State Procurement Director

State of Louisiana•Baton Rouge, LA

About The Position

The State Procurement Director serves as Louisiana’s State Chief Procurement Officer and leads the Office of State Procurement (OSP), the central purchasing agency within the Division of Administration. The position oversees OSP programs and operations and the procurement functions of state agencies subject to the Louisiana Procurement Code, including policy-impacting state contracts for more than $1 billion in annual goods and services expenditures. OSP provides compliant, competitive, and cost-effective procurement solutions and promotes sound practices, public value, and accountability through collaboration, customer service, training, and policy leadership. The Director establishes OSP’s vision, structure, goals, performance benchmarks, budget, and operating plan; leads statewide procurement systems and policy; and supervises staff and procurement functions. The role advises executive leadership and agencies, makes or reviews decisions reserved for the State Chief Procurement Officer, oversees delegated authority and compliance, resolves protests and contract disputes, and coordinates procurement initiatives and communications across state government.

Requirements

Meet one of the following experience and education pathways, with at least three years of the required experience at the supervisory level or above: nine years of experience in procurement, contracts or grants management, financial management, accounting, or auditing; or six years of full-time work experience in any field plus six years of experience in one of those fields; or a bachelor’s degree plus six years of experience in one of those fields; or an advanced degree plus five years of experience in one of those fields.
For the pathway requiring six years of full-time work experience in any field, every 30 semester hours from an accredited college or university may substitute for one year of that experience, up to 120 semester hours and four years.
A CPPB, CPPO, or NIGP-CPP designation may substitute for up to one year of required experience.

Responsibilities

Direct OSP as the state’s central procurement office for supplies, services, major repairs, and professional, personal, consulting, and social services subject to the Louisiana Procurement Code.
Establish OSP’s vision, organizational structure, goals, performance benchmarks, budget, and operating plan in accordance with Division of Administration policies.
Recommend procurement regulations and statutory changes; adopt internal procedures and promulgate rules under delegated authority.
Issue statewide procurement policies, manuals, guidance, and standard forms, and direct implementation of enacted legislation.
Direct statewide procurement systems, including LaGov, LESA, and Data Warehouse reporting; set enhancement priorities and oversee data, analytics, and performance measures.
Oversee category management, strategic sourcing, and process improvements while maintaining competition, transparency, and auditability.
Direct OSP’s deputy directors, assistant directors, managers, procurement professionals, and administrative staff; assign responsibilities and establish performance expectations and uniform controls.
Administer direct reports’ attendance, leave, schedules, performance planning, evaluations, and development; oversee performance management for OSP employees under State Civil Service requirements.
Review and approve hiring, separation, compensation, and organizational actions in coordination with the Deputy Commissioner and DOA Office of Human Resources.
Address personnel requests, complaints, grievances, and discipline; direct recruitment, succession planning, professional development, and certification.
Promote a safe, respectful, productive workplace and oversee procurement training for OSP staff, agency personnel, and vendors.
Serve as principal procurement advisor to the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Administration and advise executive leadership, agencies, oversight bodies, legal staff, and non-state entities on complex procurement matters.
Interpret applicable laws, regulations, rules, and executive orders; review agency procurement decisions and advise officials on complex program and operational issues.
Review agency requests and issue documented determinations reserved to the State Chief Procurement Officer, including requests involving proposals, competitive negotiations, sole-source and emergency procurements, and alternative methods.
Approve statewide term contracts, certain cooperative endeavor agreements, and amendments and extensions exceeding agency thresholds.
Direct specifications and contract forms; oversee inspection, testing, and acceptance of goods and services and inventories of warehoused supplies.
Delegate procurement authority within legal limits, establish conditions and dollar thresholds, monitor agency practices, and direct compliance reviews.
Modify, condition, or withdraw delegated authority when warranted; coordinate procurement audit findings and corrective actions with the Legislative Auditor and DOA internal audit.
Ensure required contract information is publicly available.
Resolve solicitation and award protests and settle or decide contract and breach-of-contract controversies, obtaining Attorney General concurrence when required.
Issue timely written decisions explaining actions and review rights; administer protest bonds and related informal hearings.
Suspend or debar vendors for cause following required notice and opportunity to be heard.
Support the Commissioner in administrative appeals and litigation and represent OSP in administrative hearings and district court.
Serve as DOA’s principal legislative contact on procurement; present information and testimony to legislative committees and prepare required correspondence and reports.
Represent OSP before executive officials, boards, committees, and oversight bodies; coordinate complex procurement initiatives and implementation of programs across agencies.
Direct agency and vendor outreach, maintain communication and feedback channels, and promote participation by small and disadvantaged businesses.