Description:

Job Summary:
Performs highly complex (senior-level) legal work with respect to the agency's procurements, contracting, and enforcement of contracts, to ensure agency and contractor compliance with state laws and regulations regarding contracts. Experience with contract drafting, review, and negotiation is required. Experience with construction related contracts, such as construction manager-at-risk, design-build, and architect/engineer professional services contracts, preferred, but not required. Works under limited to minimal supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Involves overseeing the execution of large scope and high-dollar contracts. This position is eligible for telework on a partial basis.

Essential Functions:

Drafts various types of contracts in support of the agency's functions, such as construction, professional services, property management, building maintenance services, landscaping, security, custodial, waste management, border infrastructure and technology.
Oversees the development of contract renewal and amendment language.
Provides legal review and advice regarding contracting, procurement, and enforcement matters.
Advises agency staff on state contract laws and regulations.
Collaborates with program managers and procurement staff to develop contracts.
Reviews specifications prepared by programs for solicitations and drafts contract templates for inclusion in solicitations.
Prioritizes, assigns, and/or supervises the work of Contract Specialists.
Serves as primary inter- and intra-agency contracting liaison.
Ensures compliance with agency policies regarding delegated authority limits.
Reviews and analyzes legislation related to procurement and contracting and implements changes to requirements when needed.
May provide legal assistance on adverse actions involving contracts.
May participates in development of policies, rules, procedures, and forms.
Assists in the development of a framework for document retention for physical and electronic files.
Performs additional duties as assigned, including, but not limited to, researching legal issues affecting the agency, drafting substantive legal documents, including opinions, briefs, and memoranda, when needed, and assisting other attorneys or staff.
Cooperates with internal or SAO audits and works to resolve any audit findings and recommends appropriate dispositions.

Education and Experience:

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university.
Graduation from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor (JD) degree.
Licensed to practice law in the State of Texas. Member in good standing of the State Bar of Texas.
Five years of extensive and progressively responsible legal and administrative experience.

Minimum Qualifications:

Knowledge of fundamentals of contract law, Texas government procurement law, and Texas state agency contracts.
Experience in government contract drafting, development, review, and negotiation.
Skill in efficient legal research including use of Westlaw and other internet legal research. Skill in conducting research, summarizing findings, and using legal reference materials. Skill in foreseeing legal implications of contract terms and procurement and contract actions and providing legal advice accordingly.
Skill in effective oral and written communication. Writing sample required at time of application.
Ability to work effectively and cooperatively with a variety of individuals and groups.
Attends work regularly in compliance with agreed-upon work schedule.
Complies with all agency policies and procedures, including those pertaining to ethics and integrity.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience supervising the work of others.
Experience with contracting for large scale construction projects.
Familiarity with state HUB programs.
Experience drafting and implementing agency policies.
Skill in organizing and expressing complex legal problems clearly and concisely both orally and in writing.
CTCM and/or CTCD certifications.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Knowledge of legal principles, practices, and proceedings; state and federal laws, rules, and regulations; and agency administrative procedures.
Skill in legal research, writing, and analysis; in the use of computer and applicable software; in applying reasoning and logic; in identifying and solving complex problems; in prioritizing workloads; and in using judgement to identify courses of action.
Ability to supervise others.
Extensive knowledge of state laws regarding procurement and contract management practices.
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
Ability to collaborate with staff, executive leadership, contractors, and other state agencies to resolve contracting issues. Skill in working collaboratively and cooperatively with clients, other government officers and employees, and stakeholder groups.
Proficient in the use of personal computers and applicable programs, applications, and systems.
Ability to organize and manage multiple priorities.
Demonstrate ability to adhere to departmental policies and procedures, and the laws controlling state purchasing and contracting operations.
Ability to provide outstanding customer service.

Physical Requirements and/or Working Conditions:
This classification functions in a standard office environment. There are no unusual dangers involved, but the position will have exposure to dust, environmental allergens, pathogens, and other microorganisms consistent with business activities and human contact. The position holder must be able to work effectively with people under varying conditions, must be able to work extended periods at a computer, and must be able to work longer than eight hours in a work-day as necessary. Physical requirements also include the ability to move items up to 30 lbs. and perform tasks requiring fine motor skills and coordination.