Chief Procurement Officer (Austin)

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is the state agency charged with overseeing and providing workforce development services to employers and job seekers of Texas. Our mission is to promote and support a workforce system that creates value and offers employers, individuals, and communities the opportunity to achieve and sustain economic prosperity. TWC is not considering applications from individuals who require sponsorship for an employment visa. You must be a Texas resident or willing to relocate to Texas.

About the role

The Texas Workforce Commission is seeking a highly collaborative individual to serve as Chief Procurement Officer (Director IV) reporting to the Director of the Business Operations division. This critical role demands a balance of strategic foresight and mastery of the complex legal, regulatory, and budgetary realities inherent to public procurement. The Director will lead TWC’s comprehensive procurement operations, steer complex public purchasing cycles, and ensure compliance with state laws and agency rules regarding procurement and contracting. Works under minimal supervision, with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. This position is located at 101 E. 15th Street, Austin, Texas.

As a key strategic partner to agency executives, the Director must understand core procurement and contract management methodologies, drive digital-first initiatives, including leveraging data analytics and AI tools to streamline processes and foster a culture of accountability and continuous professional growth.

Responsibilities

• Lead TWC’s comprehensive procurement operations, including a specific focus on Information and Technology (IT) goods and services.
• Ensure compliance with state purchasing standards, laws, and agency rules regarding procurement and contracting.
• Steer complex public purchasing cycles and manage contract development processes.
• Drive digital-first initiatives, leveraging data analytics and AI tools to streamline solicitation reviews and ensure consistency.
• Oversee Electronic Data Exchange (EDE) contract efforts.
• Drive on-time service delivery and procedural efficiency, targeting aggressive solicitation schedule milestones.
• Identify areas for process improvement and optimize Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Lead and execute major organizational or operational shifts without disrupting service delivery.
• Direct complex operational budgets and review major capital expenditures.
• Manage Enhanced Contract Monitoring plans and assess contract-related remedies to protect agency funding.
• Build and maintain strong vendor relationships, including HUB (Historically Underutilized Business) services.
• Collaborate with statewide coordinators to drive HUB attainment.
• Plan, assign, organize, and supervise the work of procurement professionals, contract managers, and analysts.
• Support professional certifications (e.g., CTCM, CTCD).
• Communicate effectively with executive leadership and build cooperative consensus across agency divisions.
• Identify complex operational risks, evaluate alternatives, and implement robust, timely solutions under tight timelines.

Requirements

• Seven (7) years of full-time experience in the oversight and direction of an agency procurement, contract management, or business operations program, or seven (7) years in strategic planning and policy development and implementation.
• Five (5) years of full-time experience in the oversight and direction of an agency IT procurement or IT contract management.
• At least five (5) years of the required experience must have been in an administrative management or supervisory capacity.
• Relevant academic credits may be applied toward the non-supervisory experience qualifications for this position.

Skills

• Comprehensive knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations relevant to public procurement, state contracting guidelines, and public administration.
• Expert skill in establishing long-range plans, unit goals, and operational strategies that support an overall public service business strategy.
• Deep understanding of modern procurement workflows, contract management practices, risk assessment methodologies, and emerging digital tools (including AI and data-driven reporting systems).
• Skill in fiscal planning, budget management, and cost-benefit analysis for large-scale agency solicitations and grant administrations.
• Skill in negotiating, evaluating vendor performance, enforcing contract compliance, and managing corrective action plans.
• Proven ability to communicate effectively, build cooperative consensus across agency divisions, and deliver clear, actionable reports to executive leadership.
• Advanced ability to identify complex operational risks, evaluate alternatives, and implement robust, timely solutions under tight timelines.

Benefits

• Competitive salary: $13,500.00/month
• Defined Retirement Benefit Plan
• Optional 401(k) and 457 accounts
• Medical Insurance
• Paid time off, including time for vacation, sick, and family care leave

Additional benefits for active employees can be found at https://www.ers.texas.gov/Active-Employees/Health-Benefits.

Veterans: Use your military skills to qualify for this position or other jobs! Visit www.texasskillstowork.com to translate your military work experience and training courses into civilian job terms, qualifications, and skill sets. Compare this position to military occupations (MOS) at the Texas State Auditor's Office using this link: https://hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MOSC_ProgramManagement.pdf.