Procurement Buyer

CivicMarketplace•Dallas, TX

1d•$30 - $50•Hybrid

About The Position

Civic Marketplace is hiring a Procurement Buyer to support public agencies across the Dallas-Fort Worth region. The buyer will turn agency purchasing requests into compliant, competitive quotes by clarifying requirements, identifying the appropriate purchasing route, sourcing suppliers, comparing quotes, and preparing documentation that agencies can use to make and defend an award. The position is hands-on sourcing work rather than account management and works alongside Civic Marketplace’s quoting agent, applying human judgment to supplier selection, scope, and purchasing strategy. The buyer will build relationships with purchasing staff and department requesters across cities, counties, school districts, and special districts; spend time with agencies and suppliers in the field; and expand the local supplier base, including small and HUB-certified businesses. Feedback from buyers and suppliers will inform improvements to the product and reusable sourcing templates and playbooks. Success includes learning the platform and closing initial requests within 30 days, taking ownership of the DFW quote queue and achieving the stated turnaround and quote-comparability goals within 90 days, and becoming a trusted resource for DFW buyers while building the supplier bench and documentation for future buyers within 180 days. This is an hourly contract engagement based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, with a hybrid arrangement and regular in-person time with agencies and suppliers across the Metroplex. Hours are flexible and follow agency demand. Compensation is $30–$50 per hour, based on experience. The engagement may be extended or grow as North Texas work expands.

Requirements

At least three years of experience as a buyer, purchasing agent, or procurement specialist; public-sector experience in a Texas city, county, school district, or other public entity is preferred within this requirement.
Working knowledge of Texas public purchasing rules, including competitive thresholds, informal quote requirements, HUB outreach, and cooperative purchasing under interlocal agreements.
Demonstrated ability to obtain supplier quotes quickly and turn them into clear, defensible comparisons.
Clear, friendly communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with public-agency department leaders and small suppliers.
Comfort with new tools and willingness to work alongside AI, identify errors, and communicate when the system is wrong.
Ability to solve purchasing roadblocks by rescoping, sourcing differently, or restructuring a purchase.
Based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and able to travel regularly around the region.

Nice To Haves

Experience purchasing across categories such as facilities, fleet, public works, IT, and professional services.
An existing network among North Texas purchasing professionals or suppliers.
CPPB, CPPO, NIGP-CPP, or CTCD certification.
Experience using TXShare or other cooperative contracts.
Experience at a startup or in a role where processes were built as the work progressed.

Responsibilities

Receive agency requests and clarify scope, quantities, specifications, delivery requirements, and budget before taking the request to market.
Determine whether each purchase should use an existing TXShare or partner cooperative contract or a competitive quote process.
Identify and invite qualified suppliers, including local, small, and HUB-certified firms, and follow up to secure meaningful competition.
Review quotes for completeness and comparability, prepare side-by-side comparisons, and flag unusual pricing or terms.
Prepare award-ready packages with documentation required by agency purchasing policies and Texas procurement law.
Build working relationships with purchasing staff and department requesters across regional public agencies.
Learn each agency’s thresholds, approval steps, and preferences to help requests proceed without rework.
Attend on-site purchasing team meetings, regional procurement events, and NCTCOG gatherings.
Recruit and onboard North Texas suppliers in commonly requested categories.
Track supplier responsiveness, awards, and delivery performance to improve supplier invitations.
Help suppliers new to public-sector work understand compliant quote requirements.
Collect feedback from suppliers who did not bid or win and use it to improve future quote requests.
Work with the quoting agent, correct errors, and explain product issues to the product team.
Turn recurring requests into reusable templates and playbooks.
Report on turnaround time, quotes per request, supplier response rate, and savings.