Procurement Strategic Advisor

Seattle Finance and Administrative Services; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 108,000 - 162,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Seattle is seeking a Procurement Strategic Advisor to join the Purchasing Team within the Purchasing and Contracting Division. This role manages a large portfolio of contracts, guides project managers on procurement strategies, and ensures compliance, transparency, and diverse, cost-effective contracting citywide.

Responsibilities include end-to-end procurement activities, bid solicitations, and negotiations, with on-call duties for EOC during emergencies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required or equivalent; four years of procurement or project management experience.

Responsibilities

• Administer and manage a portfolio of approximately 150 - 175 contracts that require a high level of oversight.
• Advise and consult project managers and other City department staff on contracting methodologies and develop overall contracting plans within assigned contract portfolio to fulfill department and city-wide procurement needs in the most economical, timely, effective, and efficient manner.
• Develop and implement procurement and bid solicitations for purchasing initiatives, and other requirements as authorized by special legislation or federal grants.
• Execute start to finish procurement activities for outsourcing engagements including performing proactive strategic sourcing; developing and managing Invitations to Bid (ITB) and Requests for Proposals (RFP) or other selection processes; and contract negotiations.
• Mediate and resolve contractual issues and disputes.
• Develop and support relationships with vendors and the general public.
• Focus on performance indicators and annual contract management objectives to ensure performance agreements are met and customer departments' business needs are fulfilled.
• Promote and support outreach goals for diversity and (race and social justice) efforts. Participate in identifying and implementing citywide contracting policies, procedures, and systems.
• Occasionally staff or be on call to staff the Logistics Section of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), in the event of an emergency, natural disaster or large-scale event. The Purchasing Team does its best to rotate this obligation among staff when evening or weekend reporting is required, and EOC response training will be provided.
• Perform various other related duties commensurate with the Strategic Advisor 1 position level.

Skills

Procurement experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Contract Management, Project Management, or a closely related field

Job description

Position Description

The City of Seattle’s Department of Finance and Administrative Services (FAS) is seeking qualified candidates for a Procurement Strategic Advisor (Strategic Advisor 1, PC&RM) position to join the Purchasing Team, within the Purchasing and Contracting Division (PC).

Procurement Strategic Advisors serve on a team that provides centralized procurement and contracting for the entire City, managing the complexity and risks associated with cradle-to-grave purchasing and contracting. PC has a strong commitment to efficient, effective, and compliant contracts and purchases, with a focus on excellent customer service.

About Us

The Purchasing and Contracting Division shapes and defines procurement policies that regulate and govern all City Departments and provides Citywide strategic planning, oversight, and governance of bidding and contractual arrangements. The Purchasing Team within PC establishes and administers over 1,200 blanket contracts, used Citywide for the purchase of goods and routine services. We are also the only team in the City authorized to make purchases above the City’s established competitive bidding thresholds. In addition to the purchase of goods and routine services, the Purchasing Team oversees the decentralized Consultant contracting program.

FAS is often the public's first interaction with the City of Seattle, operating as a customer-focused front door that assists with everything from paying utilities or reporting a pothole to requesting public information or even adopting a new pet.

The 500-plus employees of FAS span across 10 divisions and work behind-the-scenes providing critical functions, like managing 120 City facilities—including police and fire stations—overseeing the City's neighborhood customer service centers and Customer Service Bureau and making sure minority-owned businesses can equitably compete for City contracts. No matter the need, FAS is here—at your service.

Job Responsibilities

The Purchasing Team is a dynamic and diverse team of dedicated stewards of taxpayer resources. The Procurement Strategic Advisor position plays a key role in developing and implementing citywide contracting procedures and processes with responsibilities of managing the full scope of procurement contracts, which include solicitation, selection processes, monitoring contracts for fiscal and legal compliance, adherence to deliverable timelines, auditing performance, assessing viability of future contract work, and providing transparency for the public. The Procurement Strategic Advisor is also responsible for a varied contract portfolio, with a group of related commodities and contracts which may include complex and specialized procurements. In addition, the position helps implement policies that fulfill the City’s expectations in promoting diversity and race and social justice efforts around the position's contract portfolio.

• Administer and manage a portfolio of approximately 150 - 175 contracts that require a high level of oversight.
• Advise and consult project managers and other City department staff on contracting methodologies and develop overall contracting plans within assigned contract portfolio to fulfill department and city-wide procurement needs in the most economical, timely, effective, and efficient manner.
• Develop and implement procurement and bid solicitations for purchasing initiatives, and other requirements as authorized by special legislation or federal grants.
• Execute start to finish procurement activities for outsourcing engagements including performing proactive strategic sourcing; developing and managing Invitations to Bid (ITB) and Requests for Proposals (RFP) or other selection processes; and contract negotiations.
• Mediate and resolve contractual issues and disputes.
• Develop and support relationships with vendors and the general public.
• Focus on performance indicators and annual contract management objectives to ensure performance agreements are met and customer departments' business needs are fulfilled.
• Promote and support outreach goals for diversity and (race and social justice) efforts. Participate in identifying and implementing citywide contracting policies, procedures, and systems.
• Occasionally staff or be on call to staff the Logistics Section of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), in the event of an emergency, natural disaster or large-scale event. The Purchasing Team does its best to rotate this obligation among staff when evening or weekend reporting is required, and EOC response training will be provided.
• Perform various other related duties commensurate with the Strategic Advisor 1 position level.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Contract Management, Project Management, or a closely related field. AND
• Four (4) years of experience in public or private procurement or project management.
  
  

(Or a combination of education and/or training and/or experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class.)

The Most Successful Candidates Will Possess The Following

• Understanding of methods, principles, and practices of purchasing and contracting, and regulatory requirements in the public sector.
• Familiarity with contracting laws, regulations, and best practices.
• Knowledge and experience with mediation and contract negotiation principles and practices.
• Awareness of social responsibility items such as small and disadvantaged business initiatives; sustainability and green purchasing.
• Project management experience.
• Demonstrated strategic perspective on political, business or contracting/procurement issues or trends.
• Experience in handling multiple assignments concurrently.
• Experience preparing complex contracts and agreements.
• Public Procurement Certification through NIGP, CPPB, CPPO, UPPCC or similar certification.
  
  

Work Environment

This position requires a minimum of three days per week of onsite work. Alternative Work Arrangements and hybrid telework schedules for work conducted in a normal office environment may be considered and will be based on operational needs and consistency with City policies.

Additional Information

This position is classified as a Strategic Advisor 1, PC&RM. The full salary range for this job classification is $51.88 - $77.82 per hour. This position is FLSA exempt (not eligible for overtime) and is Civil Service represented.