Buyer

About the role

The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) is a political subdivision established by Chapter 1230 of the 2020 Acts of Assembly. VPRA is responsible for promoting, sustaining, and expanding the availability of passenger and commuter rail services in the Commonwealth, including all administrative and fiduciary responsibilities for Virginia's state-supported passenger rail services. The VPRA also funds Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and administers all capital expansion projects, infrastructure, and land acquisitions related to the $3.7 billion Transforming Rail in Virginia initiative, which will double Amtrak and VRE service in Virginia over the next decade.

The VPRA is looking for a Buyer to handle day-to-day purchasing needs, including a moderate to high volume of construction, architecture/engineering, consulting services, and small goods and services procurements. This role plays a key part in supporting VPRA's procurement and contract administration functions and requires strong knowledge of public purchasing requirements and familiarity with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR). This full-time position may be based in Alexandria or Richmond, Virginia. Applicants based in Northern Virginia are eligible for a 15% geographical pay differential.

Responsibilities

• Ensure that all purchases are performed accurately and timely, following applicable law and VPRA policies and procedures.
• Manage requisitions and confer with departments regarding requirements, specifications, quantity, quality, and delivery.
• Identify and cultivate dependable supply and service sources, actively promoting increased participation from small and diverse businesses (SWaM).
• Oversee all stages of the procurement process, ensuring compliance, timeliness, transparency, and strategic sourcing that aligns with VPRA's objectives and applicable regulations.
• Develop, negotiate, and manage strategic vendor agreements with consultants and contractors to ensure cost savings, risk mitigation, and compliance with VPRA policies, legal standards, and industry standards while monitoring contracts to uphold best practices and enhance procurement efficiency.
• Oversee contract compliance by managing change orders and adherence to terms and conditions; Identify and implement procurement and contracting methods that align with VPRA requirements, Federal grant regulations, industry standards, and marketplace best practices.
• Support procurement efforts to resolve issues by addressing disputes related to scope and performance and serving as an escalation point to mitigate risk and ensure smooth project execution, while maintaining clear communication with VPRA leadership.
• Prepare final project records for closeout and reporting while supporting spend analysis and sourcing development through accurate data collection and documentation.
• Provide guidance and training to staff on procurement best practices while staying current on market trends and product availability.
• Assist with vendor management and prospective bidders, communicating processes, policies, and procedures, and representing VPRA tactfully and professionally.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum of four (4) years of relevant procurement experience with demonstrated knowledge of best practice procurement principles, public procurement law, and acceptable governmental procurement methods.
• Familiarity with every stage of a procurement, from preparing a scope of work to gathering quotes or preparing a request for proposal/qualifications, negotiating with vendors, and preparing written contracts.
• Knowledge of public procurement law, acceptable governmental procurement methods, terminology, and principles, including the Virginia Public Procurement Act (VPPA) and Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).
• Skilled in negotiating costs to achieve the best value and mitigate risk across procurement activities for goods and services related to construction, engineering, and simple projects.
• Capacity to independently handle many assignments with minimal guidance and make effective procurement decisions.
• Strong analytical skills to evaluate business and procedural processes, identify inefficiencies, and eliminate non-value-added actions, for optimal resource utilization.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and other commonly used office software, such as Adobe, Dynamics 365, and Kahua.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to work effectively under pressure and meet deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business or public administration, engineering, construction management, or related field; or equivalent years of experience.
• Virginia Construction Contracting Officer (VCCO) or other procurement/contracting certifications.
• Ability to make effective decisions that resolve complicated issues when obtaining bids and proposals, awarding contracts, and developing reliable sources of supplies/services.
• Experience working with Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Small Business Supplier Diversity (SBSD).
• Proficiency with ERP and PMIS systems.
• Familiarity with terminology and industry-specific jargon commonly used in engineering, design contracts, and civil construction.