Director Procurement

Port Houston•Houston, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Thank you for considering a career at Port Houston. We appreciate your interest in joining our team. By applying, you are taking an important step toward advancing your career with an organization committed to excellence. Port Houston offers competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and a diverse, inclusive work environment. Joining our team means embarking on a fulfilling career path with opportunities for growth and impact. Before submitting your application, please ensure your resume is ready for upload in either .doc or .pdf format. Application must be completed in full. Are you ready to think about the future and dream big? At Port Houston, we're seeking individuals who are eager to tackle the most significant challenges of their careers. For over a century, we've been driven by vision and scale, delivering impactful initiatives that shape Houston and the region. Our sustainability and success hinge on attracting, retaining, and nurturing exceptional talent. When you join Port Houston, you're embarking on a journey towards a fulfilling career path. Take the first step in the right direction—are you READY?

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Economics, Finance or related major in a public or accredited private academic institution required
7+ years of related experience in a similar role required
Knowledge of the principles and practices of public sector procurement laws and regulations, and supply chain management
Considerable knowledge of Port Houston’s Procurement Manual, regulatory guidelines, industry best practices and Port Houston practices
Considerable knowledge of processes and regulations of public procurement, contract management, and small business
Knowledge of e-procurement systems
Solid decision-making skills
Ability to direct the overall activities of the organization’s procurement function
Very strong negotiation and mediation skills; excellent communication skills (strong verbal, written, listening and presentation skills required)
Skills of influence, persuasion and negotiation to achieve goals
Solid quantitative and analytical skills
Ability to operate successfully in a complex environment and work effectively across multiple groups and levels
Ability to interact professionally with various levels of Port Houston employees and outside representatives
Ability to collaborate and network
Ability to manage complex construction and professional service contracts
Ability to work in a team setting, drive team results and support change management within the organization
Ability to provide fact-based recommendations to leadership and commissioners as appropriate.
Ability to exercise good judgment
Ability to quickly assess, adapt and execute to ensure continuous improvement and aggressively manage change, maximize Port Houston opportunities and partnerships
Must possess an intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred
WorkdayTM ERP experience associated with Procure to Pay and Strategic Sourcing is preferred
Previous supervisory experience preferred
Certified Public Purchasing Officer preferred or achieved within 1 year of employment
Certified Texas Procurement Manager preferred

Responsibilities

Provide short and long-term vision, direction, guidance, and support to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of Port Houston’s procurement function
Collaborate with Port business units (Operations, Project and Construction Management, others) to develop advantageous procurement methods aligned with the Texas Water Code or affect legislation to enable such methods
Gain employee engagement of the department through setting objectives and obtaining alignment on the department direction and initiatives; reinforce change management by embracing and driving the processes for continuous improvement
Partner with the Business Equity division to deliver program growth and useful analytics associated with Small, Minority and Woman-owned Enterprise participation
Establish priorities and advise internal customers on acquisition strategies and the resolution of procurement-related obstacles
Maintain a procurement manual which provides useful, procedural instruction for user groups based on and aligned with the Texas Water Code and industry best practices
Establish goals, objectives, and performance standards for the department consistent with Port Houston mission and values
Direct overall planning, organization, and policy development of the department
Direct and manage multiple functions of Procurement, including purchase orders, contract management, small business vendor administration, and records retention
Develop methods to reduce costs and increase efficiency within the department
Oversee procurement policies and procedures training Port-wide; address all issues relating to procurement policies, practices and guidelines
Initiate and review all procurement processes, including, requisitions, purchase orders, request for method of procurement, pre-bid and proposal conferences, initial and final rank and evaluation, debriefings
Attend all initial and final rank and evaluation sessions and perform all debriefings
Support open competition, strong customer service and personal development; keep current on contract compliance regulations and apply new information and techniques as appropriate
Establish effective communication and cooperation across Port Houston functional boundaries
Advise and assist senior staff on studies, investigations and analyses related to procurement
Work in partnership with internal/external business partners to increase contracting opportunities
Prepare communications for the Chief Executive, the Port Commission and the public
Serve as an effective interface between Port Houston and its contractors/vendors
Represent Port Houston in meetings with representatives of governmental agencies, professional and business organizations
Act in accordance with Port Houston core values (respect, excellence, accountability, diligence, and you)
Perform other duties as required