Procurement Associate (OTS Statewide Operations Associate 1-4)

State of Louisiana; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of Louisiana is seeking an IT statewide operations associate to serve as a purchasing liaison for the Office of Technology Services and Division of Administration. You will manage IT procurements, create and review purchase orders, assist with budgeting and reporting, and coordinate with vendors to meet program needs.

This role requires knowledge of Louisiana Procurement Laws and IT Procurement Guidelines, and the ability to guide lower-level staff while ensuring compliance with

Qualifications

• Two years of information technology experience; OR six years of full-time work experience in any field.
• An associate’s degree in information technology or accounting; OR a bachelor’s degree.
• A certification in an approved area may be substituted for the education and/or experience requirements at the time of hire or promotion.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for creating advanced POs, reporting, and developing procedures for section workflows.
• Vendor negotiations on price and obtaining approvals according to Louisiana IT Procurement Guidelines.
• Reviews creation and modification of technical purchase orders and shopping carts to ensure policy compliance.
• Guides lower-level personnel in interpreting policy and procedures relevant to statewide IT purchases.

Skills

Procurement processes

Vendor negotiations

Budgeting & reporting

Education

Associate's degree in IT or accounting

Bachelor's degree

Job description

About This Job

The Division of Administration/Office of Technology Services has a vacancy. This position is located in the Operations section. Req. 226366

The Office of Technology Services aims to be a responsible partner in delivering innovative, effective, and reliable solutions that support and enhance the IT functions within Executive Branch Departments. The Office of Technology Services (OTS) will work to increase the return on the State’s investment in technology by promoting smart decision-making, solving problems intelligently, increasing the rate of project success, and fostering a skilled and professional staff.

This position is a purchasing liaison to the Division of Administration (DOA), consolidated state agencies, and the Office of State Procurement on behalf of OTS. The incumbent works closely with the OTS Agency Relationship Managers providing input to assist in making decisions into strategies for procuring goods and services. This position is responsible for performing functions in the areas of reporting, financing and procurement of IT hardware, software, complete solutions and services for major programs and systems development within the DOA and consolidated state agencies.

The Division Of Administration Is The State Government’s Management Arm And The Hub Of Its Financial Operations. Division Offices Perform a Wide Variety Of Activities Including The Following:

• Overseeing the state’s capital construction program
• Working to provide state and federal grants for community development
• Development of the state budget
• Providing technology services
• Giving agencies guidance in the state purchasing and contracting process as they seek goods and services
• Administering a program that provides federal funds to help Louisiana residents recover from a series of devastating hurricanes

Minimum Qualifications

Two years of experience in information technology; OR

Six years of full-time work experience in any field; OR

An associate’s degree in information technology or accounting; OR

A bachelor’s degree.

Experience Substitution:

Every 30 semester hours earned from an accredited college or university will be credited as one year of experience towards the six years of full-time work experience in any field. The maximum substitution allowed is 120 semester hours which substitutes for a maximum of four years of experience in any field.

Note:

A certification in an approved area may be substituted for the education and/or experience requirements at the time of hire or promotion, provided the appointment is made from a Certificate of Eligibles.

Job Specification

The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.

Job Duties and Other Information

• Responsible for creating advanced PO's, reporting, helping create procedures for section work flows, vendor negotiations on price, and obtaining approvals, according to the Louisiana State Laws, Rules and Regulations and IT Procurement Guidelines. Prepares and maintains reports detailing fiscal year expenditures, including forecasting for future fiscal years. Verifies budget transactions, current balances and allocation of budgeted funds. Prepares detailed reports for VPM with information on IT funding, budget, contracts, hardware maintenance, software maintenance, and services throughout the fiscal year.
• This position serves to assist in supporting statewide information technology operations functions as a lead associate to lower lever positions in the Vendor and Provider Management area. Coordinates complex IT acquisitions and/or other operational needs with vendors and guides lower-level personnel as needed. This position is a purchasing liaison to the Division of Administration (DOA), consolidated state agencies, and the Office of State Procurement on behalf of OTS. Works closely with OTS Agency Relationship Managers providing input to assist in making decisions into strategies for procuring goods and services. Reviews the creation and modification of technical purchase orders and shopping carts to ensure compliance with applicable policies and procedures. Guides lower-level personnel in interpreting policy and procedures as relevant to statewide information technology purchases.
• Responsible for having knowledge of the Louisiana Procurement Laws, Rules and Regulations, and the IT Procurement Guidelines and policies. Advanced understanding of business operations, technical products and/or OTS services in order to provide lead associate support related to operational functions for the Office of Technology Services.
• Other duties as needed and/or directed by the State CIO or his designee.

Position-Specific Details

Appointment Type: This vacancy will be filled by new hire or by promotion of a current permanent status classified employee.

Career Progressions: This vacancy participates in a career progression group and may be filled from this recruitment as an IT Statewide Operations Associate 1, 2, 3 or 4.

Compensation: The Salary range listed on the job posting reflects the pay grade minimum and maximum for the OTS Statewide Operations Associate 1 job title. The salary range pay grade minimum and maximum for the other levels of the career progression group can be viewed using the links below:

OTS Statewide Operations Associate 2

OTS Statewide Operations Associate 3

OTS Statewide Operations Associate 4

Louisiana is a “State as a Model Employer” for People with Disabilities.

• Information to support your eligibility for this job title must be included in the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).

For Further Information About This Vacancy, Contact

Danielle Martin

HR Analyst

Division of Administration/Office of Human Resources

Email: [e-mail]

Louisiana State Government represents a wide variety of career options and offers an outstanding opportunity to make a difference through public service. With an array of career opportunities in every major metropolitan center and in many rural areas, state employment provides an outstanding option to begin or continue your career.

As a State Employee, You Will Earn Competitive Pay, Choose From a Variety Of Benefits, And Have Access To a Great Professional Development Program:

Insurance Coverage More information can be found at https://info.groupbenefits.org/

Parental Leave – Up to six weeks paid parental leave

More information can be found at https://www.civilservice.louisiana.gov/Parental-Leave/Default.aspx

Holidays and Leave

State employees receive the following paid holidays each year:

• New Year's Day
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,
• Mardi Gras,
• Good Friday,
• Memorial Day,
• Independence Day,
• Labor Day,
• Veteran's Day,
• Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
• Additional holidays may be proclaimed by the Governor

State employees earn sick and annual leave which can be accumulated and saved for future use. Your accrual rate increases as your years of service increase.

Retirement

State Of Louisiana Employees Are Eligible To Participate In Various Retirement Systems (based On The Type Of Appointment And Agency For Which An Employee Works). These Retirement Systems Provide Retirement Allowances And Other Benefits For State Officers And Employees And Their Beneficiaries. State Retirement Systems May Include (but Are Not Limited To):

• Louisiana State Employees Retirement System (www.lasersonline.org). LASERS has provided this video to give you more detailed information about their system
• Teacher's Retirement System of Louisiana (www.trsl.org),
• Louisiana School Employees Retirement System (www.lsers.net), among others