Contracting & Acquisitions Agent

State of Oklahoma•Oklahoma City, OK

12d•$48,000 - $62,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Oklahoma Department of Commerce is the State economic development office. Our mission is to cultivate an environment where businesses and communities can grow and thrive. We are a trusted government agency that partners with businesses and communities for strategic and sustainable growth and success, moving Oklahoma forward to becoming a top-ten state. The Oklahoma Department of Commerce seeks to fill a Contracting & Acquisitions Agent position. This is a full-time position in the state government. Oklahoma Department of Commerce offers a comprehensive benefits package, including a generous benefit allowance to offset the cost of insurance premiums for employees and their eligible dependents. For more information about the benefit allowance, visit the Oklahoma State Benefits Overview. The annual salary for this position is up to $62,000 based on education and experience. Qualified applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, and list of references.

Requirements

Requires at least 3 years of related administrative support experience.
Must be an effective communicator, with strong verbal and written communication skills, and possess the ability to think and work independently and as part of a team.
The ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines is required.
Persons appointed to this position must possess or obtain certification as a Certified Procurement Officer (CPO) no later than six months from the date of appointment.

Nice To Haves

A degree/certificate in office management, business, administrative support, or a related area is preferred.
An equivalent combination of experience and education will also be considered.
Preference may be given to candidates with experience in state government procurement, solicitations, PeopleSoft, and/or the state purchasing card (P-Card) system.
Knowledge of PeopleSoft is desirable.

Responsibilities

Primarily serves as backup to the Director of Procurement and Purchasing.
Maintains high standards of confidentiality of all records and information.
Performs the duties of a contract manager. This includes maintaining the official contract file; monitoring contractor performance and compliance; tracking contract milestones and deliverables; monitoring expenditures against authorized funding levels; monitoring subcontractor activity; coordinating contract amendments and renewals; conducting required post-assessments; and ensuring compliance with applicable procurement laws, rules, and policies.
Performs the duties of a contract specialist and may negotiate, write, monitor contractor compliance with all state and federal regulations and agency policies, evaluate contracts, monitor contractor expenditures, review, validate, and/or approve invoices/claims, and ensure timely submission of reports.
Performs the duties of a procurement specialist. This includes, but is not limited to, the lifecycle of the procurement process: planning, managing, and purchasing goods and services from external suppliers and sources; evaluating and negotiating contracts; and issuing purchase orders.
Performs the assigned duties of a purchasing specialist. This may include placing the order(s) for goods and services, selecting suppliers, negotiating contracts, monitoring supplier performance, monitoring contractor compliance, and maintaining good relationships with the supplier.
Drafts and reviews specifications and requisitions developed by other divisions of the agency; determines method of acquisition.
Maintains bidder lists, product and services information, supplier information, the official contract file, and acquisition records.
Conducts bidder conferences and bid openings; tabulates and evaluates bids; recommends awards; mediates disputes.
Makes recommendations to management concerning products and services and available sources of supply.
Performs the duties of an acquisition specialist and may be assigned the responsibilities of identifying, evaluating, and negotiating potential acquisitions for an institution or state agency.
Advises agency personnel on departmental rules, Central Purchasing regulations, and laws; provides technical guidance and training to agency staff and vendors.
Represents the agency at public and private sector meetings to explain the functions, procedures, and legal guidelines concerning state purchases and contracts.
Acts as liaison to Central Purchasing.
Trains subordinate personnel.
Other duties as assigned.