Description

Contracts Associate and Assistant Clerk

About Ava Community Energy

Ava Community Energy (Ava) is a Joint Powers Authority comprising Alameda County and its incorporated areas, and the cities of Lathrop, Stockton, and Tracy. Ava's charter is to provide its customers with low carbon, cost-effective electricity that integrates innovative energy products and maximizes local benefits through the development of local solutions, ranging from increasing access to rooftop solar to supporting the adoption of electric vehicles.

Culture and Commitment to Diversity

Ava believes in a vibrant culture that supports and nurtures a workplace that offers every individual the opportunity to attain professional goals and contribute to accomplishing our mission. We foster a culture of open communication, responsibility, curiosity, accountability, and teamwork. We want creative problem solvers that are excited to work in an entrepreneurial environment and grow our organization!

As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce that is reflective of our service area's rich culture and communities. We welcome a diversity of experiences, perspectives, and skills.

We strongly encourage people of all characteristics to apply and prohibit unlawful discrimination and harassment of any type based on age, religion, color, gender identity or expression, race, ancestry, or national origin, religion or creed, marital status, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or characteristics, and those with a disability as protected by federal, state and local laws.

Position Summary

Ava is seeking to hire a temporary Contracts Associate and Assistant Clerk, reporting to the Legal Director. This role will be on the Legal Team supporting critical commercial contracting, risk management, insurance requirements, and coordinating board activities with the Clerk of the Board. The ideal candidate is diligent, team-oriented, organized, and eager to learn. Preferred candidates will have experience in contract management and public-sector clerking. This will be a paid full time position of 5 days per week (40 hours), starting in February 2026 and lasting through December 2026.

Position Details

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Undertake clerking duties:
• Regularly clerk subcommittee meetings.
• Clerk Board meetings as needed.
• Provide general administrative support as needed.
• Contribute to contract management:
• Input and/or correct metadata in Ava's contract management system.
• Administer small to medium procurement transactions.
• Undertake negotiations with the support of playbooks, escalating to management as needed.
• Support Staff in the purchase of goods and services by administering transactions and facilitating their diligent completion.
• Review Amendments on external templates, and coordinate the legal review, tracking and managing that process through execution of Certificates of Insurance with the corresponding contract
• Attending various meetings as needing
• Adhering to agency policies and procedures
• Other duties as required

Minimum Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree with at least 1-2 years of work experience; relevant associate's degree with at least 2-3 years of work experience; or high school degree or equivalent with at least 3-4 years of work experience
• Relevant fields: Legal, Business Administration, or a related discipline
• Relevant experience: Experience in public-sector clerking, contract management or similar
• Working knowledge of basic software programs, including Microsoft Office applications, SharePoint, and Confluence
• Experience with Excel or Google Sheets for data management and analysis
• Experience with a contract management system
• Experience with Ironclad is a plus
• Ability to learn quickly, work independently, and think critically
• Strong organizational and communication skills
• Demonstrated patience, tact, and courtesy in interactions with internal staff and external parties
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills
• Strong interpersonal skills

Compensation

The hourly rate for this position is $40.68 per hour (equates to annual estimated rate of $84,609.92 per year).

Location and Working Conditions

This position will be based in Ava headquarters in Oakland, near BART. Ava's team has a hybrid approach inclusive of in-office and remote work. This role is expected to go into the office Tuesdays, Wednesday, and Thursdays as well as attend monthly board meetings. Board Meetings take place at Ava headquarters and are outside of the standard 9-5pm working hours.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Ava is dedicated to reasonably accommodate an applicant for known physical or mental disabilities so that the applicant may participate in the application process. We will engage in a timely, good-faith interactive process with any employee with a known physical or mental disability to identify potential reasonable accommodations, if any, to enable the employee to perform the essential functions of their position.

• General office environment is primarily sedentary work which requires the following physical activities: standing, sitting, walking, reaching, lifting, finger dexterity, grasping, repetitive motions, talking, hearing and visual acuity.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
• The noise level is usually moderate.

Licenses/Certificates

Possession and continued maintenance of a valid class C California driver's license or the ability to provide alternate transportation and a safe driving record.

Working at Ava Community Energy

Ava is committed to complying with applicable laws, including the Americans with Disability Act and Fair Employment and Housing Act, ensuring equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with a disability. Ava prohibits unlawful discrimination based on age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), genetic information or characteristics, gender identity, gender expression, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, marital status, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, or on any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local laws.

The information contained herein has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. The information also does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract, and these provisions are subject to change.

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