Manager, Contracts & Acquisitions

District of Columbia Public Schools; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

District of Columbia Public Schools in Washington, DC seeks an experienced procurement leader to head the Contracts & Acquisitions Small Purchasing unit. You will supervise a team handling procurement under $250k, ensuring DCPS compliance with District and Federal laws while optimizing processes and fostering equity.

The role requires a Bachelor's degree and 4–6 years of related experience, with a Master's degree and professional certifications seen as a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 4–6 years of related work experience.
• Master's degree preferred.
• Three to five years of managerial and supervisory experience.
• Advanced knowledge of contracting methods, contract types, acquisition planning, and implementation of contracts.
• Certification or membership in professional procurement organizations (e.g., CPM, CPSM, CPPB) is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning for acquisitions under $250k and oversee streamlined processes.
• Direct customers and staff in procurement coaching and internal training.
• Manage RFQs, BPAs, and related simplified acquisitions.
• Oversee the Purchase Card Program and provide procurement oversight.
• Guide staff on procurement policies and engage with DCPS leadership.
• Track projects and report on procurement initiatives.
• Maintain and post documents to DCPS websites.
• Collaborate with central office and school stakeholders on shared priorities.

Skills

Managerial experience

Verbal communication

Written communication

Procurement knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

ServiceNow

PASS

Payment Net

Job description

TheOfficeofFiscal Strategy (OFS) is a catalyst for ensuring excellence, equity, and efficiency to ensure DCPS achieves our goals for our students. We want employees who recognize and embrace the importance of a strong partnership between schools and Central Services. When Central Services runs efficiently, and provides high-quality customer service, our school-based employees can concentrate on educating our children and leading our schools. By combining financial planning with strategic planning, thisofficesupports DCPS with activelyidentifyingresources, costs and budget and aligning them with our mission and goals.

Divisions/Teams:TheOfficeofFiscal Strategy is organized intofourdivisions

Finance: Ensures school and centralservicesfinances areallocatedandexpendedin alignment with the agency’s strategic plan, in a manner that fosters transparency, maximizes funds, promotes equity, and ensures compliance with requirements.

ContractsandAcquisitions:Provides procurement services to schools andCentral Services programs through contract and purchase order processes in alignment with District and Federal procurement laws and regulations.Manages andfacilitatesthe procurement of goods and services for all DCPS schools and central services, thatfosters transparency, maximizes buying power, promotes equity of spending with local vendors, and ensures compliance with contractual requirements.

Operational Finance(Core):Works to improve organizational effectiveness and to ensure daily fiscal operations are managed efficiently across DCPS. TheOperational FinanceTeam advocates for DCPSprogramsand schoolsby shepherding collaboration with procurement, budget, and HR teams.Operational Financeprovides oversight to ensureequitable, transparent, and compliant personnel and non-personnel spending through quality customer service.

Fiscal OperationsSystems:Supports schools and central services by leading OFS’s efforts to design efficient and effective operational finance structuresand processes. Promotes agency financial data literacyby leading finance data visualization initiatives that equipDCPS stakeholders withcomprehensive information.

The Contracts and Acquisitions Divisionwithin theOfficeofFiscal Strategyincludes three teams:

Procurement Operations:Oversees the DCPS purchase card program which allows for the quick procurement ofsmall amountsof goods and services. Addresses anti-deficient or improper procurements through the ratification process. Work closely with schools and Central Services programs toassistwith day-to-day procurement questions and issues to ensure efficient procurement practices.

Complex Contracts Unit:Ensures all contracting and procurement activity valued at $100,000 and above is consistently executedin accordance withthe District of Columbia and Federal laws and regulations. Directs the development, coordination,facilitation, management, and milestone planning for the acquisition of goods and services required by DCPS.Liaises with program and school points of contact, serving as the primary point-of-contact on large and/or complex procurements.

Small Purchasing Unit:Ensures all contracting and procurement activity valued under $100,000 is consistently executedin accordance withthe District of Columbia laws and regulations.Facilitates the processing and fulfillment of small purchases in coordination with the needs of schools and CentralOfficeprogram customers.

The Manager, Contracts & Acquisitions (Small Purchasing) ensures all contracting and procurement activity under $250,000 is consistently executed in accordance with the District of Columbia laws and regulations. The Manager assists with the development, coordination, facilitation, management, and milestone planning for the acquisition of goods and services required by DCPS. The Manager will manage a team of up to four contract specialists for the processing and fulfillment of small purchases in coordination with the needs of schools and Central Office program customers.

This position has been designated as Security Sensitive. Pursuant to section 410 of Chapter 4 of the D.C. Personnel Regulations; in addition to the general suitability screening, individuals applying for or occupying security sensitive positions are subject to the following checks and tests: Criminal background check; Sex Offender Registry check; Traffic record check (as applicable); Consumer credit check (as applicable); Reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol test; and Post-accident or incident drug and alcohol test.

Position Overview

TheOfficeofFiscal Strategy (OFS) is a catalyst for ensuring excellence, equity, and efficiency to ensure DCPS achieves our goals for our students. We want employees who recognize and embrace the importance of a strong partnership between schools and Central Services. When Central Services runs efficiently, and provides high-quality customer service, our school-based employees can concentrate on educating our children and leading our schools. By combining financial planning with strategic planning, thisofficesupports DCPS with activelyidentifyingresources, costs and budget and aligning them with our mission and goals.

Divisions/Teams:TheOfficeofFiscal Strategy is organized intofourdivisions

• Finance: Ensures school and centralservicesfinances areallocatedandexpendedin alignment with the agency’s strategic plan, in a manner that fosters transparency, maximizes funds, promotes equity, and ensures compliance with requirements.

• ContractsandAcquisitions:Provides procurement services to schools andCentral Services programs through contract and purchase order processes in alignment with District and Federal procurement laws and regulations.Manages andfacilitatesthe procurement of goods and services for all DCPS schools and central services, thatfosters transparency, maximizes buying power, promotes equity of spending with local vendors, and ensures compliance with contractual requirements.

• Operational Finance(Core):Works to improve organizational effectiveness and to ensure daily fiscal operations are managed efficiently across DCPS. TheOperational FinanceTeam advocates for DCPSprogramsand schoolsby shepherding collaboration with procurement, budget, and HR teams.Operational Financeprovides oversight to ensureequitable, transparent, and compliant personnel and non-personnel spending through quality customer service.

• Fiscal OperationsSystems:Supports schools and central services by leading OFS’s efforts to design efficient and effective operational finance structuresand processes. Promotes agency financial data literacyby leading finance data visualization initiatives that equipDCPS stakeholders withcomprehensive information.

The Contracts and Acquisitions Divisionwithin theOfficeofFiscal Strategyincludes three teams:

• Procurement Operations:Oversees the DCPS purchase card program which allows for the quick procurement ofsmall amountsof goods and services. Addresses anti-deficient or improper procurements through the ratification process. Work closely with schools and Central Services programs toassistwith day-to-day procurement questions and issues to ensure efficient procurement practices.

• Complex Contracts Unit:Ensures all contracting and procurement activity valued at $100,000 and above is consistently executedin accordance withthe District of Columbia and Federal laws and regulations. Directs the development, coordination,facilitation, management, and milestone planning for the acquisition of goods and services required by DCPS.Liaises with program and school points of contact, serving as the primary point-of-contact on large and/or complex procurements.

• Small Purchasing Unit:Ensures all contracting and procurement activity valued under $100,000 is consistently executedin accordance withthe District of Columbia laws and regulations.Facilitates the processing and fulfillment of small purchases in coordination with the needs of schools and CentralOfficeprogram customers.

The Manager, Contract & Acquisitions (Small Purchasing) will report to the Director, Contracts & Acquisitions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and scope of work being performed by this position. This is not a complete listing of all responsibilities, duties, and/or skills required. Other duties may be assigned.

• Support planning of annual acquisitions process for requirements $250k and below.
• Advise on simplified acquisitions process and streamlining.
• Advise senior management with respect to simplified acquisitions and procurement issues, as well as the nature of corrective actions.
• Lead data analysis and reporting for requirements $250k and below.
• Lead review and approval process for requirements $250k and below. Responsible for reviewing and assigning requirements to contract specialists that are received via ServiceNow, PASS, and other agency-used apps/systems.
• Manage RFQs, BPAs, and related simplified acquisition processes for requirements $250k and below.
• Manage the Purchase Card Program and provide oversight for school-based staff.
• Direct customers to appropriate stakeholders and assist with PASS/DIFS/Payment Net/ServiceNow inquiries.
• Investigate PO and contractor inquiries and assist with resolution.
• Guide users on procurement processes and appropriate engagement with DCPS.
• Track projects and initiatives $250k and below; adjust unit approaches as needed (without changing policies) and keep C&A leadership abreast of high-profile issues and challenges.
• Lead process for maintaining and posting documents to the DCPS websites.
• Manage receipt of updates from OCP regarding DC Supply Schedule and Vendor Information update requests/issues.
• Stay informed on procurement policy and innovation; support C&A leadership guidance for staff and provide necessary procurement coaching and internal training for the small purchasing unit.
• Collaborate with procurement colleagues and central office staff on shared priorities (i.e. weekly Operational Finance (Core) meeting, monthly School Core led sync call, etc.)

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and four to six years of related work experience.
• Master's degree preferred.
• Previous exposure to or experience in the education sector a plus.
• Three to five years of managerial and supervisory experience.
• Advanced knowledge of contracting methods, contract types, acquisition planning, and implementation of contracts.
• Demonstrated excellent verbal skills, and strong writing, analyzing, and research skills.
• Experience managing a variety of contract types, as well as a variance in complexities (usually demonstrated by thresholdranging between $10k to $250k or higher) strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated participation in a professional procurement organization, achievement of a recognized professional procurement certification or academic certificate, i.e., Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM), Certified Professional In Supply Management (CPSM), Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB), etc.

DCPS Values

• STUDENTS FIRST: We recognize students as whole children and put their needs first in everything we do.
• COURAGE: We have the audacity to learn from our successes and failures, to try new things, and to lead the nation as a proof point of PK-12 success.
• EQUITY: We work proactively to eliminate opportunity gaps by interrupting institutional bias and investing in effective strategies to ensure every student succeeds.
• EXCELLENCE: We work with integrity and hold ourselves accountable for exemplary outcomes, service, and interactions.
• TEAMWORK: We recognize that our greatest asset is our collective vision and ability to work collaboratively and authentically.
• JOY: We enjoy our collective work and will enthusiastically celebrate our success and each other.

We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to creating an inclusive, accessible workplace. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals with disabilities. Accommodation and/or application assistance is available upon request at all stages of the application and employment process. To request accommodation, please contact [e-mail].