Contracts Supervisor

Contracts Supervisor

Salary

$96,131.36 - $122,688.80 Annually

Location

Santa Barbara, CA

Job Type

Full-time

Job Number

26-8178-02 (O/BW)

Department

Behavioral Wellness

Opening Date

06/05/2026

Closing Date

6/22/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Description

The Behavioral Wellness Department of the County of Santa Barbara is accepting applications to fill in one Contracts Supervisor in Santa Barbara, CA. The County classification title is Procurement & Contracts Management Professional Senior.

Step into a leadership role where contracts drive impact. The Contract Supervisor leads daily operations of the contract team, overseeing development and negotiations to ensure full compliance with Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Integrated Agreement, CalAIM, Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA), and other state and federal requirements. This position supervises contract analysts, strengthens cross-functional collaboration, manages a portfolio of contracts, and ensures every agreement supports Behavioral Wellness's vision and values. This is a hybrid position with three in-office days in Santa Barbara.

Ideal Candidate will possess:

• Six or more years of experience in government contracting and procurement
• Superior writing, editing, research, spelling, and grammar skills
• Experience supervising in-person, remote and hybrid staff directly
• Experience hiring and onboarding contract staff, including developing training materials, providing hands-on training, conducting performance evaluations, and delivering ongoing coaching
• Excellent leadership and team-building skills
• Experience with negotiations and conflict resolution
• Expert-level proficiency in Microsoft Office, as well as experience with Contract Management Systems, Smartsheet, and other related software
• Strong experience collaborating with multiple stakeholders and successfully guiding projects and contract execution through completion
• Knowledge of state and federal policies related to Specialty Mental Health and Alcohol and Drug Programs
• Graduate degree or higher in a related field preferred

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

This is the supervisory management role and will be assigned management, professional, technical, and administrative staff. This class is distinguished from the greater level of responsibility assumed, direct supervision and evaluation of staff, complexity of duties assigned, and by the nature, impact, and scope of overall responsibilities. Incumbents in this job class perform higher levels of difficulty and responsible types of duties assigned to classes within this series. Incumbents at this level are required to be fully trained and knowledgeable of policies, procedures, and operations related to assigned areas of responsibility.

Examples of Duties

These examples are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job and not all duties listed are necessarily performed by each individual.

• Assists and supports the Contracts branch in creating process improvement operational strategies, identifying, and resolving operations issues, improving efficiencies, and monitoring corrective actions.
• Directs, assigns, and manages the work of Contract Analysts, Administrative Office Professionals and extra help in drafting contracts, board letters, and purchase orders; manages workflow, establishes expectations, deadlines, and priorities, and monitors outcomes.
• Directs and manages the work of Contract Analysts, Administrative Office Professionals and extra help in preparing requests for proposals, leading bidder and evaluation committee meetings, reviews bids; manages workflow, establishes expectations and priorities and monitors outcomes.
• Will provide direct supervision over professional, technical, and clerical staff including assigning, directing, training, and evaluating subordinates.
• Maintains a portfolio of complex contract assignments (contracts, purchase orders, requests for proposals, memorandum of understanding), drafts supporting and required materials, negotiates contracts, and meets expectations and outcomes.
• Oversees, coordinates, and participates in special projects and programs and serves as the contract subject matter expert; provides leadership and direction to interdepartmental team members; prepares reports, correspondence, and memoranda, and makes presentations that include recommended action to various levels of leadership in the organization.
• Builds and maintains positive working relationships with co-workers within the contracts branch and department-wide, with other County department employees, and external contractors using principles of good customer service.
• Maintains and updates expertise in designated specialty areas; monitors current events and changes to laws, standards, rules, and regulations; updates existing and prepares new templates, analyses, and recommendations.
• Prepares and presents responses to questions, issues or concerns related to contracts, requests for proposals, assigned projects, and programs.
• Represents the County to contractors and to other agencies in a positive, professional, and productive manner.
• Oversees, coordinates, and participates in research and analysis on a variety of topics related to designated areas of responsibility; performs extensive review of related issues through interviews, correspondence, readings and other research methods; prepares highly detailed, comprehensive reports relating findings to the specific needs of contracts; may provide recommendations to department executives.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Employment Standards

Education and Experience

The knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below may be acquired through various types of training, education, and experience. A typical way to acquire the required knowledge and abilities would be:

• Equivalent of a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Business Law, Business or Public Administration, Political Science, Communication, Economics or a related field; and,
• Four (4) years of progressively responsible experience involving planning, research, analysis, writing, and evaluation in contract management and administration.

Licenses and Certificates

For specific positions, possession and maintenance of a valid California driver's license and the ability to meet automobile insurability requirements of the County or the ability to provide suitable transportation needs as a condition of continued employment.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of leadership, motivation, team building and conflict resolution.
• Standard and accepted methods of writing requests for proposals, and negotiating contracts.
• Principles and practices of public administration and principles of organization, management, and staffing.
• Pertinent local, state, and federal laws, guidelines, regulations, and statutes.
• Principles and practices of public finance, budgeting, and fiscal control.
• Principles and practices of public human resources.
• Principles and techniques to plan, develop and coordinate comprehensive local government public relations, communications, and media relations programs.
• Standard research techniques, including the use of surveys and questionnaires.
• Principles and techniques of administrative analysis, including workload measurement, workflow and layout, work simplification and systems and procedure analysis.
• Principles and practices of local government, including county administration, organization, programs, and functions.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and computer equipment.
• Computer software, including word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and database applications.
• English usage, spelling, punctuation, and grammar.

Ability to:

• Read, analyze, evaluate, and summarize written materials and statistical data including reports, financial reports, and budgets.
• Compose, coordinate, and edit a variety of educational, informational, and promotional materials for dissemination and use by the County, other agencies, news media, and the general public.
• Apply the principles and practices of motivation, team building and conflict resolution.
• Obtain information through interview process; successfully accomplish multiple assignments; deal firmly and courteously with the public.
• Determine effective method of research; compile data and present it in a form most likely to enhance understanding.
• Prepare reports, statistical data, forms, questionnaires, and surveys.
• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Interpret and apply pertinent local, state, and federal laws and regulations.
• Analyze situations quickly and objectively, apply appropriate elements of decision making and determine the proper course of action.
• Effectively deal with high levels of ambiguity and possess the ability to navigate through the ambiguity.
• Exercise initiative, sound independent judgment, tact, sensitivity, and discretion and maintain confidentiality within established guidelines.
• Collaborate with various community groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Make effective presentations to the community and the media.
• Understand, interpret, explain, and apply complex rules and procedures.
• Analyze systems and administrative and management practices and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with a diverse range of individuals, including but not limited to coworkers, subordinate staff, supervisors, other managers, professional agencies, and the general public.

Supplemental Information

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS

• Review applications and supplemental questionnaire to determine those applicants who meet the employment standards.
• Supplemental Questionnaire Ranking. Responses to the required examination supplemental questions will be evaluated and scored. Candidates' final score and rank on the eligibility list will be determined by the responses to these questions. This process may be eliminated if there are fewer than 11 qualified candidates.

Candidates must receive a percentage score of at least 70 on the supplemental questionnaire ranking to be placed on an employment list. An adjustment may be made to raw scores based on factors listed in Civil Service Rule VI. Those candidates who are successful in the selection process will have their names placed on the employment list for a minimum of three months. At the time the employment list is established, all candidates will receive an email notice of their score on the exam(s), rank on the employment list, and exact duration of the employment list.

CONDITIONAL JOB OFFER:

• Live Scan and Background Check: Once a conditional offer of employment has been made, the selected candidates appointment is contingent upon successful completion of a Live Scan and background check which includes a conviction history check, and satisfactory reference checks. A Live Scan is electronic fingerprint scanning that is certified by the State Department of Justice. Further instructions about when and how to complete the Live Scan will be included in the offer letter. The appointee must satisfactorily complete a one-year probationary period.
• Appointee will be subject to a post-offer medical evaluation or examination.

Recruiters will correspond with applicants by e-mail during each step in the recruitment process. Applicants are reminded to check spam filters continuously during the Recruitment & Selection Process steps listed above to ensure they do not miss required deadlines.

REASONABLE ACCOMODATIONS: The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants. Qualified individuals with disabilities who need reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter listed on the job posting. We require verification of accommodation needed from a professional source, such as a Medical Provider or a learning institution.

Disaster Service Workers: Pursuant to Governmental code section 3100, all employees with the County of Santa Barbara are declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service. Activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement

The County of Santa Barbara provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any type with regard to any characteristic or status protected by any federal law, state law, or Santa Barbara County ordinance. The County continues to be committed to a merit-based selection process and to eliminating barriers to attracting and retaining top qualified candidates. The County has a long-standing practice of providing a work environment that respects the dignity of individual employees and values their contributions to our organization.

APPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE DEADLINE: Monday, June 22, 2026, by 4:59pm PST. Applications and job bulletins can be obtained 24 hours a day at www.sbcountyjobs.com.

Leza Patatanian -Lpatatanian@countyofsb.org

Retirement Plans

• Generous County Defined Benefit Plan
• Eligible to participate in 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan
• Retirement Reciprocity with CalPERS, CalSTRS, and 1937 Act plans
• For more information on our retirement plans, please visit: https://www.sbcers.org/ and http://www.santabarbara457.com

Health Benefits

• Choice of dental, vision and medical plans. In addition to the Benefit Allowance noted above, the County contributes toward medical premiums and dental premiums
• On-Site Employee Health Clinics in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria which provide ongoing and episodic services to eligible employees and their eligible dependents
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers free, confidential assistance with personal and workplace problems to employees and their immediate family members
• Healthcare Advocacy Program to help employees navigate the complexities of health plan benefits
• Available Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Account (HSA), Supplemental Term or Whole Life Insurance, Personal Accident Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Accident Insurance and more!
• For more information on our health benefits, please visit: https://www.countyofsb.org/4012/Health-Benefits

Paid Time Off

• Vacation Leave 12 to 25 days per year depending on length of public employment
• Sick Leave 12 days annually with unlimited accumulation, one year of which can be converted to service credit upon retirement
• Paid Holidays based on bargaining unit (view the compensation summary for this bargaining unit, link below)
• Alternative Transportation Benefit (TDM) up to 2 days of additional vacation for using alternative methods of commuting
• For more information on Paid Time Off please view the Compensation Summary for this bargaining unit (available below)

Miscellaneous Benefits

• County Paid Term Life Insurance
• County Paid Long Term Disability Insurance
• Childcare and Employee Discounts
• Relocation Assistance may apply
• Flexible work schedule may apply
• For more information on all of these benefits, please visit: https://www.countyofsb.org/4013/24636/WorkLife-Benefits

Compensation Summary

• To view the Compensation Summary specific to the bargaining unit for this position (link to full Memorandum of Understanding also available at bottom of the summary), please visit: https://www.countyofsb.org/3096/Managers---Unrepresented
• This benefits list is for convenience only; please refer to the Memorandum of Understanding for complete details of terms and conditions. Amounts are generally prorated for part-time employment.

01

To be considered for this position your application must CLEARLY state how you meet each of the requirements under EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS on the Job Bulletin or you will not be considered for this position. If you are unsure, go back and review your application before continuing. Which Employment Standard did you clearly state on your application?

• Equivalent of a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Business Law, Business or Public Administration, Political Science, Communication, Economics or a related field AND four years of progressively responsible experience involving planning, research, analysis, writing, and evaluation in contract management and administration.
• A combination of training, education, and experience that is equivalent to one of the employment standards listed above and that provides the required knowledge and abilities.
• None of the above - I do not meet the minimum requirements for this position.

02

Do you have a bachelors degree or equivalent from an accredited four-year college or university in Business Law, Business or Public Administration, Political Science, Communication, Economics or a related field? If yes, please list the degree(s) obtained, the major/minor, and the name of the college or university. Please note, this information should also be documented in the education section of your employment application. If you do not have a bachelors degree or equivalent in the mentioned fields above, please type "N/A."

03

If you have an international degree, please attach your transcripts and documentation from an evaluation service that demonstrates you meet the U.S. education standards. You are required to attach the required documentation to your application to advance in the selection process. This is your only opportunity to provide such documentation.

• I have an international degree and have attached the required documents.
• I have an international degree, but do not have the required documents. I understand that I do not qualify for this position.
• Not applicable; I do not have an international degree.

04

Please describe in detail your minimum of 4 years of professional responsible experience involving planning, research, analysis, writing, and evaluation in contract management and administration. Please Include your employer's name(s), duration of employment with this type of experience and overall responsibilities pertaining to this experience. (Complete details should be listed in your application under Work History). Do not type "see resume" or "see application." If you do not have this experience, type "N/A."

05

If you selected option 2 for the supplemental question 1, "A combination of training, education, and experience that is equivalent...," then please describe in detail how your combined training, education and experience qualifies you for this position. If you did not select that option, type N/A.

06

The following questions are a Civil Service Examination. The Civil Service Examination for this recruitment is a Supplemental Questionnaire Rating. Please read each question carefully as this examination will determine your placement on the employment list. Responses to these questions will be used as a weighted, scored selection device. Evaluators will not have access to your application (including work history and education), application supporting materials (e.g. resumes, cover letters, transcripts), or any previous responses in your supplemental questionnaire. They will only have the information provided in each of your responses below. For information on protest procedures, refer to Civil Service Rules 612 and 613: https://www.countyofsb.org/1444/Civil-Service-Rules

• I understand the only information I provide in the response boxes below will be evaluated and used to determine my score and rank on the employment list.

07

Please indicate your highest level of education:

• Graduate degree or higher
• Bachelors degree
• Associates degree
• High school diploma or GED
• None of the above

08

How many years of experience do you possess planning, researching, analyzing, writing, and evaluating contracts? (Full details of this experience should be on your completed application).

• 5 or more years of experience
• 4 years up to 5 years of experience
• 3 years up to 4 years of experience
• 2 years up to 3 years of experience
• 1 year up to 2 years of experience
• Less than 1 year of experience
• I do not have this experience.

09

How many years of experience do you possess in contract drafting or procurement with a government agency? (Full details of this experience should be on your completed application).

• 5 or more years of experience
• 4 years up to 5 years of experience
• 3 years up to 4 years of experience
• 2 years up to 3 years of experience
• 1 year up to 2 years of experience
• Less than 1 year of experience
• I do not have this experience.

10

How many years of experience do you possess in Request for Proposal drafting and administration with a government agency? (Full details of this experience should be on your completed application).

• 5 or more years of experience
• 4 years up to 5 years of experience
• 3 years up to 4 years of experience
• 2 years up to 3 years of experience
• 1 year up to 2 years of experience
• Less than 1 year of experience
• I do not have this experience.

11

How many years of experience do you possess developing contract templates that are compliant with current local, state, and/or federal regulations for an organization? (Full details of this experience should be on your completed application)

• 5 or more years of experience
• 4 years up to 5 years of experience
• 3 years up to 4 years of experience
• 2 years up to 3 years of experience
• 1 year up to 2 years of experience
• Less than 1 year of experience
• I do not have this experience.

12

How many years of experience do you possess supervising and managing staff/direct reports?

• 2 or more years of experience
• 1 year up to 2 years of experience
• Less than 1 year of experience
• I do not have this experience

13

What is the highest number of staff members you have supervised?

• 5 or more direct reports
• 3 - 4 direct reports
• 1 - 2 direct reports
• I do not have this experience.

Required Question

Employer County of Santa Barbara

Address 1226 Anacapa Street

Santa Barbara, California, 93101

Website https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/sbcounty