Contract Specialist

The Contract Specialist plays a vital role in drafting, reviewing, and managing a variety of municipal contracts and agreements. This position reports within the Department of Public Works and is not a legal counsel role but collaborates closely with the City Attorney's Office, and other City departments to ensure contracts align with the City's goals, reduce liability, and comply with applicable laws and policies. The specialist focuses on agreements related to real estate, cell towers placement on City owned land, HOA maintenance agreements, contracts that outline responsibilities for infrastructure use and maintenance with nonprofit and other unique user groups.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Draft, review, and revise contracts, leases, and agreements for use of City facilities or City owned land, right-of-way, and utility coordination. Serve as liaison with vendors, HOAs, nonprofit partners, and community groups to facilitate clear, enforceable agreements. Collaborate with the City Attorney's Office and the Risk Division to ensure risk management, legal compliance, and appropriate indemnification/insurance language. Track key contract milestones, including renewal dates, compliance deadlines, and deliverables. Assist departments with RFP development and contract negotiation strategies. Develop templates and standard agreement language for recurring contract types. Maintain organized contract records and provide reporting as needed. Coordinate interdepartmental review and approval processes. Knowledge of applicable Florida Procurement Statutes and laws, principles and practices of public purchasing. Knowledge of the principles and practices of workplace safety. Skilled in the use of small office equipment, including copy machines or multi-line telephone systems. Skilled in using computers for data entry, word processing and accounting purposes. Ability to organize and communicate effectively. Ability to communicate with customers courteously and professionally in person, on the telephone and by mail, and to resolve customer problems and complaints satisfactorily. Ability to conduct and participate in meetings with other employees, and vendors. Ability to plan, organize and use sound judgment in evaluating situations and applying/following established policies and procedures. Ability to work independently under general supervision. Ability to use business applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and enter data accurately from a wide variety of source documents. Ability to understand and carry out complex oral and written instructions. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with City officials, other employees and the public. Ability to obtain information of Federal and State grant processes and FDOT requirements. Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Business, Legal Studies, or related field. Three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in contract management, preferably within a governmental agency. Knowledge of Florida Statutes related to public procurement, real property, and municipal agreements. Strong understanding of contract law, legal terminology, and risk mitigation practices (no J.D. required).

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience drafting or managing agreements involving: Real estate leases or acquisitions Telecommunications infrastructure (e.g., cell towers) Partnerships with HOAs or nonprofit organizations Certification such as Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) or Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO) Familiarity with enterprise contract management systems (e.g., Munis, DocuSign, Laserfiche)