Procurement Specialist 2

State of Iowa•Des Moines - 50309 - Polk County, IA

10h•Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Management’s Division of Finance and Human Resources is seeking a detail oriented and service focused Procurement Specialist 2 (PS2) to support statewide purchasing activities through accurate, compliant, and timely transactional procurement work. In this role, you will help ensure the smooth and consistent acquisition of goods, services, and technology resources by creating purchase requisitions and orders, conducting informal solicitations, coordinating with vendors and agency staff, and maintaining essential documentation and audit ready records. As a key contributor to centralized procurement operations, you will play an important part in promoting efficient, transparent, and policy aligned purchasing practices that support the department’s mission and the needs of the State of Iowa.

Requirements

Strong understanding of procurement laws, administrative rules, and departmental procedures, with the ability to apply them consistently in daily decision making.
Excellent attention to detail and recordkeeping skills, ensuring purchasing files, vendor information, quotes, and supporting documentation are complete, accurate, and audit ready.
Clear written and verbal communication skills, particularly when clarifying purchasing requirements, collaborating with vendors, or guiding staff through procurement processes.
Strong customer service orientation, with the ability to assist agency staff, resolve documentation issues, and support consistent procurement workflows.
Analytical skills to evaluate quotes, interpret specifications, compare product options, and make best value recommendations for informal solicitations.
Ability to manage financial and clerical tasks accurately, including creating purchase requisitions, reconciling purchasing card transactions, and verifying asset information.
Strong organizational skills, with the ability to track procurement actions, meet deadlines, and manage multiple requests in a fast-paced environment.
Comfort engaging with vendors, including clarifying product details, confirming availability, and assisting with pricing or specification questions.
Commitment to compliance and consistency, ensuring all procurement activities align with State of Iowa purchasing standards, DAS procurement policies, and departmental expectations.
Six years of full-time work experience in the procurement of technical, standardized, expendable, and non-expendable items.
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in business or public administration, accounting, or economics, and experience equal to two years of full-time work in the procurement of technical, standardized, expendable, and non-expendable items.
A total of six years of education and/or full-time experience (as described in number one), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university coursework in any field equals one year of full-time experience.
Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes eighteen months of full-time work as a Procurement Specialist 1.

Responsibilities

Create purchase requisitions and purchase/delivery orders in the financial system, ensuring accuracy, required documentation, correct coding, and compliance with State and departmental procurement rules.
Maintain purchasing files, vendor catalogs, quotes, contract records, and reference materials to support reliable sourcing, transparency, and audit readiness.
Request and evaluate informal quotes (up to $50,000) for standardized, expendable, and nonexpendable items; coordinate with Targeted Small Business (TSB) vendors and other agencies for pricing and IT related purchasing needs.
Prepare or assist with solicitation materials—including specifications and required attachments—and meet with vendors or manufacturer representatives to clarify product options, pricing, availability, and suitability.
Recommend vendor selection for informal solicitations based on best value considerations and compliance requirements.
Serve as an authorized purchasing card (Pcard) holder, conduct transactions, reconcile charges, maintain supporting documentation, and guide staff on Pcard requirements.
Assist with capital asset and inventory purchasing by verifying receipt, documenting asset information, ensuring accurate recordkeeping, and supporting compliance with State asset tracking requirements.
Provide customer service to agency staff by clarifying procurement procedures, troubleshooting documentation issues, and supporting purchasing workflow needs.
Ensure all procurement activities comply with State laws, administrative rules, DAS procurement policy, and departmental procedures.
Perform additional procurement related duties as assigned.