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Job Summary

The Contracting Officer reports to a Purchasing Contracting Manager and is a key member of the purchasing team. The Contracting Officer performs all the tasks necessary to acquire goods and services for one or more departments/divisions and provides general purchasing and contract administration.

Essential Job Duties

• Handling moderate to complex procurements of supplies, equipment, and services with high financial exposure.
• Communicating with suppliers and internal customers to develop technically sound contracts and/or procurement documents.
• Sourcing, obtaining quotations/bids, making awards, and preparing and issuing purchase orders.
• Monitoring, amending, and closing out standard and declining balance purchase orders.
• Processing and reconciling credit card purchases.
• Preparing competitive and non-competitive procurement justifications.
• Performing cost or price analyses and recommending options that best meet customer requirements.
• Negotiating specifications and terms and conditions and administering procurement contracts.
• Documenting procurement packages to comply with internal and external audit requirements.
• Being a self-starter with the ability to work as part of a team or independently as an individual contributor.

Special Assignments May Include:

• Developing and issuing solicitation documents, coordinating the evaluation of proposals, and negotiating specifications and terms and conditions.
• Leading a project or task team including speaking or presenting to small groups of internal or external customers.
• Participating in Purchasing's Supplier Relations Committee, which seeks to foster and build relationships among Caltech's e-procurement catalog suppliers and Campus customers.
• Assisting Procurement's Systems Analyst in building and generating reports for the purpose of strategic sourcing.
• Responsibility for creating, maintaining and overseeing supplier contracts/master purchasing agreements using Purchasing's Compliance Contract Tracker tool.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 4 years of purchasing experience OR 6 years of purchasing experience.
• Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills.
• Strong customer focus and demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to analyze and resolve complex problems.
• Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) certificate a plus.
• Experience in higher education is preferred.
• Windows experience including Word, Excel, and Outlook email software.
• Ability to work with a large team environment.
• A courteous, professional demeanor and excellent customer service skills.

Remote Work

Procurement Services currently offers its employees a remote work option, subject to institutional review.

• An approved remote work agreement is required.
• In accordance with Caltech's remote work guidelines, responsible for having a designated work area (home office) and for any costs related to remodeling and/or the initial setup of such designated workspace.
• Equipment needs for remote work are determined on a case-by-case basis.
• Experience with Zoom and other similar video/web conference software required.
• Report to the office as necessary by operational needs and provide in-office coverage as required.

Required Documents

• Resume