Procurement Specialist I

RTD - Regional Transportation District of Denver, CO (RTD); Denver (CO); On-site; USD 77,000 - 109,000; Full time

Job summary

Regional Transportation District (RTD) is seeking a Procurement Specialist I to perform diversified procurement activities across capital, equipment, IT, and services. You will identify sources, solicit bids, evaluate proposals, and manage contracts under supervision of the Contract Manager.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree and several years of public procurement experience, with strong negotiation, MS Office proficiency, and an ability to navigate federal/state procurement laws.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Business Management, or a closely related field preferred.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience as a contracting and procurement professional with comparable scope of authority and responsibility for leading procurement activities, contract negotiations and management; experience with handling procurement and contract actions including construction and various services contracts.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience working with applicable federal and state procurement laws.
• CPPB, CPP, NIGP-CPP, or other public procurement Certification(s) preferred; obtain certification within 3 years of hire date.

Responsibilities

• Reviews and analyzes purchase requisitions for mostly routine procurements typically under two million dollars.
• Collaborates with internal stakeholders regarding requirements, Statement of Work or specifications, cost proposal details, payment milestones, liquidated damages, and delivery schedule.
• Develops and implements procurement strategies for solicitation and contracting actions in support of user departments.
• Recommends method of procurement, changes, and/or substitutions as needed with the guidance of the Contract Manager.
• Responsible for the assessment and development of solicitation documents, advertisement, evaluation, and contract award for various types of purchases and annual contracts, within authority level, to include: Request for Proposals, Invitations for Bids, Request for Quotations, and Request for Qualifications for various services, goods, and capital improvement projects.
• Solicits, analyzes, and evaluates quotations, bids, and proposals; chairs pre-bid and pre-proposal conferences, bid openings, pre-construction conferences, evaluation committee meetings and contract kick-off meetings.
• Assists project managers in answering questions and clarifying requirements for potential proposers/bidders.
• Receives quotations, bids and proposals and reviews content to determine if responsive to the solicitation requirements.
• For solicitations with evaluative criteria, facilitates and maintains oversight of the technical evaluation committee during evaluation process, to include: committee direction, nondisclosure agreements, evaluation scorecards, committee meetings and discussions, capturing strengths and weaknesses of proposals, compilation of scores, vendor demonstrations, oral interviews, negotiations, proposal ranking and recommendation of award.
• Performs price and/or cost analyses and determines need for pre-award audit or pre-award survey.
• Develops pre-negotiation strategy and position, conducts negotiations, and prepares contract documents.
• Recommends or approves the awarding of Contracts or Purchase Orders, and BPOs.
• Conducts debriefings with unsuccessful proposers.
• Communicates effectively with internal departments, external stakeholder groups and vendors regarding procurement strategies, status, and actions.
• Develops, processes and tracks contract documents, notice to proceed, amendments and purchase orders.
• Administers various types of contracts from date of award through close out; maintains complete and accurate contract files and records.
• May be required to assist with agency-wide procurement training.
• May be required to assist with administration of Purchasing Card (P-Card) Program.
• Responsible for maintaining RTD, State and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulatory knowledge regarding solicitations and contracting for the District to include laws, regulations, and policies pertaining to the procurement, contract award and management processes.
• Effectively convey the vision and mission of the organization and provide excellent service and satisfaction to our internal and external customers.
• Facilitates the development of public trust and confidence in the RTD.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Communication skills

Time management

Relationship management

Education

Bachelor's degree in business administration/related field

Public procurement certifications preferred (CPPB/CPP/NIGP-CPP)

Tools

MS Office

Purchasing systems

Job description

At Regional Transportation District (RTD), We make lives better through connections! When you join RTD, you will be among dedicated employees exhibiting RTD's values of passion, respect, diversity, trustworthiness, collaboration, and ownership. RTD is committed to an inclusive and diverse workplace. As part of our diversity value statement, we encourage our employees to honor diversity in thought, people, and experience. Come join RTD on this great journey to be the trusted leader in mobility, delivering excellence and value to our customers and community.

RTD Employee Benefits: https://www.rtd-denver.com/careers/benefits (RTD Represented Employee Benefits: Please refer to the Labor Agreement included in the above link for details.)

Procurement Specialist I

Procurement Specialist I is an intermediate professional position that performs all necessary procurement functions related to the acquisition of a wide variety of capital, equipment, professional services, materials, construction, Information Technology (IT) and various services as assigned; Identifies sources, develops solicitations, advertises and facilitates evaluation of vendor responses, recommends and/or selects vendors, creates and processes contracts and purchase orders, and performs contract management of numerous contracts, while following government procurement guidelines. Works under the supervision of the Contract Manager.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• ESSENTIAL: Reviews and analyzes purchase requisitions for mostly routine procurements typically under two million dollars.
• Collaborates with internal stakeholders regarding requirements, Statement of Work or specifications, cost proposal details, payment milestones, liquidated damages, and delivery schedule.
• Develops and implements procurement strategies for solicitation and contracting actions in support of user departments.
• Recommends method of procurement, changes, and/or substitutions as needed with the guidance of the Contract Manager.
• Responsible for the assessment and development of solicitation documents, advertisement, evaluation, and contract award for various types of purchases and annual contracts, within authority level, to include: Request for Proposals, Invitations for Bids, Request for Quotations, and Request for Qualifications for various services, goods, and capital improvement projects.
• Solicits, analyzes, and evaluates quotations, bids, and proposals; chairs pre-bid and pre-proposal conferences, bid openings, pre-construction conferences, evaluation committee meetings and contract kick-off meetings.
• Assists project managers in answering questions and clarifying requirements for potential proposers/bidders.
• Receives quotations, bids and proposals and reviews content to determine if responsive to the solicitation requirements.
• For solicitations with evaluative criteria, facilitates and maintains oversight of the technical evaluation committee during evaluation process, to include: committee direction, nondisclosure agreements, evaluation scorecards, committee meetings and discussions, capturing strengths and weaknesses of proposals, compilation of scores, vendor demonstrations, oral interviews, negotiations, proposal ranking and recommendation of award.
• Performs price and/or cost analyses and determines need for pre-award audit or pre-award survey.
• Develops pre-negotiation strategy and position, conducts negotiations, and prepares contract documents.
• Recommends or approves the awarding of Contracts or Purchase Orders, and BPOs.
• Conducts debriefings with unsuccessful proposers.
• Communicates effectively with internal departments, external stakeholder groups and vendors regarding procurement strategies, status, and actions.
• Develops, processes and tracks contract documents, notice to proceed, amendments and purchase orders.
• Administers various types of contracts from date of award through close out; maintains complete and accurate contract files and records.
• May be required to assist with agency-wide procurement training.
• May be required to assist with administration of Purchasing Card (P-Card) Program.
• Responsible for maintaining RTD, State and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulatory knowledge regarding solicitations and contracting for the District to include laws, regulations, and policies pertaining to the procurement, contract award and management processes.
• Effectively convey the vision and mission of the organization and provide excellent service and satisfaction to our internal and external customers.
• Facilitates the development of public trust and confidence in the RTD.

OTHER

All job-related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Business Management, or a closely related field preferred.
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience as a contracting and procurement professional with comparable scope of authority and responsibility for leading procurement activities, contract negotiations and management; experience with handling procurement and contract actions including construction and various services contracts.
• A minimum of three (3) years of experience working with applicable federal and state procurement laws.
• CPPB, CPP, NIGP-CPP, or other public procurement Certification(s) preferred; obtain certification within 3 years of hire date.
• KEY COMPETENCIES & CHARACTERISTICS Proficient with creation, processing, and all other required tasks for various types of public procurement solicitations, contracts, and contract management.
• Strong negotiation skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite and computerized purchasing systems.
• Ability to manage and maintain strong, positive internal and external relationships.
• Ability to communicate effectively, orally, and in writing.
• Ability to use sound judgment and maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to manage time and workload effectively which includes planning, organizing, and prioritizing with great attention to detail.
• OR: An equivalent combination of education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those required by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job with or without reasonable accommodations. The work environment is a typical office environment.

SAFETY

Promotes safety as agency’s number 1 priority in decision-making, reporting, learning, mitigation and follow-up. Zero tolerance for unsafe conditions or acts. Promotes continuous improvement of safety culture.

CAREER MAP

Based on job performance, experience, education and position availability the next step on the career map for this position may be: Procurement Specialist II, Procurement Specialist - Lead, or Contract Manager

We are anticipating filling two vacancies with this posting.

Pay Range: $77,437.00 - $109,380.25 Annual

EEO POLICY AND ADA ACCOMMODATIONS

RTD is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. All applicants will be considered for employment regardless to the race, sex, disability status or any other characteristic protected by law and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. RTD is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, promotions, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require a reasonable accommodation, please reach out to our Employment ADA Coordinator Kris Frazier at [e-mail], or the Talent Acquisition team [e-mail]. To learn more or see our EEO policy, please visit our EEO page at: https://www.rtd-denver.com/open-records/reports-and-policies/eeo-policy

RTD posts a compensation range that represents a good faith estimate of what RTD anticipates paying for the position at the time of posting. Starting salary is based on the candidate’s relevant and verified education, training and work experience. Applicants should submit all relevant and verifiable education, training and work experiences at the time of application.

RTD provides public transportation services in an eight-county region centered in Denver, Colorado. As a public agency, employees are dedicated to serving the public and providing for the transportation needs of over 3.1 million area residents as well as visitors to the region. Services include bus, rail, shuttles, ADA paratransit services, demand-responsive services, vanpools, and more. The agency’s dedicated workforce epitomizes RTD’s mission of making lives better through connections. In 2024, the system had more than 65 million boardings, a number that has seen year-over-year increases since 2020. RTD employs over 3,100 people and has an operating budget of $1.5 billion. Together, RTD employees work hard to keep this region moving day and night.

RTD is committed to full equal opportunity and affirmative action for all applicants and employees. Equal opportunity ensures all qualified applicants and employees are treated fairly and not discriminated against with regard to the individual’s race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, political affiliation, or political philosophy. RTD participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I‑9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I‑9.