Gina Young
Olympia,WA
Summary
Dynamic Contracts Manager with extensive experience at the Washington State Employment Security Department, excelling in contract negotiation and compliance. Proven track record in optimizing procurement processes and mentoring teams, enhancing operational efficiency and stakeholder engagement. Adept at risk mitigation and strategic planning, ensuring accountability and transparency in all contractual agreements.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
10
10
Certifications
Work History
Contracts Manager Liaison
Washington State Employment Security Department
Olympia, WA
04.2024 - 07.2025
- Oversee day-to-day operations for complex IT goods and services procurements, ensuring control, accountability, and compliance with state statutes and agency policy
- Serve as a subject matter expert on procurement regulations, providing guidance and approving deviations in line with risk mitigation best practices
- Mentor division contract managers on lifecycle activities, dispute resolution, protests, defaults, and liquidated damages
- Negotiate and execute strategic contracts and amendments, conduct cost and price analyses, and safeguard public funds
- Track historical spending, monitor deliverables, and ensure timely payments aligned with contract terms
- Collaborate with the Office of the Chief Information Officer on enterprise IT procurement initiatives
- Managed contract negotiations with vendors for state employment services.
- Developed contract templates to streamline administration processes.
- Reviewed and approved contractor invoices for compliance and accuracy.
- Collaborated with legal teams on contract language and terms.
- Provided training to staff on contract management policies and procedures.
- Ensured adherence to state regulations in all contractual agreements.
- Analyzed vendor performance to inform future contracting decisions.
- Coordinated audits of contracts to maintain transparency and integrity.
- Drafted, reviewed, and negotiated contracts in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
- Ensured compliance of contractual obligations on both sides of a transaction.
- Developed strategies to improve contract management processes and procedures.
- Maintained an accurate database of all signed contracts and related documents.
- Participated in cross-functional teams to develop effective contract management systems.
- Reviewed requests for proposals before they were submitted to vendors.
- Provided training sessions on contract management processes and procedures.
- Provided guidance to other departments regarding the interpretation of contractual terms and conditions.
- Monitored changes in relevant legislation and assessed their impact on existing agreements.
- Drafted amendments to existing contracts as needed.
- Established clear review process throughout contract period to assess performance against expectations and requirements.
- Negotiated, renegotiated and administered contracts with suppliers and vendors.
- Coordinated communications between teams to ensure accurate information was shared in a timely manner.
- Developed and maintained effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Acted as a point of contact for customers, suppliers, partners and other third parties to support the delivery of services.
Contracts Supervisor
Washington State Department of Health
01.2022 - 01.2024
- Directed statewide procurement of health services, overseeing drafting, negotiation, administration, and termination of contracts and interagency agreements under RCW 39.34
- Developed and updated procurement policies and templates to ensure compliance with RCW 39.26 and DES best practices
- Provided leadership and mentoring to professional staff, establishing work plans, performance expectations, and quality control measures
- Facilitated dispute resolution, protests, and appeals to minimize liability and ensure service continuity
- Coordinated fiscal management and budgeting for major health programs, optimizing resource allocation
Owner/Operator
Dickey's Barbecue
Olympia, WA
01.2012 - 01.2020
- Managed full-lifecycle vendor contracts for equipment, supplies, and services, negotiating terms to secure competitive pricing and quality
- Supervised and trained a team of 15 employees, driving customer satisfaction and operational efficiency
- Served as Western Regional NFFAC Representative (2015 - 2017), negotiating franchisee-level vendor agreements and driving cost savings through strategic sourcing
- Implemented process improvements in inventory control and audit reviews, reducing waste and enhancing financial accountability
Education
Some College (No Degree) - General Studies
College of The Desert
Palm Desert, CASkills
- Contracts and procurement management
- Contract negotiation
- Procurement compliance
- Cost analysis
- Risk mitigation
- Contract drafting
- Vendor management
- Policy development
- Stakeholder engagement
- Performance monitoring
- Effective communication
- Team leadership
- Strategic planning
- Analytical thinking
- Legal compliance
- Training delivery
- Cost control
- Procurement management
- Quality assurance
- Professionalism
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Business strategy
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Decision-making
- Multitasking Abilities
- Active listening
- Conflict resolution
- Policy development and compliance
- Government and commercial contract negotiation
- Risk mitigation and dispute resolution
- Team leadership and staff mentoring
- SharePoint
- Microsoft Office Suite
Certification
FEMA ICS 100
Timeline
Contracts Manager Liaison
Washington State Employment Security Department
04.2024 - 07.2025
Contracts Supervisor
Washington State Department of Health
01.2022 - 01.2024
Owner/Operator
Dickey's Barbecue
01.2012 - 01.2020
Some College (No Degree) - General Studies
College of The Desert