[Hiring] Procurement & Contracts Officer @Superior Court of California, County of Riverside

Role Description

The Superior Court of California, County of Riverside is seeking an experienced and strategic procurement professional to serve as our Procurement & Contracts Officer. This senior management opportunity is ideal for an experienced procurement leader who can balance strategic priorities, regulatory compliance, operational needs, and strong stakeholder partnerships to support the Court’s objectives.

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Procurement & Contracts Officer leads the Court's procurement and contracting operations and provides expert guidance to executives and managers on procurement strategies, contracts, sourcing, risk, and regulatory requirements.

As Procurement & Contracts Officer, you'll provide leadership across the full procurement and contract lifecycle, from sourcing and competitive solicitations through negotiation, contract execution, performance monitoring, renewal, and closeout. You'll have the opportunity to strengthen procurement practices, develop policies and procedures, advise leadership on complex contracting matters, and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, manage expenses, and better support Court-wide operational needs.

What You'll Lead

• Direct and evaluate the Court's procurement and contracting operations, including RFPs, RFQs, RFIs, and non-competitive procurements.
• Manage the full procurement lifecycle, including sourcing, market research, vendor evaluation, solicitation, negotiation, contract development, execution, monitoring, renewal, and closeout.
• Develop and implement procurement policies, procedures, guidelines, and internal controls.
• Ensure compliance with applicable requirements, including Judicial Branch Contract Law, Public Contract Code, the Local Contracting Manual, Rules of Court, and other applicable mandates.
• Advise Court executives, managers, and stakeholders on procurement strategies, contract terms, sourcing options, compliance, and risk.
• Evaluate contractor and supplier performance and address issues involving quality, service levels, deliverables, and contract terms.
• Conduct contract reviews, risk assessments, and compliance evaluations.
• Partner with General Counsel on high-value and high-risk purchases and develop recommendations for executive consideration.
• Provide guidance regarding exemptions, emergency purchases, and sole-source procurements.
• Lead audit preparation and implementation of improvements resulting from audit findings.
• Supervise, mentor, develop, and evaluate staff while promoting accountability and excellent customer service.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with major coursework in public or business administration, criminal justice, finance, economics, or a closely related field.
• Six years of increasingly responsible procurement and contract administration experience, including experience with competitive bidding, developing specifications, writing justifications, and managing contract lifecycles.
• A qualifying Certified Purchasing Manager certification, master's degree, or Juris Doctor may substitute for two years of the required experience.
• Additional qualifying work experience may substitute for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis.
• Experience in a supervisory capacity or with a California Trial Court or government agency is desirable.
• Professional credentials such as Certified Purchasing Manager, Certified Professional in Supply Management, Certified Professional Contracts Manager, or a Juris Doctor are also desirable.

Benefits

• Annual merit increases for satisfactory job performance.
• A robust benefit plan including medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
• A pension plan provided by the California Public Employer's Retirement System (CalPERS), with contributions between 7% and 8% of biweekly pay, depending on membership status.
• Optional deferred compensation programs.
• Generous leave accruals.
• Fourteen (14) paid holidays.
• Bereavement leave.
• Tuition discounts.
• Qualified employer for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) or Temporary Expanded PSLF (TEPSLF) Certification.

Application Process

All applicants are required to submit a completed online application and supplemental questionnaire. Résumés will not be accepted in lieu of the required application and supplemental questionnaire. Human Resources will review applications to identify candidates who meet the minimum qualifications; therefore, it is to your benefit to include all current and previous related work experience.

This recruitment will remain open until the needs of the Court have been met and may close at any time. However, the deadline to apply for first round consideration is Sunday, October 18, 2026, at 11:59 PM PST.

All applications will be reviewed to identify candidates who meet the minimum qualifications; those candidates deemed most qualified may be invited to an online or written assessment, if applicable.

Riverside Superior Court provides reasonable accommodations upon request for applicants with disabilities. Please contact the Human Resources Department if you feel you will need an accommodation for any aspect of the selection process.