Transit Contract Specialist

Join Us!

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) is the public transit authority responsible for planning and constructing Skyline, Honolulu’s rail transit system.  Skyline is the first fully automated driverless urban light metro system in the U.S. and represents Hawaii’s largest infrastructure project.  The first segment, spanning 10.7 miles, including nine stations from East Kapolei to Aloha Stadium, opened to the public in June 2023. 

Our future expansions will extend the system eight miles, along a fixed guideway with ten stations, connecting Aloha Stadium, to the Middle Street Transit Center, and finally to the Civic Center, located in downtown Honolulu.

HART is seeking an experienced Transit Contract Specialist to join our Procurement and Contract Administration team.  This critical role ensures compliance with state and federal regulations, in all procurements, and manages contract requirements effectively.  The Transit Contract Specialist will report to the Deputy Director of Procurement and Contracts and plays a critical role in managing change orders across multiple HART contracts.

Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Supervision and Leadership: Lead a team responsible for processing contract change orders  while upholding HART’s change order management procedures and compliance standards.
• Change Order Review: Oversee the review of change order documentation for completeness and accuracy, verifying that all changes align with the approved project baseline, including design and construction documents such as standard plans, design criteria, and specifications.
• Collaboration: Work closely with project managers to analyze the impact of change requests on various project contracts.  Prepare and present change order analysis, alternatives, risks, and recommendations.
• Document and Reporting: Assist in the preparation of necessary documentation to complete contract change orders and obtain required approvals.  Develop reports using PowerPoint, Excel, Word and other software as required.

Minimum Requirements 

• Education:  A combination of education and experience substantially equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with major work in business or public administration, marketing, economics or a related field; and
• Experience:  A least three years of professional experience in centralized purchasing, standards, and specifications development activities.

• Knowledge of:
  • Governmental purchasing principles, policies, and procedures, including those of the Purchasing Division, the Revised Charter of the City and County of Honolulu, and relevant ordinances governing procurement for various types of goods and services.
  • Procurement methods, including sourcing strategies and supplier evaluation, for a wide range of goods and their sources of supply.

• • Interviewing techniques, research principles, and methods for gathering and analyzing data related to procurement and contracts, along with effective report writing to document findings, evaluate vendor performance, and provide actionable insights for informed purchasing decisions.

• Ability to:
  • Effectively draft technical, complex specifications and implement procedures for special studies.
  • Evaluate the quality and suitability of commodities and services and revise purchasing specifications to meet intended purposes at the lowest cost.
  • Conduct complex research and analyze market conditions, price trends, and appropriateness of bids.
  • Interpret policies, laws and ordinances related to government purchasing; prepare clear, concise reports.
• Physical Requirements: Candidates must meet the health and physical condition standards necessary and proper for performance of the duties.

Benefits

As part of the City and County of Honolulu, HART employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Time Off:
  • Vacation: Earn up to 21 days per year.
  • Sick Leave: Earn up to 21 days per year.
  • Holidays: 13 paid holidays annually (14 days during election years).
• Health and Wellness:
  • Medical, dental, prescription drug and vision care plans are available. The City and County of Honolulu subsidizes a portion of the premiums, making health coverage more affordable for employees.
  • Group life insurance at no cost for eligible employees.
• Retirement and Financial Security:
  • Participation in the Employee Retirement System (ERS) of the State of Hawaii (employee contribution required).
  • Deferred compensation plans to invest pre-tax income for retirement.
• Additional Perks:
  • Pre-tax commuter benefits for transportation expenses (e.g., TheBus; vanpool).
  • Parking options at low monthly rates (location-specific).

• • Direct deposit for paychecks.
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering confidential counseling and resource referral.
  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program for employees who may qualify for forgiveness of their remaining federal student loan balance. This program supports those dedicated to careers in public service.
  • Professional Development: Access to computer, career, and personal enhancement courses designed to support employee, supervisory, and management development.  Curriculum focuses on professional growth and organizational advancement.

All benefits as stated above, are subject to eligibility requirements and to legislative and/or negotiated changes.

Work Schedule and Location

• Schedule:  Monday through Friday, 8-hour shifts.
• Location:  Work for this position is conducted on-site at HART’s offices, located in Honolulu, Hawaii 96813.  Telecommuting is not currently available for this role.
• HART does not cover relocation costs.  Must be able to reliably commute or relocate by first day of employment.

Salary Range

$71,016 – $101,064 annually commensurate with experience and education.