Procurement Specialist III

City of Austin•Austin, TX

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Austin Financial Services (AFS) provides financial services and programs to residents, vendors, and City departments, serving as a steward of public resources and supporting the City’s financial management. The Procurement Specialist III works on the Emergency Procurement and Programs Team under limited supervision and within delegated procurement authority. The position provides procurement services to assigned departments, including formal and informal source selection, contract formation, contract monitoring and administration, category management, occasional buying, and technical advice. The role maintains contingency contracts and the City’s emergency contract lists so they are ready for departmental, local, state, or federal emergency declarations. It monitors Emergency Operations Center resources to support rapid procurement response when activated. The position also supports procurement programs by helping develop reports, guides, templates, training, and documentation, and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders on initiatives to strengthen procurement operations. The position is located at Town Lake Center in Austin, Texas. The regular schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Telework may be available after an initial training period; eligible employees must work in the office at least 40% of their scheduled work week. Schedules may change to meet department requirements and business needs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and four years of experience in a related field; alternatively, four years of applicable work experience may substitute for the minimum education requirement.
Knowledge of public purchasing practices and techniques; applicable procurement statutes, ordinances, and codes; accounting and budgeting processes related to purchasing; contract law, terms, and conditions; and contract category management.
Skill in buying procedures, purchase and delivery orders, procurement-card use, informal and formal source selection including price competition, contract negotiation and formation, contract management and administration, computer applications, automated purchasing systems, communication, relationship-building, judgment, tact, and diplomacy.
Ability to develop and lead cross-functional teams and resolve contract disputes.
Ability to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodations.

Nice To Haves

Graduate degree from an accredited college or university in a related field may substitute for up to two years of required experience.
Experience with public-sector procurement and contract management.
Experience negotiating non-standard or custom contract provisions for specialized or time-sensitive procurement needs.
Experience communicating complex and time-sensitive information effectively to departments and organizational stakeholders.
Experience gathering, analyzing, and using data to support program process improvements and reporting.
Ability to travel to more than one work location.

Responsibilities

Perform informal source selection and contract formation, including Requests for Quotations, purchase orders, single-transaction contracts under the State’s formal threshold, and participation in or leadership of authorized cooperative contracts.
Conduct formal solicitations above the formal threshold, including Invitations for Bids, Requests for Proposals, Requests for Qualifications, Citywide and revenue-generating solicitations, concessions contracts, and construction or construction-related professional services solicitations.
Monitor delivery orders, purchase orders, and single-transaction contracts; monitor compliance for project contracts and term master agreements; and administer assigned contracts.
Provide procurement advice and technical support to assigned department customers, current and prospective contractors, and members of the public across procurement processes and contract-related topics.
Manage assigned categories of related contracts by developing product, service, contractual, and market expertise; creating and executing strategic category plans; and reporting on plan performance.
Provide occasional buying services, including procurement-card purchases, delivery orders for non-competitive releases under existing master agreements, and purchase orders for non-competitive purchases under the State’s informal threshold.
Maintain contingency contracts and City emergency contract lists for use during emergency declarations.
Monitor Emergency Operations Center resources to support rapid procurement response when activated.
Assist with developing reports, guides, templates, training, and documentation for procurement programs.
Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders and contribute to procurement program initiatives.
May act in a lead role on assigned projects and programs.
Travel to multiple work locations when necessary as part of regular duties, subject to the City’s Driver Safety Program requirements.