Procurement Specialist - SPD

City of Houston; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Houston is seeking a Procurement Specialist in the Finance - Strategic Procurement Division. This on-site role focuses on procuring complex materials, equipment and services, developing specifications, and ensuring compliance with City policies.

The ideal candidate holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Materials Management, Engineering, Purchasing or a related field and has at least five years of professional purchasing experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Materials Management, Engineering, Purchasing, or a field closely related to the work being performed.

Responsibilities

• Researches, writes, reviews and evaluates purchase orders, contracts and bid specifications for complex and highly technical materials, equipment and services ensuring completeness, accuracy and compliance with City and departmental policies and procedures.
• Assigns work, trains and provides guidance to buyers and support staff. Typically supervises and evaluates buyers and support staff.
• Confers with department’s engineering, operations, maintenance and other technical personnel to develop detailed and technical specifications.
• Researches and recommends type and quality of materials, supplies and equipment.
• Conducts pre-bid meetings and explains and interprets specifications and standards to vendors and department and City officials. Ensures bid invitations are distributed and bid opening dates are advertised.
• Reviews bids, contracts and proposals for content and conformance to specifications and for Minority/Women’s Business Enterprise (M/WBE) capabilities. Compares price quotes.
• Researches vendors and evaluates their ability to provide and the availability of quality materials, equipment and services. Arranges for and administers tests of materials and equipment to ensure they meet specifications and standards.
• Selects the most advantageous bid. Ensures delivery is schedules and expedites.
• Researches and keeps updated on industry standards, types, features and quality of products, suppliers and other information by reviewing catalogs, technical and industrial publications and other sources.
• Develops, interprets, assesses and revises departmental procurement policies and procedures to ensure compliance with State laws and City policies.
• Conducts investigations and research to resolve inquiries, complaints and bid protests from the public and vendors.
• Participates in long-range purchase planning and needs analysis to simplify and standardize service and commodity types and reduce costs.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Materials Management, Engineering, Purchasing, or related field

Job description

Position Overview

Applications accepted from: ALL PERSONS INTERESTED

Classification: Procurement Specialist - SPD

Department: Finance - Strategic Procurement Division

Reporting Location: 611 Walker St. *Subject to change

Workdays & Hours: MONDAY – FRIDAY 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM *Subject to change

Description Of Duties / Essential Functions

The Procurement Specialist procures complex and highly technical materials, equipment and services on a competitive basis and creates contract specifications and standards for the City or a large City department characterized by industrial and/or high-tech operations and/or facilities.

Responsibilities

• Researches, writes, reviews and evaluates purchase orders, contracts and bid specifications for complex and highly technical materials, equipment and services ensuring completeness, accuracy and compliance with City and departmental policies and procedures.
• Assigns work, trains and provides guidance to buyers and support staff. Typically supervises and evaluates buyers and support staff.
• Confers with department’s engineering, operations, maintenance and other technical personnel to develop detailed and technical specifications.
• Researches and recommends type and quality of materials, supplies and equipment.
• Conducts pre-bid meetings and explains and interprets specifications and standards to vendors and department and City officials. Ensures bid invitations are distributed and bid opening dates are advertised.
• Reviews bids, contracts and proposals for content and conformance to specifications and for Minority/Women’s Business Enterprise (M/WBE) capabilities. Compares price quotes.
• Researches vendors and evaluates their ability to provide and the availability of quality materials, equipment and services. Arranges for and administers tests of materials and equipment to ensure they meet specifications and standards.
• Selects the most advantageous bid. Ensures delivery is schedules and expedites.
• Researches and keeps updated on industry standards, types, features and quality of products, suppliers and other information by reviewing catalogs, technical and industrial publications and other sources.
• Develops, interprets, assesses and revises departmental procurement policies and procedures to ensure compliance with State laws and City policies.
• Conducts investigations and research to resolve inquiries, complaints and bid protests from the public and vendors.
• Participates in long-range purchase planning and needs analysis to simplify and standardize service and commodity types and reduce costs.

WORKING CONDITIONS

This position is physically comfortable; the individual has discretion about walking, standing, etc. There are no major sources of discomfort in a normal office environment.

Education Requirements

Requires a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Materials Management, Engineering, Purchasing, or a field closely related to the work being performed.

Experience Requirements

Five years of progressively responsible professional experience in purchasing technical materials, equipment and/or services or performing cost benefit and/or specification analyses are required.

Professional purchasing experience may substitute for the above education requirement on a year-for-year basis.

License Requirements

None

Preferences

• Preference shall be given to eligible veteran applicants provided such persons possess the qualifications necessary for competent discharge of the duties involved in the position applied for, such persons are among the most qualified candidates for the position, and all other factors in accordance with Executive Order 1-6.**

Selection / Skills Tests Required

Department may administer skills assessment test.

SAFETY IMPACT POSITION

NO

If yes, this position is subject to random drug testing and if a promotional position, candidate must pass an assignment drug test.

Salary Information

Factors used in determining the salary offered include the candidate’s qualifications as well as the pay rates of other employees in this classification.

Pay Grade

24

EOE Equal Opportunity Employer

The City of Houston is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.