Enterprise Contracts & Procurement Specialist 2

This position is eligible for full time telework within Washington State.

However you will be required to attend occasional office meetings/trainings in Olympia as requested.

Schedule:  Monday - Friday, 6:30 a.m.to 3:00 p.m. through probationary period with potential flexibility upon gaining permanent status. Hours may fluctuate during legislative session and for special projects.  Some travel required to attend customer/vendor meetings and site visits, procurement conferences, events and training.

Who we are:

The Department of Enterprise Services (DES) provides centralized business services to state government agencies; to other public entities such as cities, counties, and tribes; and to Washington residents. DES' mission is to strengthen the business of government. We do this by creating overall operating efficiencies so our state's government entities can focus on their core missions. Our buying power, economies of scale and years of experience help government get the best value for the products and services they need to support their missions.  We value Respect, Integrity, Excellence, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. We seek new team members who share our commitment to be an equity-driven and antiracist organization. We listen to customers and team members to understand what they need and expect. We promote creativity, learning and improvement to meet those needs and adapt to the ever-changing business environment. We measure our results and seek feedback to improve our performance.

What you will be doing:

You will perform senior-level procurement activities that support state enterprise operations and systems, as well as offer cost-effective procurement solutions and services to state agencies, colleges and universities, political subdivisions and eligible non-profit corporations.  You will be responsible and accountable for compliance with state procurement policy and legislatively mandated state procurement priorities. This position promotes and implements state socio-economic, supplier inclusion and environmental procurement priorities across the state enterprise as well as works with business executives and department leaders and assists departments in strategically planning and executing their procurement activities.  You will perform all the necessary steps to commit the State of Washington to contractual agreements that have major statewide fiscal impact for many agencies and other government organizations.

Why join us:

The Department of Enterprise Services offers:  

• A great total compensation and benefits package; 

• Paid Vacation, Leave, and Holidays; 

• A healthy work/life balance, which may include flexible work schedules, teleworking, and an Infants in the Workplace Program; 

• An agency-wide commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and respect, and leaders who encourage all employees to bring their authentic selves to work; 

• We support diverse employees with access to several state business resource groups including the Rainbow Alliance and Inclusion Network (RAIN); Veteran Employee Resource Group (VERG); Latino Leadership Network (LLN); Blacks United in Leadership and Diversity (BUILD); Disability Inclusion Network (DIN); Washington Immigrant Network (WIN); and Hawaiians, Asians, and Pacific Islanders Promoting an Empowerment Network (HAPPEN);

• Supported growth and development opportunities; and

• Opportunities to serve your community through meaningful work.

Some of what you will enjoy doing includes:

• Conducts market research and analysis to make recommendations to internal and external stakeholders on the most effective state enterprise procurement strategy and methodology (competitive solicitation, competitive exemption options, etc.).

• Independently leads medium risk state enterprise procurement activities based on C&P procedures.  With guidance from the supervisor, routinely conducts high risk state enterprise procurement activities based on C&P procedures and with guidance from the supervisor.

• Facilitates customer and vendor meetings and listening sessions to collect input on the procurement strategy and technical specifications.

• Develops and implements procurement strategy and composes procurement documents, technical specifications, and requirements that address competing customer priorities from multiple customer entities, promote supplier inclusion and environmental preferences, and comply with state laws, policies and C&P procedures.

• Conducts vendor outreach and hosts pre-bid conferences to provide direction to interested bidders.

• Evaluates and analyzes proposals to assess pricing, and compliance with the state procurement requirements, and priorities such as environmental goals, and supplier diversity. Coordinates product demonstrations and testing as applicable.

• Prepares procurement summary, bidder rejection or complaint response letters, announcement of successful bidders, final agreement drafts or other similar procurement related documents for the supervisor's review and approval in compliance with C&P procedures.

• Maintains and upkeeps procurement documents, file folders, and procurement system records (e.g., PCMS, ECMS, WEBS) to provide customers and other stakeholders accurate and timely information and reports related to C&P state enterprise activities.

• Facilitates ongoing contract monitoring to ensure contractor's compliance with contract requirements and pricing terms.

• Interprets and enforces contract terms and facilitates dispute and price adjustment negotiations. As applicable, directs corrective contract management actions and drafts amendments, cure, suspension and termination letters for review by the supervisor and/or appropriate signature authority.

• Consults C&P customers on the potential procurement solutions that best meet their needs, comply with state laws and policies, and help advance the state socio-economic priorities.

REQUIRED:

A Bachelor's degree involving major study in business administration, public administration, supply chain management, or closely allied field.

AND

• Three (3) years of experience as a DES Enterprise Contracts & Procurement Specialist or other contracting professional with comparable scope of authority and responsibility for leading procurement activities, contract negotiations and management.

• Holds a valid driver's license when operating a state or privately owned vehicle on official state business.

NOTE:

• Additional qualifying experience may be substituted, year for year, for the required education. 
• A Master's degree in one of the above academic disciplines may substitute for one year of experience. 
• A law degree from an accredited college or university approved by the Washington State Bar Association may be substituted for two (2) years of the required experience and education.

The most successful applicants for all levels will also possess the following skills, knowledge, and abilities:

• Procurement Knowledge: Ability to conduct market research and analysis and adopt procurement strategy to changing market conditions and unique or competing customer needs. Knowledge of procurement techniques and contract drafting and negotiation principles. Ability to compose effective procurement documents, technical specifications, and evaluation criteria for performance-based contracts. Ability to interpret and enforce contract terms and specifications to manage contractor performance.

• Computer Skills: Ability to perform assigned work duties remotely.  Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite and ability to utilize teleconference tools to participate and lead virtual meetings. Proficiency with Adobe tools to draft, edit, and execute procurement documents in multiple formats. Ability to successfully adopt other modern office applications and electronic procurement systems (e.g., PCMS, ECMS, WEBS) to maintain procurement records in accordance with C&P procedures.

• Accountability and Flexibility: Ability to self-impose high standards for the quality and timeliness of work. Ability to independently manage assigned workload and adjust priorities as needed to meet C&P mission and goals.

• Communication Skills: Ability to clearly convey complex information through a variety of formats in a manner that engages the audience and helps them understand the message. Ability to adopt the communication style depending on the audience and the situation. Ability to facilitate effective customer and vendor meetings that aid in procurement development, and contract management.

• Leadership and Collaboration: Commitment to promote agency mission and goals and ability to identify effective ways to meet these goals.  Ability to develop and sustain positive and productive relationships with customers and coworkers by using effective listening skills and collaborating on win-win solutions.

• Critical Thinking: Ability to review information from different sources, frame any problems, and identify opportunities and solutions. Ability to make effective decisions based on the available facts, constraints, and probable risks and consequences.

Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Competencies

Possess and demonstrate the following competencies:

• Able to learn and understand the language and concepts of our DES DEI culture and commit to being a part of creating and maintaining a diverse, equitable, respectful and inclusive workplace.

• Demonstrate a commitment to growth, learning and self-awareness when provided training and opportunities to participate in improving our work environment.

• Participate and behave in a manner that creates trust and builds working relationships, promoting teamwork and collaboration in the work environment.

• Demonstrate the understanding that all people are valued; contribute to an equitable, inclusive and respectful environment when working with members of the group, team, organization or community.

• Commit to being an active participant in continually evaluating and improving strategies that promote equity and inclusion in our organization.

How to apply:

Interested? We would love to hear from you! Click "Apply" at the top of this page to start your application. You can save the application and come back to it, if needed. Be sure to complete the application fully to include a full work history and responses to the supplemental questions.

Please provide the following documents to be considered; failure to do so may result in you not being considered for the position:

• A letter of interest, describing how you meet the qualifications for this position as outlined in the job posting; 
• A current resume, detailing experience, and education; and 
• A current list of at least three (3) professional references with current contact information (attached or available to provide at the time of interview).

Do not attach any documents that include photos or private information (social security number, birth year, etc.).

NOTE:

The initial screening will be solely based on the contents and completeness of the "duties summary" section of your application, application material submitted, and the supplemental questionnaire.  Responses to the supplemental questionnaire regarding work experience must be reflected in the "duties summary" section of the application.  A resume will not substitute for completing the "duties summary" section or the supplemental questions of the application.

Union Inclusion:  This position is included in a bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).

Conditions of Employment:

• Background Check Notice: Prior to any new appointment into the Department of Enterprise Services, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted.  Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment, but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.

Opportunity for All:

The Department of Enterprise Services celebrates our differences and we are committed to a workplace that supports equal opportunity employment and inclusion regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, marital status, families with children (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity diversity, age, status as a protected veteran, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as an individual with the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with disabilities or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We will also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws.

You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials and we will honor this as you interact with our organization.

Contact Information:

For questions about this recruitment or to request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact Angie Anderson at (360) 407-8446 or email jobs@des.wa.gov. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

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