Procurement Officer I

State of Maryland•Anne Arundel, MD

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Maryland Department of Agriculture is a department under Maryland's Executive Branch. Formed in 1972 by the Maryland General Assembly to address the agriculture needs for the State of Maryland, the Department oversees and serves as a regulatory body for animal health, consumer services to include marketing and lab services, plant and pest management and resource conservation. As the number one industry in Maryland, the diversity of agriculture programs in the State continues to expand and grow. The Office of Central Services is dedicated to successfully providing goods and services to MDA’s internal and external customers. The Central Services team administers centralized support services for MDA, including, facilities operation and management, contract administration and procurement, fleet management, administrative services and small, local and the minority business development. Join our Central Service Team! This position is full performance of Departmental work for the procurement of equipment, services, construction, supplies, information technology and other needs to assist with The Maryland Department of Agriculture’s mission. This position will assist the central services team and the Chief Procurement Officer in completing complex, large procurements. Performance of duties shall be in accordance with State Procurement Regulations (COMAR Title 21) and State best practices, as well as Departmental policy and procedures.

Requirements

Option 1: Six years of experience, two years of experience in contract management or procurement involving duties such as: soliciting, evaluating, negotiating and awarding contracts and ensuring compliance with governmental procurement laws, regulations and conditions and an additional four years of professional contract management experience or professional procurement experience.
Option 2: Five years of experience, one year of experience in contract management or procurement involving duties such as: soliciting, evaluating, negotiating and awarding contracts and ensuring compliance with governmental procurement laws, regulations and conditions and an additional four years of professional contract management experience or professional procurement experience.
Candidates may substitute certification as a Certified Public Manager from the National Association of Purchasing Management; Certified Professional Contracts Manager from the National Contract Management Association; Certified Public Purchasing Officer or Certified Professional Public Buyer from the Universal Public Purchasing Certification Council (National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, Inc. or National Association of State Purchasing Officers) for the additional four years of the required experience.
Candidates for Option 1 positions may substitute the possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and two years of experience of experience in contract management or procurement involving duties such as: soliciting, evaluating, negotiating and awarding contracts and ensuring compliance with governmental procurement laws, regulations and conditions for the required experience.
Candidates for Option 2 positions may substitute the possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and one year of experience in contract management or procurement involving duties such as: soliciting, evaluating, negotiating and awarding contracts and ensuring compliance with governmental procurement laws, regulations and conditions for the required experience.
Candidates may substitute additional graduate education at an accredited college or university, at the rate of thirty credit hours for the required experience.
Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Contracting, Industrial Management or logistics specialist classifications or administrative support specialty codes in the procurement or financial management fields of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.
Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.
Employees in this classification who have not done so already must obtain and possess certification as a Procurement Professional from the Maryland Department of General Services within one year of appointment.

Nice To Haves

Is a certified Procurement Officer through the Department of General Services Procurement Academy.
Knowledge of the theories, principles and practices per COMAR Title 21 procurement methods.
Experience in managing the advertisement of procurement opportunities, solicits bids and proposals from potential contractors.
Ability to work and complete assignments under strict timelines.
Intermediate experience with FMIS, eMMA, Google suite, and Microsoft Office suite.

Responsibilities

Determines appropriate procurement method for Departmental purchases per COMAR Title 21
Develops specifications for procurement of goods, services, supplies, information technology, equipment, construction, real estate, facilities maintenance and commodities in accordance with State procurement and Departmental procedures.
Develops contracts, contract modifications, contract renewals and advertisement requirements
Manages the advertisement of procurement opportunities, solicits bids and proposals from potential Contractors, conducts and records pre-bid or pre-proposal conferences and conducts site visits.
Determines basis for evaluation criteria and contract awards; Oversees the evaluation process and executes contract award
Negotiates the most favorable prices, terms and conditions for non-competitive, sole source and emergency procurements
Researches materials and provides testimony regarding Board of Public Works items and prepares documents/submits for BPW contract approval.
Confers with supervisor and Assistant Attorney General's Office regarding bid or proposal irregularities, contract disputes, protests, vendor compliance or appeals and Public Information Act requests
Evaluates Contractor's performance against terms and conditions of contract (including MBE compliance) with the Business Liaison and recommends corrective actions such as application of damages, withholding of payment and termination of contract.
Maintains procurement file (documentation) per COMAR Title 21 and in accordance with departmental record retention policy.
Performs required State FMIS tasks necessary for procurement
Ensures that State purchasing card purchases comply with Procurement Regulations
Reconciles monthly purchasing card statements utilizing the Corporate Purchasing Card (CPC) program.
Performs procurement regulation, policy and best practices workshops with Program staff annually at a minimum.
Provides advice and guidance to paraprofessional support staff and program staff.
Provides excellent customer service that conforms with State practices and policies