Procurement and Specifications Specialist II

Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation; Honolulu (HI); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental insurance

Generous vacation and sick leave

Retirement plan contributions

Flexible spending accounts

Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility

Employer-funded Holo Card for public transit

Job summary

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation is seeking a Procurement and Specifications Specialist II to join its team in Honolulu, Hawaii. This role involves drafting specifications and preparing solicitations for various procurement activities, working closely with vendors and senior procurement staff to ensure compliance with laws and regulations.

Candidates must possess a degree in business or a related field and have some experience in centralized purchasing. HART provides competitive benefits including medical, retirement plans, and generous leave allowances.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in business, public administration, or related fields.
• 6 months of experience in centralized purchasing and specifications development.
• Knowledge of basic economics and purchasing principles.

Responsibilities

• Draft specifications for non-complex procurements.
• Prepare bid documents and analyze bid results.
• Issue purchase orders and respond to bidder inquiries.
• Gather facts for vendor performance issues.

Skills

Knowledge of procurement practices

Research principles

Interviewing techniques

Report writing

Education

Graduation from accredited college in business or related field

Job description

Join Us!

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) is the public transit authority responsible for planning and constructing Skyline, Honolulu's rail transit system. It is the first fully automated, driverless urban light metro system in the United States and represents the largest public infrastructure project in the history of Hawaii.

Position Overview

The Procurement and Specifications Specialist II is assigned to HART's Procurement and Contracts Section as an advanced trainee. In this role, you will apply foundational knowledge of governmental procurement practices to develop specifications, prepare solicitations, and support purchasing activities for commodities, services, concessions, professional services, and construction projects that are generally not highly technical or of great complexity. As you gain experience, you will take on more advanced or difficult assignments with increasing independence while working closely with senior procurement staff.

Key Responsibilities

• Draft specifications for routine, non‑complex procurements and, under closer supervision, assist in drafting specifications for higher‑value or more technical commodities, services, concessions, professional services, and construction.
• Prepare bid documents for non‑complex, advertised procurements; analyze bid results, recommend awards, and prepare written justifications when needed.
• Issue purchase orders to successful bidders and respond to questions or complaints from unsuccessful bidders in a professional and timely manner.
• Assist with vendor performance issues by gathering facts when vendors fail to deliver or miss deadlines and recommending appropriate actions, including whether liquidated damages may be waived.
• Conduct informal and emergency procurements for certain low‑cost commodities and services, including soliciting quotes by phone and issuing purchase order numbers.
• Collaborate with other Procurement and Specifications Specialists to develop specifications and share specialized knowledge for formal advertised bids.
• Research and identify potential suppliers, interview vendors to assess reliability and qualifications, and evaluate the quality of goods and services delivered.
• Review product catalogs, brochures, and technical publications to stay current on new commodities, services, and purchasing and marketing techniques.
• Provide clear information and guidance to HART staff, consultants, vendors, and the public on purchasing procedures, including applicable laws, rules, regulations, and internal policies.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualification Requirements for the Class:

Training and Experience: A combination of education and experience substantially equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with major work in business or public administration, marketing, economics or a related field and six months of technical experience in centralized purchasing and standards and specifications development activities.

Knowledge of: basic principles of economics, supply and demand, purchasing, and specifications development; common types of commodities and services and sources of supply; interviewing techniques; research principles, techniques and methods; report writing.

Ability to: evaluate the quality and suitability of commodities and services; prepare, review and revise commodity and service specifications for informal purchases; evaluate market conditions and price trends; establish and maintain good working relationships with vendors, technical consultants and operating agencies; prepare clear and concise written reports.

Physical Requirement: Candidates must meet the health and physical condition standards deemed necessary and proper for performance of the duties.

Physical Effort Grouping: Light

Benefits

HART is an agency of the City and County of Honolulu, and employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits packaged provided by the City. This includes:

• Medical, prescription drug, vision, dental, and life insurance plans
• Generous vacation and sick leave, earning up to 21 days per year
• 13 paid holidays annually (14 days during election year)
• Retirement plan contributions through the Employees' Retirement System (ERS)
• Deferred compensation options to invest pre‑tax income for retirement
• Flexible spending accounts for health and dependent care expenses
• Pre‑tax transportation benefits, including TheBus and vanpool options
• Access to confidential counseling services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Additional perks include training opportunities and employer‑funded Holo Card for eligible employees to use on public transit
• Eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, supporting employees dedicated to public service

Work Schedule and Location

• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8-hour shift
• Location: The work for this position is conducted on-site at HART's offices, located in Honolulu, Hawaii 96813. Telecommuting is not currently available for this role.

HART does not cover relocation costs. Candidates must be able to reliably commute or relocate to Honolulu by first day of employment.