PRINCIPAL PURCHASING & CONTRACTS ANALYST

Los Angeles County (CA)•Los Angeles, CA

59d

About The Position

The LA County Board of Supervisors recently declared a local state of emergency for homelessness, and the County is working to revise and expand our response to help all who are affected. We are looking for qualified and passionate individuals to help us in the mission of addressing issues like housing, mental health, and substance use. If you are looking for a new career that will directly benefit the population of LA County, this may be the opportunity for you. Internal Services Department is seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency Principal Purchasing & Contracts Analyst vacancies related to the homelessness crisis. Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment. Before the end of your initial work period, you will be assessed on your work performance. This assessment will be weighted 100%. Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to Principal Purchasing & Contracts Analyst. Positions allocable to this class are found in the Internal Services Department, Purchasing and Contract Service, and reports to the Section Manager. The Principal Purchasing & Contracts Analyst is the expert level and independently performs or leads the most complex acquisitions of equipment, supplies, or services. The Principal Purchasing & Contracts Analyst may lead lower level purchasing and contracts analysts or develop Countywide purchasing and contracts policies and standards and provide training to user departments or materials management staff and those whose duties involve part time acquisition or contract functions in conjunction with other responsibilities. Incumbents evaluate acquisition and contract requirements, determine appropriate solicitation processes, sources, terms and conditions, evaluation procedures, conduct the contract or acquisition process, and negotiate contract awards. The incumbent has extensive knowledge of generally accepted purchasing and contracting principles in the context of County policies, procedures and legal requirements, and adapts processes as required within these parameters. The incumbent is expert in drafting and negotiating contractual agreements including establishing terms and conditions, analyzing technical and legal issues, and evaluating complex bids and proposals involving multiple and subjective criteria. Incumbents are knowledgeable about industry and market conditions that may affect acquisitions and County supply and contract needs. Incumbents may lead a group of contract staff responsible for developing increasingly complex contracts. Incumbents may work with management to review current practices and make recommendations for and implement changes to policies, practices or systems. Incumbents work extensively with central staff departments, user departments and vendors both in establishing performance criteria and measurements as well as resolving contractual problems. Positions assigned to this Office will also be responsible for providing expert and strategic consultative services in the areas of contracts, purchasing, and procurement and collaborating with County contracting operations, end-user departments, local government agencies, small business, and Community-Based Organizations operations, including those that provide direct services and program support to People Experiencing Homelessness.

Requirements

TO QUALIFY FOR THE OPTIONS BELOW you must POSSESS and CLEARLY EXPRESS detailed years of experience performing relevant duties related to the requirements below and within your online job application and supplemental questionnaire.
Option I: Bachelor's Degree or higher from an accredited college or university - AND - Two years of purchasing and/or contracts experience at the level of Los Angeles County Purchasing and Contracts Analyst II, developing and renewing routine and increasingly complex agreements and contracts for purchases of specific equipment, supplies, commodities, and services in a formal competitive bid environment.
Option II: Bachelor's Degree or higher from an accredited college or university -AND- Two years of experience performing analytical assignments in purchasing, procurement, contracts, eProcurement Source-to-Pay or a closely related field -AND- Two years of experience performing analytical assignments at the journey analyst level.
Option III: Five years purchasing and/or contracts experience in a formal competitive bid environment involving the acquisition of equipment, supplies and services. Performing routine and increasingly complex purchasing and contracting related services -AND- Certified as one of the following: Accredited Purchasing Practitioner (APP) by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) by the Institute of Supply Management (ISM) Certified Public Purchasing Buyer (CPPB) by the Universal Public Purchasing Certification Council (UPPCC) Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO) by the Universal Public Purchasing Certification Council (UPPCC)
LICENSE: A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.
PHYSICAL EXPECTATION: 2 - Light. This class includes administrative and clerical positions requiring light physical effort that may include occasional light lifting to a 10-pound limit and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.

Responsibilities

Prepares the most complex solicitation packages, including Requests for Bid (RFBs), Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Invitations to Bid (IFBs), Requests for Quotations (RFQs), and specifications.
Negotiates, drafts, and reviews terms and conditions for proposed agreements and contract awards to ensure protection of County interests, best prices, and compliance with agreement requirement.
Reviews proposed awards with County Counsel and drafts letters to the Board of Supervisors recommending the award of agreements and contracts, as necessary.
Develops evaluation criteria for all types of complex solicitations.
Reviews and evaluates bidder responses to complex or high dollar volume RFBs, RFPs, RFQs based on the merit of the offer and in accordance with the terms and conditions outlined in the solicitation documents.
Compiles, analyzes, and evaluates data on Countywide purchase patterns to identify purchasing trends and compliance issues, and to develop strategic purchasing approaches.
Provides formal and informal training to user departments to facilitate effective use of systems and compliance with Countywide purchasing and contracts programs and policies.
Administers and audits the most complex agreements and contracts for the County, ensuring compliance with terms and conditions.
Conducts research to identify new products and services to improve customer relations.
Works with customer departments to define and plan for long-range procurement needs.
Clarifies interpretation differences of contract terms and conditions and resolves contractual issues with vendors on behalf of user departments and project teams to ensure compliance with Board approved Countywide social programs.
Provides guidance to client departments in drafting the proposer specifications and/or Statements of Work (SOWs) along with clear and transparent evaluation criteria.
Reviews protests received from vendors and researches issues and concerns; facilitates the vendors protest process and responds accordingly.
Acts as lead, directing the day-to-day activities of Purchasing & Contracts Analyst or may assume the duties of the Section Manager in their absence.