Procurement Specialist

Office of the County Engineer; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Vision insurance

Dental insurance

Wellness program

Professional development

Flexible spending accounts

457 deferred compensation

Retirement pension (TCDRS)

Transportation assistance

Disability and life insurance

PSLF eligibility

Job summary

The Office of County Engineering (OCE) in Harris County, TX is seeking a Procurement Specialist to support procurement activities for multiple departments, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local laws and policies.

You will work with the Procurement Manager to prepare specifications, solicitations, and contracts, research vendors, and provide guidance on procurement needs. A Bachelor's degree and 4+ years in purchasing are required, with strong negotiation and data analysis skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, supply chain management, or related field.
• At least four years of professional purchasing/procurement experience.
• Experience preparing solicitations and contracts.

Responsibilities

• Assist with preparing specifications, price schedules, and solicitation documents.
• Ensure procurement actions comply with city policies and relevant laws.
• Research products, vendors, and market trends to guide purchasing decisions.
• Review, execute, and negotiate contracts and purchase orders for compliance.
• Provide technical assistance to departments on procurement needs.
• Create specifications and pricing matrices for procurement and evaluation support.
• Assist in training on procurement policies and procedures.
• Prepare reports and debriefings on procurement activities.
• Evaluate complex procurements and determine solicitation methods.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Procurement

Contract negotiation

Vendor management

Data analysis

Regulatory compliance

Communication skills

MS Office

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

CIPS/CPM certifications preferred

Tools

ERP systems

Excel

MS Project

Job description

Position Overview

The Procurement Specialist plays a crucial role in supporting the procurement activities for the Office of County Engineering (OCE). This position focuses on assisting with the procurement of goods and services, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and policies, and providing efficient support to various departments. The Procurement Specialist will work closely with the Procurement Manager to ensure the timely and effective execution of procurement strategies.

Position Description

Position Overview

The Procurement Specialist plays a crucial role in supporting the procurement activities for the Office of County Engineering (OCE). This position focuses on assisting with the procurement of goods and services, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and policies, and providing efficient support to various departments. The Procurement Specialist will work closely with the Procurement Manager to ensure the timely and effective execution of procurement strategies.

Job Duties

• Support procurement activities, including assisting with the preparation of specifications, developing price schedules, and preparing solicitation documents.
• Ensure all procurement actions comply with city policies and relevant federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
• Research products, vendors, and market trends to assess price fluctuations, risks, and potential opportunities to guide purchasing decisions.
• Assist in reviewing, executing, and negotiating contracts and purchase orders to ensure compliance with legal and organizational standards.
• Provide technical assistance to departments by offering guidance on procurement needs for goods and services.
• Create detailed specifications and pricing matrices for procurement, supporting the evaluation and selection process.
• Assist in the design and delivery of training on procurement policies and procedures, mentoring both city employees and suppliers.
• Prepare reports, presentations, and debriefings on procurement activities and communicate findings to stakeholders.
• Assist in evaluating complex procurements and contribute to determining solicitation methods.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx

If you need special services or accommodations, please call [phone] or email [e-mail] .

This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.

Requirements

Education

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.

Experience

• At least four (4) years of professional experience in purchasing, procurement, or contracting, with a focus on preparing solicitations and contracts.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs)

• In-depth knowledge of energy management programs across federal, state, and local entities, including regulatory and policy frameworks that impact utility prices and demand.
• Well-versed in sustainability, resilience, climate change, and environmental issues, particularly those affecting climate programs in Harris County.
• Highly skilled in computers & related software applications, along with familiarity with other projects
• management software, enabling effective data analysis, reporting, and presentation.
• Strong capability in conducting detailed analysis, making projections, and solving complex problems. Ability to prioritize tasks, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and maintain organization in a dynamic environment.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with a proven ability to effectively collaborate with team members and stakeholders, both internal and external, to drive project success and achieve organizational goals.

Emergency Deployment & Continuity Of Operations Requirement

In accordance with Harris County's Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) Policy, this position is subject to emergency response and deployment protocols. The employee may be designated as supporting a Mission Essential Function (MEF) and must:

• Participate in the classification process of departmental staff based on MEF responsibilities. Be available for temporary deployment to an alternative work location, role, or telework assignment during emergency events.
• Confirm work assignments with their supervisor prior to reporting to any worksite during such events.
• Remain flexible in assuming alternative duties as directed to support County operations continuity.

NOTE

Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation, but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.

Preferences

Education

• Master's degree or relevant certifications (e.g., CIPS, CPM) are preferred.

Experience

• A minimum of two (2) years of experience in county government procurement, demonstrating knowledge of county-specific procurement processes, regulations, and operational requirements.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs)

• Knowledge of supervisory practices and techniques.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and manage sensitive information.

General Information

Position Type, And Typical Hours Of Work

Full-Time | Regular | 40 hours per week.

Subject to early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and holidays at times, depending upon the project or workload.

Salary

Commensurate with experience, based on 26 pay periods.

Physical Demands And Environmental Exposure

Most assignments will be performed in an office, meeting, or operations command center environment, but some field work may be required. May be required to work extended work hours during activation of disaster recovery operations for an unspecified length of time (varies based on the extent of the event). This position requires bending, stooping, and lifting up to 25 lbs., as well as frequent walking, standing, sitting, reaching, and ascending/descending stairs.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job successfully.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

FEATURED BENEFITS

• Medical, vision, and dental insurance.
• Wellness.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Flexible spending accounts.
• 457 deferred compensation plans.
• Retirement pension (TCDRS).
• Transportation assistance (Metro Ride Sponsor Program).
• Disability and life insurance.
• Harris County is a Qualified Employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF).

Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.

Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.