Assistant Contract Manager Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Requisition No: 872482 

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: CONTRACT MANAGER SPECIALIST - 60017737

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 60017737 

Salary:  $60,000 

Posting Closing Date: 08/27/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Department of Children and Families Tallahassee, Florida

Open Competitive

THIS IS NOT A TELEWORK POSITION. CANDIDATE WILL BE REQUIRED TO WORK IN OFFICE.

This is a full-time position working 40 hours per week.

                                                                                                                                                                                 (Posting will be used to fill multiple positions)

Regular business hours of operation are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST, Monday - Friday.

Some travel may be required.

TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION RESPONSES TO THE QUALIFYING QUESTIONS ARE REQUIRED AND MUST BE VERIFIABLE BASED ON YOUR SUBMITTED APPLICATION.

DESCRIPTION: The Department of Children & Families, Contract Management Office is seeking to fill Career Service Contract Manager positions to manage Community-Based-Care Lead Agency contracts and social services contractual agreements.  This is a highly responsible position with the Contract Management Office.

The responsibilities of this position include providing oversight of the administrative, fiscal, and programmatic terms and conditions of contracts; enforcement of provider compliance with state and federal rules and guidelines, conducting invoice and supporting documentation reviews; facilitating training and technical assistance statewide to contracted providers; conducting budget reviews; and working with Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Teams, Florida Safe Families Network (FSFN), and other State, and Federal database application systems.  This position may also conduct a variety of contracting activities including assessing need, procurement, negotiations, contract writing, contract management, evaluation, and closeout.

REQUIREMENTS

Essential Job Functions:

• Responsible for preparation, processing and execution of contracts, contract amendments, purchase orders, ITN's and RFP's.
• Responsible for the review, development, and implementation of policies, procedures, standards, and rules necessary to ensure compliance with federal and state rules, regulations and procedures that relate to contractual services
• Participates as a contract adviser to the program office in the contract negotiations with potential providers.
• Acts as primary liaison to contract administration, program office, and providers regarding the terms and conditions of contract and amendments under their auspices.

• Provides contract management including payment and reconciliation of provider invoices, completion of monthly Invoice
• Payment Tracking Ledger and Invoice Tracking Log.
• Monitors and tracks allocations, encumbrances, and expenditures, and reconciles with FLAIR/IDS to validate fiscal contract integrity.
• Responsible for special requests from the contract management unit supervisor, Contract Management Administrator, provider agencies, state Auditor General's office and other interested parties.
• Responsible for day-to-day monitoring, evaluation, and tracking of performance outcomes in coordination with program staff to ensure compliance with performance measures.
• Develops special or ad hoc reports to assist the contract management unit supervisor and/or Contract Management Administrator in making management decisions.
• Identify any provider performance shortcomings and makes recommendations for corrective action.
• Provides technical assistance and consultation to program staff and providers regarding budget, financial rule interpretation, and contract management.
• Notifies providers of specific contract concerns or departmental request, including corrective action plans.
• Evaluates provider budgets, financial audits, and capacity reports and contract required agency submissions.
• Attends, as needed, provider meetings and functions to understand workflow, performance delivery, and management processes.
• Meets with provider staff, enforces the deliverables schedule, analyzes contractual expenditures to manage any surplus/deficit, and reviews and processes any deliverables, especially reports that are to be used by external units.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

• Knowledge of the methods of data collection and analysis.
• Knowledge of basic management principles and practices.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Skilled in interpreting and applying statutes, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Intermediate computer skills in MS Excel and MS Word.
• Ability to collect, evaluate and analyze data to develop alternative recommendations, solve problems, document workflow and other activities relating to the improvement of operational and management practices.
• Ability to organize data into logical format for presentation in reports, documents, and other written materials.
• Ability to conduct fact finding research.
• Ability to utilize problem-solving techniques.
• Ability to use logic and analysis to identify the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to use independent judgment and creativity to resolve contract or programmatic issues.
• Ability to develop specifications and scopes of work for assigned contracts.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Educational Requirements:

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and four years of professional experience in systems analysis, management analysis, program planning, program research, program evaluation, engineering, or administrative work.
• A master's degree from an accredited college or university can substitute for one year of the required experience.
• Professional or nonprofessional experience as described above can substitute on a year for-year basis for the required college education.

Work Experience Requirements:

Pursuant to 287.057(15)(d), Florida Statutes, each contract manager who is responsible for contracts in excess of $10 million annually must, in addition to the training required in paragraph (b) and the training and certification required in paragraph (c), possess at least 5 years of experience managing contracts in excess of $5 million annually. The candidate must have a solid understanding of fiscal and grants management.

Pursuant to 287.057(15)(b), Florida Statutes, each contract manager who is responsible for contracts in excess of the threshold amount for CATEGORY TWO must, at a minimum, complete training conducted by the Chief Financial Officer for accountability in contracts and grant management.

Pursuant to 287.057(15)(c), Florida Statutes, each contract manager who is responsible for contracts in excess of $100,000 annually must, in addition to the accountability in contracts and grant management training required in paragraph (b) and within 6 months after being assigned responsibility for such contracts, complete training in contract management and become a certified contract manager. A certified contract manager must complete training every 5 years for certification renewal.  Preference will be given to candidates who possess current certification as a Florida Certified Contract Manager (FCCM).

Excellent verbal, written, and analytical skills are required.

Software Proficiency: Strong experience using Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Teams.  Preference given to applicants with experience with Florida Safe Families Network (FSFN), and other State, and Federal database application systems.

Work Location: The position is not remote and reports to the state office Monday through Friday 8a-5pm. There is more than one position available so a specific location will be discussed at the time of initial interview.

Benefits of Working for the State of Florida: Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State's total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits. For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

To better understand the value of the benefits package offered, please visit our Total Compensation Estimator at: State of Florida Total Compensation Estimator (myflorida.com) 

Growth Opportunities: With 12,000 employees across the state DCF promotes opportunities and training for all.  Our jobs are among the most challenging, complex, and difficult in State government. They are also among the most rewarding. All employees are encouraged to take advantage of available Department opportunities for advancement and professional development.

Where you will work: Florida is the only state that borders both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.  In other words, no matter where you land in Florida, you're never more than 60 miles from a body of saltwater.  And if the beach isn't your scene, there are 175 state parks to explore!  Meanwhile, Floridians hail from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, and walks of life, making it an incredibly diverse melting pot that many residents and visitors to Florida love.  The Sunshine State is a great place to live and work - Come join our team!

About Department of Children and Families: Mission:  The mission of the Department of Children and Families is to work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency.

Vision:  We are a highly skilled workforce committed to empowering people with complex and varied needs to achieve the best outcomes for themselves and their families. In collaboration with community stakeholders, we will deliver world class and continuously improving service focused on providing the people we serve with the level and quality that we would demand and expect for our own families.

Values:  A workforce that operates with integrity maintains loyalty to a code of ethics that requires the courage to take responsibility for providing the highest quality of service to the vulnerable. We are a solutions-focused learning organization built on a foundation of transparency in action and accountability of results. Both within the organization and among our stakeholders, we thrive in a culture of respect for diversity of opinion that is nurtured through open communication. High performing and committed, we are unified in our goal of excellence in achieving quality outcomes for those we serve. To learn more please visit https://www.myflfamilies.com/.If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida.  Your current retirement benefits may be suspended or voided, and you will be required to repay all benefits received depending upon the date of your retirement. The position will perform all job tasks in accordance with laws, rules, regulations, policies, and requirements applicable to state and federal laws or procedures. We hire only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers. Participation in the State of Florida Direct Deposit Program is required as a condition of employment per F.S. 110.113, and enrollment must be completed within the first 30 calendar days of your appointment.

SELECTIVE SERVICE:  Male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion into an authorized position unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS) before their 26th birthday or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS.  Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire.  For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov.

BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENT: It is the policy of the Florida Department of Children and Families that any applicant being considered for employment must successfully complete a State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment before beginning employment, and also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S., and, if applicable, Chapter 408, F.S. 

No applicant may begin employment until the background screening results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Agency.  Background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for State and Federal criminal records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and may include local criminal history checks through local law enforcement agencies.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS' PREFERENCE.  Pursuant t...