Procurement Officer

Charlotte, North Carolina; Charlotte, Northern (NC, KY); Hybrid; USD 81,000 - 102,000; Full time

Job summary

Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) is seeking an experienced Procurement professional to lead complex solicitation packages, evaluate bids, and manage contract development for services, construction, and goods. You will liaise with project managers, legal teams, and suppliers to ensure compliant, timely procurement outcomes.

The role requires strong supervisory skills, deep knowledge of procurement, and proficiency with ERP systems.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in business administration, supply chain management, or procurement.
• Three years of progressively responsible experience in procurement.
• Experience working with ERP systems, preferably Workday.
• Strong knowledge of procurement laws, regulations, and compliance requirements.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain professional relationships with project stakeholders to deliver optimal contracts.
• Provide supervision for procurement project activities and ensure compliance.
• Prepare recommendations of award for informal and formal projects and perform quality control reviews.
• Negotiate all contractual documents and monitor contract performance for compliance.
• Identify risks and collaborate with City Legal, Risk Management, and stakeholders.
• Support and train teams to meet performance measures and procurement goals.

Skills

Procurement

Contract negotiation

Project management

Leadership

MS Office

Communication

Analytical thinking

Education

Assoc degree in business

Tools

Workday ERP

ERP software

Excel

Office tools

Job description

Department: Charlotte Area Transit System Department*Thank you for your interest in joining the team that keeps Charlotte moving, at a very exciting time for our organization. At the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), we're committed to delivering safe, reliable, and innovative transit services for our growing community, and we value employees who bring professionalism, passion, and a commitment to public service.**This position is currently employed by CATS, a department of the City of Charlotte. With the passage of the PAVE Act and last year's sales tax referendum, CATS is preparing to transition from a City department to the newly created Metropolitan Public Transit Authority (MPTA). The MPTA was established to strengthen regional transit governance, improve accountability, and support long-term investment in mobility. It's an important and exciting step forward for transit in our region.**Employees hired into this role will remain City employees through December 31, 2026, and will transition to MPTA employment on January 1, 2027. Benefits and compensation will follow City provisions through 2026 and shift to MPTA provisions in 2027, with clear information shared in advance. Your core duties, reporting structure, and daily responsibilities will remain consistent, with no break in service. If anything delays the transition, your City employment, including compensation and benefits, will remain in place until the move to the MPTA occurs.**The creation of the MPTA positions us for a more modern, sustainable, and efficient transit system, one that can better support the Charlotte region for decades to come. We're excited about what's ahead and appreciate your interest in being part of it.***SUMMARY**CATS Procurement is the team responsible for developing complex solicitation packages for procuring materials/ supplies, professional, architectural, and engineering services, construction, and commodities. This position analyzes proposals and determining contract strategies, soliciting, evaluating bid and proposals for technical compliance, developing and monitoring project management timelines, coordinating contract specifications, complying with insurance requirements. This position exercises independent judgement and ensures that all activities are conducted in compliance with applicable federal, state, and /or local policies and procedures.**Major Duties and Responsibilities*** Develop and maintain professional relationships with Project Managers, Division Heads, Deputies, Directors, the City Attorney's Office, and others as needed in order to effectively collaborate and deliver the ideal project.* Supervisory duties for all procurement project activities.* Maintains a working portfolio.* Provides support and training to meet established performance measures.* Prepare recommendation of award for informal and formal projects including conducting quality control reviews of documents.* Provides strategic consultation to facilitate procurement and contracting decisions, as well as project planning services, requirements, technical specifications, and scope development for all related projects.* Performs all procurement efforts utilizing statutory guidelines, policies, procedures, and best business practices.* Develops solicitation documents and facilitates informal and formal solicitation processes as required.* Develops and negotiates all contractual documents as may be required.* Identifies potential risks and solutions for risk mitigation in collaboration with City Legal, Risk Management, Internal Audit, and stakeholders.* Represents the City in dispute resolutions and works to ensure a strong contractually-guided professional business relationship with all vendors, contractors, service providers, subcontractors, and consultants.* Performs secondary contract administration, monitoring, and reporting as required.* Interfaces with the CATS DBE and Small Business Program to ensure participation and inclusion of small businesses in contracting opportunities while also supporting the program where appropriate in outreach and networking activities.**Core Competencies**The position requires demonstrated competency in the following areas:* Highly motivated, seasoned professional able to function with minimal supervision and across multiple procurement disciplines, in partnership with all levels of the organization.* Ability to effectively prioritize and schedule work.* Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.* Demonstrate strong supervisory skills.* Ability to exercise independent sound judgement.* Requires in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience with the solicitation and procurement of commodities, services, and construction, including contract drafting, negotiation, execution, and management.* Experience reviewing professional services rates for architectural and engineering services for the prime consultant and all subconsultants, including conducting market analysis to determine the raw rate is fair and reasonable, reviewing overhead rates in accordance with FAR Part 31 ensuring there are no disallowable costs included in the overhead, and negotiating a fair and reasonable profit percentage.* Requires working knowledge of local, state, federal, and cooperative procurement exemption, and contracting methodologies.* Proficiency in Microsoft Office* Working knowledge of ERP systems* Exceptional verbal and written communication, critical thinking, and organizational skills**Knowledge, Skills and Abilities****Knowledge Of*** Procurement operations, policies, procedures, and internal controls.* Requires in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience with the solicitation and procurement of services and/or technology, including project management, solicitation and contract drafting, negotiation, execution, contract administration, and grant requirements* Requires working knowledge of local, state, federal, and cooperative procurement exemptions and contracting methodologies**Ability To*** Ability to lead and facilitate special project teams and effectively manage competing priorities* Requires working knowledge of local, state, federal, and cooperative procurement exemptions and contracting methodologies* Highly motivated, seasoned professional able to function with minimal supervision and across multiple procurement disciplines, in partnership with all levels of the organization* Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word, and Outlook.* Maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment.* Promote accountability, data integrity, compliance, transparency, and continuous improvement throughout the Procurement function.**Salary: $81,226.00 - $101,533.00 Commensurate with Experience****Minimum Qualifications*** Associate degree in preferably in business administration, supply chain management, or procurement.* Three years of progressively responsible experience in procurement,* Experience working with ERP systems preferably Workday.**Preferred Qualifications*** Bachelor's degree in business administration, supply chain management, procurement.* Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in procurement, supplier management, procurement analytics, compliance, ERP administration, or related operations.* Experience with Workday ERP or comparable enterprise resource planning systems.* Knowledge and application of applicable federal, state, and local procurement laws, regulations, policies, and compliance requirements.* Previous purchasing experience with a government entity and/or professional services and technology specific purchasing experience are highly desired* Candidates with strong understanding and experience with contract development, negotiation, and management* Professional certification(s) (i.e. C.C.M., CLGPO, C.P.M, CPPO, CPPB, and CLGPO) is strongly desired**Working Environment and Physical