SENIOR MARKETING SPECIALIST, CALIFORNIA STATE LOTTERY

Responsibilities

• Develop and steward the division-wide contract governance framework
• Guide and support complex, high-profile marketing procurements from concept to execution
• Create and refine vendor scorecards, KPIs, dashboards, and performance tools
• Monitor risks, ensure compliance, and maintain audit-ready documentation
• Provide continuity, support, and strategic oversight for major marketing RFPs
• Serve as an advisor to executives, managers, SMEs, procurement partners, and external agencies

Requirements

• Experience and understanding of marketing/marketing operations, procurements, and contract management
• Experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder marketing or professional-service procurements
• A strong foundation in governance, project management, compliance, or vendor performance management
• Comfort developing strategic frameworks and operational playbooks
• Ability to navigate cross-functional environments with diplomacy and influence
• A passion for operational excellence—and a talent for turning ambiguity into clarity
• This position requires a current Senior Marketing Specialist exam.

Preferred

• Proven ability to perform highly complex and sensitive marketing work, serving as a senior-level marketing strategist with experience in marketing strategy, agency management, and contract-aligned deliverable development—capable of shaping strategic direction, defining broad marketing frameworks, translating marketing requirements into contractual obligations, and advising on large-scale, high-impact marketing initiatives.
• Experience or strong understanding of contracts, procurement frameworks/structures, and contract management, including contributing to or leading components of complex procurements, supporting solicitation development, and applying contract requirements, governance principles, and oversight practices throughout the procurement lifecycle.
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement contract governance and vendor performance management programs, such as, developing policies, SOPs, templates, tools, scorecards, KPIs/SLAs, audit controls, business reviews, corrective action plans, and cross-functional processes that strengthen oversight, maximize organizational value, and enhance strategic partnerships.
• Experience performing market research, vendor landscapes, benchmarking, and industry analysis to inform procurement decisions and strategic marketing contract governance.
• Hands-on experience procuring or administering contracts related to advertising, marketing, communications, media buying, market research, technology, consulting, creative services, public outreach, or other professional services where outcomes are performance-based rather than commodity purchases.
• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives involving multiple stakeholders such as, procurement, legal, finance, sales, internal audits, and executive leadership.
• Strong project management, analytical skills, and change management.
• Demonstrated success modernizing business practices, improving procurement workflows, enhancing governance, and leading cross-functional process improvements.
• Experience identifying contractual, operational, and financial risks and designing governance, monitoring, and internal controls that strengthen compliance, audit readiness, and risk mitigation.
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal

Benefits

• Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.