PROCUREMENT SPECIALIST III (SOLICITATION SERVICES)

City of Columbia SC; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Columbia is seeking an experienced Procurement Specialist III to lead the Solicitation Services team and perform advanced procurement duties, including drafting, editing, and leading solicitations. This role emphasizes critical thinking, project leadership from start to finish, and adherence to procurement policies.

Ideal candidates will have a Bachelor’s degree with public sector procurement experience and strong Microsoft Office skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and Three (3) years of public sector procurement experience; or
• Associate Degree and Four (4) years of public sector procurement experience; or
• High school diploma or GED and Five (5) years of public sector procurement experience; and
• Valid South Carolina Class “D” Driver’s License;
• Proficiently uses Microsoft Suite, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and SharePoint effectively and regularly.
• All higher education degrees must be in a business, project management, purchasing or closely related field.

Responsibilities

• Acts as team lead, guiding and mentoring the Solicitation Services team.
• Reviews requests, assigns workload, and ensures procurement timelines are met.
• Conducts technical reviews to ensure clarity and compliance of solicitations.
• Performs market research, spend analysis, and cost benefits to determine procurement methods.
• Drafts IFBs, RFPs, RFQu documents to solicit needs.
• Communicates effectively with staff, leadership, and external stakeholders.
• Leads meetings, evaluations, negotiations, reporting, and contract issuance.

Skills

Written communication

Research skills

Leadership

Procurement knowledge

Time management

Education

Bachelor's degree in business, project management, purchasing or related field

Associate degree

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

SharePoint

Job description

Description

Work with and have purpose making a significant contribution and impact in the community. The incumbent will use excellent writing and research skills to perform advanced procurement duties, drafting, editing, and leading solicitations for the Solicitation Service team. The Procurement Specialist III serves as a team lead responsible for overseeing and supporting the work of the Solicitation Services team. This position requires critical thinking and the ability to lead projects successfully from start to finish. Strong time management and organizational skills are key traits to possess. The incumbent shall have a vast knowledge of best procurement and contracting practices and is responsible for adhering to the City of Columbia Procurement Code, regulations and ensuing policies and operating procedures.

The work is considered sedentary in nature and involves walking or standing some of the time and involves exerting up to 10 pounds of force on a recurring basis or routine keyboard operations. The work requires the following physical abilities to perform the essential job functions; hearing, mental acuity, reaching, repetitive motion, speaking, standing, talking, visual acuity, and walking.

Work environment involves exposure to no known environmental hazards; and is dynamic that requires sensitivity to change and responsiveness to changing goals, priorities and needs.

Essential Job Functions

• Works collaboratively with Procurement Leadership to review incoming requests, assign and coordinate team workflow and meet procurement timelines;
• Serves as the team lead, offering guidance, quality control, training, and mentorship;
• Conducts technical reviews, ensuring solicitations are clear, compliant, and consistent with department standards and expectations;
• Performs market research, spend analysis, and cost benefit to determine the most appropriate procurement method based on the need;
• Ability to draft complex Invitation for Bids (IFB), Request for Proposals (RFP), Request for Qualifications (RFQu) documents to successfully solicit the required need;
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, presentation, and communication skills with the ability to communicate with all levels of staff, leadership, executive leadership, and outside stakeholders;
• Performs all direct duties related to solicitations from start to finish to include, but not limited to leading meetings, evaluations, negotiations, reporting, file maintenance, and contract issuance;
• Displays exceptional customer service, both internally and externally:
• Stays abreast of procurement policies, procedures, best practices, and technology trends:
• Aligns decision making with Department Mission, Vision, and Values; and
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements To Perform Work

• Bachelor’s Degree and Three (3) years of public sector procurement experience; or
• Associate Degree and Four (4) years of public sector procurement experience; or
• High school diploma or GED and Five (5) years of public sector procurement experience; and
• Valid South Carolina Class “D” Driver’s License;
• Proficiently uses Microsoft Suite, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and SharePoint effectively and regularly;
• All higher education degrees must be in a business, project management, purchasing or closely related field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Candidates possessing CPPB, CPPO, or NIGP-CPP Certification(s);
• Experience with Ionwave or similar e-procurement system;
• Supervisory experience within the public procurement sector and/or progressive public procurement sector experience;
• Public Sector procurement.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of public procurement regulations, practices, and
• Strong technical writing skills;
• Ability to complete broad to extensive market research;
• Independent and critical thinking skills to identify challenges and present solutions;
• Ability to train and onboard new staff members;
• Above average experience with Microsoft Office Suite to include Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and Access; and
• Professional acumen to handle a fast-paced and varying, shifting work load with the ability to pivot priorities efficiently and effectively.

Benefits

The City of Columbia is proud to offer a complete benefits package to full-time employees. This package includes health care, dental, vision, retirement, deferred compensation plans, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability, holidays, vacation, and sick leave.

Part-time or temporary employees, including interns, are not eligible for City benefits.

To Learn More Details, Visit Our Benefits Page At https://hr.columbiasc.gov/benefits/