst - Purchasing & Consultant Contracts bei Santa Clara Valley Water District (CA), CA

About the Department

Valley Water is searching for top-tier candidates to fill this exciting opportunity. Internal candidates will receive first consideration.

Overview:

The Senior Management Analyst in Valley Water’s Purchasing and Contracts Unit is responsible for managing the procurement of professional services and consultant contracts that are essential to the agency’s operations and capital programs. This position ensures compliance with organizational policies, public procurement laws, and industry best practices throughout the full contract lifecycle—from solicitation through negotiation, award, and contract administration.

The role works closely with internal stakeholders to assess needs, conduct market research, develop procurement strategies, prepare solicitation documents, facilitate contract negotiations, and administer contracts. In addition, the Senior Management Analyst supports process improvement initiatives, oversees procurement system data and reporting, and provides strategic recommendations to ensure transparency, accountability, and best value in all purchasing and contract activities.

Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Manage procurement activities, including the development and advertisement of solicitations while coordinating with project teams and stakeholders across the organization.
• Administer contracting functions such as drafting, reviewing, negotiating, and amending contracts and agreements.
• Support procurement process improvements to streamline purchasing and contracting operations and ensure compliance with best practices.
• Oversee procurement system processes, including encumbering funds, updating contract data, and generating reports to support financial and operational oversight.

Ideal Candidate's Background Includes:

Applicants whose experience and background best match the ideal experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and education are considered ideal candidates for the position. To determine the top candidates, each applicant will be assessed based on the ideal candidate criteria as listed below.

Ideal Experience:

• Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in procurement, contracting, or closely related administrative, operational, or financial analysis work involving complex issues.

Ideal Skills and Abilities:

• Train, organize, assign, and review the work of procurement and contract staff.
• Analyze and make recommendations on complex purchasing, contracting, and compliance issues.
• Prepare detailed procurement and contract-related reports, including financial and statistical analyses.
• Recommend and implement improvements to procurement systems, policies, and procedures, gaining stakeholder support where necessary.
• Collect, interpret, and evaluate complex procurement data for decision-making.
• Research, evaluate, and recommend new procurement methods, service delivery models, and contracting techniques.
• Assess the impact of legislative and regulatory changes on purchasing and contracting practices and propose adjustments.
• Exercise political acumen in communications with elected officials, executive staff, vendors, and stakeholders.
• Administer and monitor assigned contracts to ensure vendor performance, compliance, and value.
• Effectively use procurement and financial systems, as well as standard desktop applications.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with internal clients, external vendors, and stakeholders.

Ideal Knowledge:

• Public sector procurement laws, regulations, and best practices.
• Principles, methods, and procedures used in purchasing and contracting for professional and consultant services.
• Government agency programs and functions, including budgeting, finance, procurement, and contract compliance.
• Business process analysis methods related to purchasing and contract administration.
• Data collection, analysis, and reporting techniques used in procurement oversight.

Ideal Training and Education:

• Equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in public administration, business administration, political science, or a related field, with emphasis on procurement, contracts, or financial management preferred.

Substitution:

• Directly related experience may be substituted for the college requirement on the basis of one and one-half years of experience for one year of education to a maximum of four years.

Position Duties

To review the Classification Specification, please click here

Purchasing & Consultant Contracts Services Unit (Position Code 79)
Valley Water Telework Program: Eligibility for telework will depend on the type of work performed, operational needs, and the ability for the employee to perform the essential functions of their job duties while teleworking. Employment with Valley Water requires employees to live within 150 miles of their primary physical work location located in San Jose, California by their start date. 

This position is eligible for a hybrid telework schedule, typically working 40% remote and 60% onsite, after completion of the probationary period (one year).

Minimum Qualifications