Procurement Specialist Senior
About The Position
The Department of Economic Security (DES) is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Senior Procurement Specialist to join its Office of Procurement team. This role involves complex work with considerable independence and discretionary judgment to establish effective, efficient, economical, and legal contract management and acquisitions for DES. The Senior Procurement Specialist will serve as the procurement project management lead for assigned projects, exercise delegated procurement authority (including sole source, competition impracticable, and emergency recommendations, and exempt procurements), and provide training and mentoring to colleagues. This position may offer the ability to work remotely within Arizona, based on business needs and performance.
Requirements
- Knowledge of the Arizona Procurement Code, State acquisition lifecycle, and public contract management for complex commodities and services.
- Knowledge of Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), Federal antitrust laws, and related business law principles.
- Knowledge of enterprise contract management software and eProcurement systems (Arizona Procurement Portal / APP).
- Knowledge of professional procurement ethics, confidentiality, and public disclosure requirements.
- Skills in project management, dispute mediation, facilitation, and commercial contract negotiations.
- Skills in market research, pricing value analysis, and critical problem-solving.
- Skills in verbal, written, and interpersonal communication, including customer service and vendor relations.
- Skills in standard office technology and software suites (Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, and Adobe Acrobat).
- Ability to perform statistical and abstract analysis to evaluate bids and complex procurement requests.
- Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize high-volume procurement assignments effectively under tight deadlines.
- Ability to formulate clear reports, contract documents, policies, and standard operating procedures.
- Ability to establish positive working relationships across agency divisions while maintaining strict objectivity and confidentiality.
- Must possess a valid Driver's License.
- Must successfully pass background and reference check.
- Must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).
Nice To Haves
- Minimum two years of experience equivalent to a Procurement Specialist.
- A bachelor’s degree in supply chain, business, finance, or a related field from an accredited college or university is preferred.
- Professional certification such as a CPPO, CPPB, or CPM from a professional purchasing organization is preferred.
Responsibilities
- Prepares, issues, and administers complex formal solicitations in accordance with the Arizona Procurement Code, facilitating public openings, vendor conferences, and evaluation committees through contract award.
- Evaluates sole-source, competition-impracticable, and emergency procurement requests, ensuring statutory compliance and proper documentation.
- Executes purchase orders, task orders, and contract amendments, providing full contract administration for high-complexity commodities and technical services.
- Analyzes market data and pricing trends to negotiate financial terms, delivery schedules, and programmatic requirements with vendors.
- Researches contract disputes, vendor performance issues, and bid protests, drafting formal determinations and resolution reports for Chief Procurement Officer signature.
- Utilizes the State's eProcurement system to manage contracts and workflow data, while serving as a technical resource and mentor to procurement staff.
Benefits
- Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
- Participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) and long-term disability plans
- 10 paid holidays per year
- Paid vacation and sick time
- Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child.
- Deferred compensation plan
- Wellness plans
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Stipend Opportunities
- Infant at Work Program
- Rideshare and Public Transit Subsidy
- Career Advancement & Employee Development Opportunities
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
