Procurement Specialist III

City of Austin; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 72,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Austin, under the Austin Financial Services umbrella, seeks a Procurement Specialist III to manage formal and informal procurements, lead contract formation, monitoring, and administration, and provide strategic advisory support across procurement activities. The role emphasizes category management, market insights, and cross-department collaboration.

Responsibilities include managing cooperative contracts, ensuring compliance, and supporting program reporting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree plus four years of related work experience.
• Four years of experience may substitute for education requirement.
• Graduate degree may substitute for up to two years of experience.

Responsibilities

• Source selection and contract formation for RFQ, IFB, RFP, RFQ, and COs.
• Contract management and administration including monitoring and compliance.
• Advisory support across procurement activities and categories.
• Category management across assigned contract groups and market intelligence.
• Occasional buying services including non-competitive purchases under master agreements.

Skills

Public procurement

Contract management

Negotiation

Category management

Cross-functional teamwork

Communication skills

Procurement cards

Education

Bachelor's degree

Graduate degree substitution

Tools

Spreadsheets

Databases

Word processing

Job description

About This Position

Our department provides a variety of financial services and programs. Austin Financial Services (AFS) serves residents, vendors, and City departments.

Our mission is to serve as a trusted steward of public resources with integrity and accountability to ensure a fiscally sound city.

Our staff supports a wide variety of financial processes, including preparing the annual budget and annual fiscal report, procurement processes, franchise agreements, real estate transactions, and overseeing the City’s investment portfolio and debt management.

As an internal support function within the larger City organization, AFS is proud to serve and act as a leader in financial management to its partner departments.

Job Description:

Procurement Specialist III

Purpose:

Under limited supervision, and within their delegated procurement authority, this position will perform a variety of procurement services to their assigned department customers including all formal and informal source selection services, contract monitoring and contract administration services, category management, occasional buying services, and a range of advisement and technical support services in these same areas.

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:

Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

• Performs source selection and contract formation services including informal solicitations including Requests for Quotations (RFQ), issues purchase orders and single transaction contracts under the State’s formal threshold, participates under and as authorized leading cooperative contracts. Performs all formal solicitations above the formal threshold including Invitations for Bids (IFB), Requests for Proposals (RFP), and Requests for Qualifications (RFQS); solicitations for Citywide, revenue-generating, and concessions contracts; and solicitations for construction and construction-related professional services.
• Performs contract management and contract administration services including order monitoring for delivery orders, purchase orders, and single transaction contracts; contract compliance monitoring for project contracts and term master agreements; and contract administration services for assigned contracts.
• Performs advisory and technical support services to assigned department customers, current and prospective contractors, and members of the public on variety of procurement activities including procurement cards; delivery orders; purchase orders; informal source selection processes; all formal source selection processes; construction and construction-related professional services; master agreements; order monitoring; participating under and leading cooperative contracts; contract management; contract administration; and category management.
• Performs category management of one or more groups of similar and/or related contracts as assigned; develops and maintains product, service, and contractual expertise within assigned categories; develops and maintains market intelligence within assigned categories; develops and executes strategic category plans; and develops and presents reports on the performance of category plans.
• Performs, as necessary, occasional buying services including purchases using a procurement card, issuing delivery orders for non-competitive releases under existing master agreements, issuing purchase orders for non-competitive buys under the State’s informal threshold.

Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:

May act in a lead role on assigned projects and/or programs as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Knowledge of public purchasing practices and techniques.
• Knowledge of applicable procurement statutes, ordinances, and codes.
• Knowledge of accounting and budgeting process as it relates to purchasing transactions.
• Knowledge of contract law, terms, and conditions.
• Knowledge of contract category management.
• Skill in buying procedures, purchase orders, delivery orders, and the use of purchasing cards.
• Skill in informal and all formal source selection processes including price competition.
• Skill in contract negotiation and formation, contract management, and contract administration processes.
• Skill in computes applications including spreadsheets, databases, and word processing software.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining good working relationships with other City employees and the public.
• Skill in effective oral and written communication.
• Skill in exercising good judgment, tact, and diplomacy.
• Skill in using automated purchasing systems.
• Ability to develop and lead cross-functional teams.
• Ability to resolve all contract disputes.

Licenses and Certifications Required:

None.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, plus four (4) years of experience in a related field.
• Four (4) years of applicable work experience may be substituted in place of the minimum education requirement.
• Graduation with a graduate degree from an accredited college or university in a related field may substitute for up to two (2) years of the required experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with public sector procurement and contract management;
• Experience negotiating non‑standard or custom contract provisions to support specialized or time‑sensitive procurement needs.
• Experience communicating time‑sensitive and complex information effectively with various departments and organizational stakeholders.
• Experience gathering, analyzing, and utilizing data to support program process improvements and program reporting.
• Ability to travel to more than one work location.

Compensation Range:

The annual hiring range for this position is $72,220.00-$90,280.00

Notes to Candidate:

Position Overview:

This position provides a wide range of procurement services within the Emergency Procurement and Programs Team in Austin Financial Services, operating under limited supervision and within delegated procurement authority. The role performs formal and informal source selection, contract formation, contract monitoring, contract administration, category management, and technical advisement for assigned department customers. This position is responsible for maintaining contingency contracts and the City’s emergency contract lists, ensuring they are ready for use during departmental, local, state, or federal emergency declarations. The role also monitors Emergency Operations Center resources to support rapid procurement response when activated. In addition to these procurement responsibilities, the position supports procurement program activities by assisting with the development of reports, guides, templates, training and documentationfor various procurement programs. The role collaborates with internal and external stakeholders and contributes to program initiatives that strengthen overall procurement operations across the organization.

Hours:

Monday – Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Telework opportunities may be available after an initial training period. Work schedules are implemented to meet the requirements of the department and are subject to change based on business needs.

Staff eligible to telework must be in the office for at least 40% of their scheduled work week.

Location:

Town Lake Center, 721 Barton Springs Rd. Austin,TX78704

Travel:

If you are selected for this position and meet the Driver Safety Standards in the City of Austin Driver Safety Program, you may drive when necessary to multiple locations as part of your regular job duties. Otherwise, you are responsible for getting to and from these locations.

90 Day Provision for Additional Vacancy:

When the same or an additional vacancy occurs within a department in the same job title within 90 days after the start date of the top candidate, the hiring department may offer the additional position to another candidate from the same candidate pool.

Travel:

If you are selected for this position and meet the Driver Safety Standards in the City of Austin Driver Safety Program, you may drive when necessary to multiple locations as part of your regular job duties. Otherwise, you are responsible for getting to and from these locations.

90 Day Provision for Additional Vacancy:

When the same or an additional vacancy occurs within a department in the same job title within 90 days after the start date of the top candidate, the hiring department may offer the additional position to another candidate from the same candidate pool.

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JOIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN TEAM

At the City of Austin, we are more than just an employer—we are a vibrant community dedicated to shaping one of the nation’s most dynamic and innovative cities. As we strive to fulfill our commitment as public servants, it is important that we ground our efforts in a set of guiding principles – Empathy, Ethics, Excellence, Engagement, and Equity – that anchor our delivery of services that significantly impact the lives of Austinites. Joining the City of Austin means embarking on a purposeful career, contributing to the community, and being part of a forward-thinking organization that values every employee.

What Makes the City of Austin Special?

• Make a Difference : Join a team driving meaningful change in one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation.

• Value and Innovation : Work in an environment where employees are valued, and innovation thrives.

• Competitive Benefits : Enjoy a comprehensive compensation package that includes generous leave, work-life balance programs, and extensive benefits.

• Retirement Security : Plan for the future with the City of Austin Employees’ Retirement System.

• Sustainable Transportation Options : Commute easily with access to public transit and bike‑friendly infrastructure.

• Focus on Wellness : Stay healthy through wellness programs, on‑site fitness centers, and mental health support.

• Career Growth : Advance your skills and expertise with professional development and leadership opportunities.

• Modern Workspaces : Work in innovative and sustainable environments that foster collaboration and inspiration.

By joining us, you become part of a community that values its people and is committed to making Austin the most thriving and resilient city in the country.

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EEO Statement for City of Austin:

The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual’s AIDS, AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk.

City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call [phone] or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.