Procurement Supervisor
Seattle Public Schools
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Job summary
Seattle Public Schools seeks a Procurement Supervisor to lead a three‑person Procurement Specialists team and to directly manage high‑risk solicitations and critical contracts. The role balances leadership with hands‑on procurement, focusing on transparency, fairness, and cost‑effectiveness.
The incumbent will apply federal, state, and district procurement rules, oversee bidding processes, and mentor staff while collaborating with stakeholders and vendors to achieve value for money.
Qualifications
- Four (4) years of increasingly responsible experience in a large public agency, dealing with procurement guidelines.
- Bachelor’s degree in business administration or related field; Master’s degree preferred.
- CPCM, CPM, CPPB or CPPO preferred.
- Experience supervising staff and handling solicitations or contracting.
- Ability to interpret federal, state, and organizational procurement regulations.
Responsibilities
- Lead and manage a team of Procurement Specialists, setting priorities and monitoring progress.
- Advise or lead negotiations on contract terms with vendors and internal stakeholders.
- Review solicitations and contracts for compliance and approve high‑level procurements.
- Oversee formal procurement processes (bids, RFPs, RFQs) and ensure best value.
- Draft contract amendments, monitor renewals, and prepare management reports.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
Overview of Position
The Procurement Supervisor provides leadership and oversight for the acquisition of goods, services, and works in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and organizational policies. This role ensures transparency, fairness, and cost-effectiveness in all procurement activities while maintaining accountability and adherence to ethical standards.
As a working supervisor, this position supervises a team of three Procurement Specialists, guiding their work, setting priorities, and ensuring compliance with established procedures. In addition to supervisory responsibilities, the Procurement Supervisor performs procurement activities directly, including managing select high-risk solicitations, overseeing critical contracts, and processing purchase orders. This dual role requires balancing leadership with hands‑on execution to achieve organizational objectives.
The Procurement Supervisor exercises delegated authority to review and approve solicitations and contracts within defined thresholds, collaborates with internal stakeholders and external vendors to deliver successful outcomes, and leverages procurement systems and ERP platforms (e.g., SAP) to drive efficiency, transparency, and accountability across all procurement processes.
- Lead and manage a team of Procurement Specialists, setting priorities, assigning work, and monitoring progress to ensure compliance with established procedures and deadlines.
- Advise or lead negotiations on contract terms and conditions with vendors and internal stakeholders.
- Establish clear performance expectations, conduct evaluations, and provide coaching and mentorship to support professional growth.
- Make recommendations on hiring, disciplinary actions, and workload adjustments.
- Serve as a resource for technical guidance and problem-solving on complex procurement issues, including solicitation and contract reviews.
- Review and approve solicitations and contracts for Procurement Specialists.
- Act as backup to the Purchasing Manager during absences.
- Interpret and enforce federal, state, and organizational procurement regulations, School Board policies, and Superintendent-approved procedures.
- Review solicitation language for compliance and monitor adherence to procurement standards.
- Ensure vendors and internal staff understand compliance requirements through training and communication.
- Manage all aspects of select high-risk solicitations and critical contracts (including contract negotiations).
- Oversee and facilitate formal procurement processes, including bids, RFPs, RFQs, and other procurement types while ensuring best value and compliance with regulations.
- Assist with drafting contract amendments, monitor renewal options, and issue reminders to contract owners.
- Coordinate responses to bid protests and provide documentation for audits.
- Processing purchase orders as needed.
- Aid in the development of solicitation and contracting documents in collaboration with Procurement & Distribution Services Manager and Legal Counsel.
- Prepare reports for management and keep leadership informed of unit and project activities.
- Identify opportunities to streamline processes, improve turnaround times, and enhance customer service.
- Conduct vendor outreach, including engagement with small businesses, and represent the organization at trade shows and industry events.
- Foster relationships with suppliers to ensure quality, timely delivery, and value for money.
- May perform related duties consistent with the scope and intent of the position.
- Inputs and maintains a variety of databases and files.
- Helps administrate SPS department website and other Procurement Services resources.
- Initiates contracts for routing in E-builder, DocuSign, or other District applications.
- Is a people builder, provides challenging and stretching tasks and assignments; constructs compelling development plans and executes them; pushes direct reports to accept developmental moves.
- Gives people assignments that help to develop their abilities.
- Work collaboratively with direct reports to set meaningful performance objectives.
- Meets regularly with direct reports to review developmental progress.
- Recognizes and reinforces developmental efforts and improvements.
- Clearly assigns responsibility for tasks and decisions ;sets clear objectives and measures; monitors process, progress, and results; designs feedback loops in to work.
- Identifies people and resources necessary to accomplish tasks.
- Develops success indicators and monitors and reports status based on those indicators.
- Develops effective communication skills and tools to interact with team.
- Tactfully dispenses direct and actionable feedback; is open and direct with others without being intimidating ;deals head‑on with people problems and prickly situations.
- Let’s people know where they stand and faces up to people problems quickly, directly and respectfully.
- Responds constructively to challenging situations or people even under stress.
- Does not hold back on anything that needs be said or done in a productive and constructive way.
- Commits to meeting the expectations and requirements of interna land external stakeholders; acts with stakeholders in mind; values importance of providing high-quality customer service.
- Makes customers and their needs a primary focus of his/her actions.
- Thinks ahead and considers the impact of actions both internally and externally.
- Develops trust, credibility and maintains strong relationships with customers.
- Goes the extra mile to satisfy customer needs and expectations.
- Can effectively cope with change; can shift gears comfortably; can decide and act without having the total picture; can comfortably handle risk and uncertainty.
- Responds quickly to change and comfortably considers new approaches.
- Operates well in situations when consequences of actions and decisions are unclear.
- Switches strategies or approach if current ones are not working.
- Develops cooperation and teamwork while participating in a group, working toward solutions which generally benefit all involved parties.
- Is seen as a team player who encourages efficient and effective collaborations.
- Works skillfully in difficult situations with both internal and external groups.
- Represents his/her own interests while being open-minded to other groups.
- Builds respectful and productive relationships internally and externally.
- Performs work with energy and drive; values planning, but will take quick, decisive action when an opportunity presents itself.
- Demonstrates a strong sense of urgency about solving problems and getting work done.
- Focuses on achieving the goal even in the face of obstacles.
- Assumes responsibility for starting and finishing work with minimal supervision.
- Strives for new levels of performance.
- Uses analysis, wisdom, experience and logical methods to make good decisions and solve difficult problems with effective solutions; appropriately incorporates multiple inputs to establish shared ownership and effective action.
- Weighs the consequences of options before making a decision.
- Applies appropriate criteria to situations for the purpose of making decisions.
- Displays self-confidence in own judgment.
- Focuses in the facts and solutions instead of opinions and problems.
- Is widely trusted; is seen as a direct, truthful individual; presents truthful information in an appropriate and helpful manner; keeps confidences; admits mistakes; doesn’t misrepresent him/herself for personal gain.
- Deals with people and situations in an honest and forthright manner.
- Represents information and data accurately and completely.
- Represents the confidentiality of information and concerns shared by others.
- Takes ownership if a mistake is their own and does not blame others.
- Holds self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely and cost-effective results; determines objectives, sets priorities and delegates work; accepts responsibility for mistakes; complies with established control systems and rules.
- Takes responsibility and action as if the risks (financial or otherwise) are his or her own.
- Holds individuals and team accountable for their actions and results.
- Initiates action even if outcome is uncertain and is willing to accept the consequences of failure.
- Aligns own activities and priorities to meet broader organizational needs.
- Demonstrates courage and confidence in his or her own ability.
Four (4) years of increasingly responsible experience in a large public agency, dealing with school district guidelines and State procurement regulations; Bachelor’s degree in business administration or related field; Master’s degree preferred; OR completion of Purchasing Certification Program such as CPCM, CPM or CPPO and four (4) additional years of experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Any equivalent combination of education, experience and training that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the work will be considered.
CPCM, CPM, CPPB or CPPO preferred.
Criminal Justice fingerprinting and background check.
Seattle Public Schools benefits are administered by the Washington State Healthcare Authority (HCA) under the School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB). Click HERE for an overview of available benefit options.
Eligibility for benefits is determined by the number of hours employees are anticipated to work during the school year (September 1 through August 31). Any employee who is scheduled to work 630 hours or more in a year is eligible for benefits.
Please find the salary schedule associated with this role and others like it HERE.
How many years of experience do you have working with solicitation and contracting for public works? (Write “none” if not applicable).
- 1-2
- 3+
How many years of experience do you have working with solicitation for services procurements? (Write “none” if not applicable).
- 1-2
- 3+
Please provide a summary of your experience in public works? (Write “none” if not applicable).
Please provide a summary of your experience in services procurements? (Write “none” if not applicable).
Please answer the following questions to describe your experience leading or supporting solicitations (e.g., RFQ, RFP, ITB/IFB, RFI) in the public or private sector. (Write “none” if not applicable)
- Approximate number of solicitations you have worked on: ___
- Your role (e.g., lead, co‑lead, contributor, evaluator, contract administrator):
- Brief example(s) of the solicitation types and scope/complexity (or “none”):
How many years of experience do you have supervising staff?
- 1-2
- 3+
Please briefly summarize your supervisory experience (e.g., number of direct reports, types of roles, hiring/performance management, coaching, etc.):
What is your earliest possible start date?
- Required Question
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