Assistant Manager of Procurement (Professional Services)

San Diego Metropolitan Transit System; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 105,000 - 149,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free transit pass

On-site gym

Tuition reimbursement

Professional development

Job summary

San Diego Metropolitan Transit System seeks an Assistant Manager of Procurement (Professional Services and Commodities) to lead a procurement team across rolling stock, IT, finance, marketing and other commodities. The role manages bids, contracts and vendor relations with a focus on regulatory compliance and stakeholder coordination.

The position requires expert procurement knowledge, strong leadership, and the ability to oversee end-to-end procurement from RFPs to contract closeouts.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of procurement policies and government procurement practices.
• Experience with professional services, IT, rolling stock and related commodities.

Responsibilities

• Oversee acquisition of rolling stock, IT, professional services and commodities for the agency in compliance with regulations and internal policies.
• Provide supervision and guidance to procurement staff and assign projects to Senior Procurement Specialist and Specialists.
• Manage end-to-end procurement processes from solicitations to contract execution and closeouts.

Skills

Leadership

Supervision

Communication

Procurement knowledge

Regulatory knowledge

Vendor management

Negotiation

Team coordination

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in public administration or related field

Tools

SAP

Microsoft Word

Excel

Job description

Maintaining efficiency and economy in operations management requires flexibility in job assignments. While each employee shall have a primary responsibility for the job in which that employee has been hired or later promoted to, each employee may be expected to perform other jobs from time to time.

SUMMARY:

The Assistant Manager of Procurement (Professional Services and Commodities) provides leadership to team members and is a subject matter expert across all levels of the procurement function regardless of complexity that include formal and informal procurement for goods, materials, and services related to Rolling Stock, IT, Finance, Marketing, Revenue, maintenance and other types of commodities.

This role is expected to have expert knowledge and skills to conduct procurements of the highest complexity, encompassing both tangible and intangible elements, and to possess extensive knowledge of all regulatory guidelines while collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to ensure regulatory currency across all procurement procedures and templates.

Parameters of this position will cover each procurement from beginning to end including the request for bids and proposals under RFP, IFB, RFSQ RFI, RFQ, and overseeing the preparation of contracts, negotiating contract terms, researching and interpreting contract provisions, awarding contracts to vendors and working with Project Managers across multiple project milestone elements up to and including contract closeouts.

Application Review: Priority will be given to applications received by September 4, 2026. The position will remain open until filled.

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES:

Essential Functions

• Assists the Manager of Procurement in overseeing, leading, coordinating and conducting acquisition of rolling stock, non-construction projects, information technology, various professional services and commodities for the Agency in compliance with local, state and federal regulations and internal policies and procedures.
• Provides daily supervision, direction, guidance, support, information and technical expertise regarding assigned functions.
• Assigns projects and processing of orders as appropriate to Senior Procurement Specialist and Procurement Specialists.
• Processes most complex procurements, performs analyses of spend and market data, bids and proposals, as well as leads departmental projects.
• Manages day-to-day procurement activities from start to finish, including solicitations, bid evaluations, vendor selection, purchase orders, and contract execution.
• Oversees the preparation of all solicitation documents in compliance with federal, state, and local requirements.
• Ensures accurate and effective use of procurement systems (e.g., SAP) and maintain procurement website resources.
• Ensures compliance with agency policies and procedures, as well as applicable laws and regulations.
• Collaborates with cross-functional teams, such as IT, HR, Finance, Legal, and other stakeholders, to understand business needs and develop procurement plans to meet those needs.
• Establishes work priorities; assist in the development of departmental goals and objectives and provide regular updates and reports to management on procurement activities.
• Prepares and review a variety of contract documents, correspondence and reports.
• Maintains accurate procurement records, participate in audits and assist as needed in the formulation and development of process improvements, policies procedures and programs.
• Coordinates year-end activities, including closing orders as necessary, and purchase order roll-over processes
• Independently provides solutions for staff and internal customers related to minor to complex procurement and contractual issues.
• Provides interpretation related to procurement regulations and policies at the local, state and federal level.
• Analyzes current procurement activities and recommend improvements through more efficient procurement methods, e-procurement, standardization, value analysis or cooperative purchasing.
• Attends and presents at the Board of Directors meetings and acts, as necessary, as a backup for the Manager of Procurement.
• Acts as a Subject Matter Expert, maintains knowledge and oversight of various professional services, IT, rolling stock best practices, regulatory changes, and sourcing strategies.

Duties May Include, But Are Not Limited To, The Following:

• Solicits small businesses, Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE), and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (WBE) to participate in the MTS procurement process.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of or ability to learn MTS policies and regulations; knowledge of principles, methods, and practices of purchasing management and of government purchasing; in-depth industry expertise with a focus on various professional services, IT, rolling stock and industry standards; knowledge of local, state and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulations; knowledge of procedures and resources used in researching and analyzing commodities services, competitive bid practices, and methods used in evaluating vendor capability and performance; ability to maneuver through complex political situations effectively; ability to anticipate problems/issues and plan approach accordingly; ability to work under pressure with minimum or no supervision; ability to write letters, memoranda and reports using clear, concise and grammatically correct English; ability to speak clearly, distinctly and effectively in person-to-person or small group situations using tact and diplomacy; ability to coordinate and initiate actions necessary to implement decisions and delegate responsibilities to appropriate personnel; ability to establish and maintain priorities in order to complete assignments by deadlines without detailed instructions; and exhibit a high degree of flexibility and versatility; skill in verifying the accuracy and completeness of forms and reports; knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel and the ability to learn and use other software that MTS might have or acquire; knowledge or background in SAP preferred; exceptional verbal and written communication skills; exceptional organizational, prioritization and multi-tasking skills; exhibit a high demonstrable level of integrity and confidentiality; exceptional interpersonal skills and understanding of customer relationship management; exceptional collaborative and team-centric working style; strong presentation, leadership and management skills; excellent knowledge of procurement administration; ability to understand new concepts quickly and apply them in an evolving environment while contributing to the development of new processes.

Physical Requirements

The successful candidate must be able to fulfill the physical demands of the job such as walking, stooping, sitting, bending, reaching for overhead files and occasional lifting (must be able to lift up to 15 pounds). Must be able to operate a motor vehicle and perform tasks involving manual dexterity, such as use of a computer. Work will at times require more than 8 hours per day or an irregular work week to perform the essential duties of the position. Duties will be performed primarily in an office type environment and may require travel to external locations and agencies.

Experience/Education/Certificates/Licenses

Possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in public administration, business administration,or related field.At least six years of experience in all types of procurementwith at least two years as a supervisor/manager in a public procurement environment is required. A combination of relevant education and applicable experience may be substituted for the degree requirement.Must possess and maintain a valid California Driver License or be able to utilize alternative transportation when needed to perform job-related essential functions.

A demonstrated record of extensive experience in successful achievements should include a history of procurements in complex, arduous and formidable projects that necessitated a combination of creativity, adaptability and perseverance to achieve an innovative and successful outcome within the regulatory framework. Intimate knowledge of all types of procurements is necessary.

GENERAL:

Must satisfactorily pass all applicable post-offer examinations, including but not limited to a pre-employment physical conducted by an independent medical provider, a comprehensive criminal background and credit check, and, when applicable, a pre-employment drug test as required by MTS Board Policy 35.

SALARY GRADE:

Salary offers are based on factors such as the knowledge, skills, abilities, and relevant experience of the successful candidate, while taking into account internal equity, budget constraints, and other market factors. This position is in salary grade #12, which has a minimum of $105,026 and a maximum of $149,137. Salary grades are typically adjusted annually to ensure they remain market competitive.

Additionalperksand benefits include:

• Up to 13 employer-paid days off per year, including 3 floating days
• Free transit pass for you and your family
• On-site gym and gym membership reimbursement
• Walk, run, and bike event reimbursement
• Employer-paid bereavement leave and jury duty
• Tuition reimbursement
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility
• Company-paid training and professional development opportunities
• And much more!

DISCLAIMER:

The above-described job elements are intended to indicate the general nature and levels of work being performed by employees assigned to the job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities and skills required of employees so classified. Management retains the discretion to add to or change the duties of the position at any time.

EEO is The Law - Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Protected Veterans/Disabled

MTS is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer with an ongoing commitment to treat all people, including customers,co-workersand the public at large, with dignity and respect. As a public transportation agency, MTS is committed to providing an inclusive workplace that reflects the diverse communities in which we work and live.

MTS supports and promotes an environment that is free of discrimination and harassment.

MTS recruits, hires, trains and promotes individuals without regard to race, such as hair texture and hairstyles), color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age (40 years or older), sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, medical condition (cured or rehabilitated cancer), physical disability, mental disability, reproductive health decision-making, genetic information (including family medical history), military or veteran status, or any other protected class.

MTS encourages veterans, military spouses and people from different backgrounds to apply for open positions for which they are interested. Additionally, MTS employees are encouraged to refer qualified candidates from all backgrounds and age groups. At MTS, we are committed to a fair and equitable workplace where everyone is a respected and valued member of the team.