Chief Procurement Officer

Santa Fe County; Santa Fe (NM); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Santa Fe County seeks a Chief Procurement Officer to oversee the county's procurement function and ensure compliance with federal, state, and county rules. You will supervise staff, direct strategic sourcing, manage complex procurements, and negotiate terms to maximize value for taxpayers.

The role requires strong leadership, policy interpretation, and collaboration with department heads and elected officials.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting, finance or a closely related field.
• Four (4) years procurement experience, with at least two (2) years in a supervisory capacity.
• Experience may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis or High School Diploma/GED with eight (8) years of procurement experience, with at least two (2) in a supervisory capacity.
• New Mexico EDGE Public Supervisor certification can substitute for two (2) years of supervisory experience.
• Candidate must hold or obtain a valid Certified Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) credential within one year of employment.

Responsibilities

• Directs procurement staff, plans and assigns work, and evaluates leave and timesheets.
• Oversees strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management, logistics, and inventory planning.
• Leads complex competitive procurements (RFPs/IFBs/RFQs/LOIs) and contract changes.
• Negotiates pricing and terms to maximize value while protecting public funds.
• Implements process improvements, procurement technologies, and internal controls.
• Advises department heads and elected officials on forecasting, market conditions, and sourcing.
• Manages supplier relationships and resolves disputes for cost-effectiveness and service quality.
• Presents procurement packets and sourcing recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners.

Skills

Staff leadership

Procurement strategy

Negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Policy interpretation

Training & mentoring

Communication (written)

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business/finance/related field

Public-sector procurement experience (4 years)

New Mexico EDGE Public Supervisor certification (substitution)

CPO credential (or ability to obtain within 1 year)

Tools

Procurement systems

RFP/IFB/RFQ/LOI management

Job description

Under the general direction of the Finance Director or Deputy Finance Director, the Chief Procurement Officer manages the County’s procurement function and oversees the acquisition of goods and services in compliance with Federal, State, and County rules and regulations. Ensures fair, competitive, and transparent procurement practices that maximize value and responsible use of taxpayer funds.

• Supervises staff, provides instruction to employees; plans and assigns work; evaluates and approves/disapproves leave requests; approves timesheets; checks final work to ensure compliance with established policies and procedures; recommends the hiring of new employees; recommends disciplinary action; provides feedback on work performance for employees; completes performance evaluations for employees.
• Directs the development of strategic plans for supply management, including purchasing, contract management, supplier relationship management, logistics, materials management and inventory.
• Leads the County’s procurement operations and develops strategic sourcing and purchasing strategies that support County goals, fiscal responsibility, operational needs, and long-term value.
• Manages complex or sensitive Requests for Proposals (RFP), Invitations for Bid (IFB); Requests for Quotes (RFQ); Letters of Interest (LOI); and Amendments and Change Orders.
• Exercise sourcing authority, including determinations on exemptions, emergencies, sole source, multiple source and term awards, and professional/non-professional services, in alignment with the New Mexico Procurement Code.
• Negotiate pricing, contract terms, and risk-mitigating conditions that protect the County’s interests and maximize the value of public fund utilization.
• Drive continuous improvement by recommending and implementing process enhancements, procurement technologies, and internal controls that strengthen County’s agility.
• Serve as a trusted internal consultant to department heads and elected officials, helping them forecast needs, interpret market conditions, and navigate complex sourcing decisions.
• Manage supplier, vendor, and contractor relationships to ensure service quality, cost-effectiveness, and swift resolution of disputes.
• Prepare and present procurement packets and strategic sourcing recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners for consideration.
• Ensure procurement processes align with the New Mexico Procurement Code, County Purchasing Regulations and Policies, and associated Purchasing Resolutions and Ordinances.
• Oversee compliance with procurement policies, procedures, and audit requirements; lead responses to internal and external procurement audits.
• Oversee sensitive, confidential, and high-impact procurement transactions with discretion and integrity.
• Liaise with state and local agencies on procurement policy matters.
• Must complete all training as designated or assigned.
• Performs other duties as directed or assigned.

Knowledge/ Skills:

• Knowledge of State of New Mexico Procurement Code, applicable federal purchasing requirements, and public-sector procurement practices.
• Knowledge of public and business administration; principles of organization; project management principles, methods and techniques.
• Knowledge of government accounting and purchasing systems and procedures and their uses; of governmental fund budgeting; procedures, regulations and manuals.
• Knowledge of general office procedures and equipment including basic office machinery and word processing programs and the ability to learn more complex computer programs.
• Skill in operating various word-processing, spreadsheet, database and other software programs in a Windows environment.
• Skill in leading staff and working effectively within a complex governmental organization.
• Ability to understand relationships and dependencies between tasks and departments; ability to understand organizational needs and conduct cross-functional level planning.
• Ability to negotiate problems involving multiple variables in standardized situations.
• Ability to interpretlaws, regulations, policies, and purchasing requirementsand apply themto complex transactions.
• Ability to train and mentor staff; to plan, assign, direct and review the work of procurement staff. Ability to perform effectively under strict deadlines; to implement procurement procedures and evaluate their effectiveness.
• Ability to build effective relationships and work collaboratively with elected officials, executives, department leaders, vendors, employees, and the public.
• Ability to deal tactfully with controversial matters, and to effectively communicate verbally and in writing

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting, finance or a closely related field.
• Four (4) years procurement experience of which two (2) years must have been in a supervisory capacity.
• Experience may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis or High School Diploma or GED and eight (8) years of procurement experience, of which at least two (2) must be in a supervisory capacity.
• A completed New Mexico EDGE Public Supervisor certification will substitute for two (2) years of supervisory experience.
• Candidate must hold or obtain a valid Certified Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) credential administered by the New Mexico State Purchasing Division or New Mexico EDGE within one year of employment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO)
• Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB)
• Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM)
• Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.)
• Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM).

Working Conditions:

Work is performed primarily in an office environment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly uses standard office equipment and is typically required to use manual dexterity, routine hearing, verbal communication and visual acuity to complete standard tasks, may also be required to stand, walk, and sit, reach with hands or arms. Occasional travel and overtime work may be required. Ability to liftup to 20lbs.

Conditions of Employment:

Selected candidate must submit to and pass a County paid pre-employment physical and drug/alcohol screening. Additionally, selected candidate must submit to and pass a county paid criminal background screening. Selected candidate must possess and maintain a valid New Mexico Class D Driver’s License as incumbent shall be appointed to drive a County vehicle during the performance of his/her duties.