ERS - Procurement Specialist

About the role

The Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS) offers competitive benefits to enhance the lives of its members. Each team member contributes to ERS's ongoing success. ERS operates Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, to meet customers wherever they need us: in person, on the phone, in their communities, and online.

Responsibilities

• Manage the agency’s formal purchasing process for goods and services over $25,000, ensuring compliance with state laws, regulations, and internal policies.
• Oversee, develop, review, and publish solicitation documents, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and alignment with best-practice procurement standards.
• Coordinate cross-agency content development by engaging stakeholders, gathering feedback, and updating materials throughout the solicitation lifecycle.
• Plan and manage project timelines, milestones, and deliverables to ensure solicitations progress efficiently and align with strategic objectives.
• Identify project risks and implement mitigation strategies to maintain schedule integrity and successful outcomes.
• Coordinate and oversee kickoff meetings, evaluators, and other agency-wide activities supporting solicitation development and execution.
• Manage solicitation projects within Euna Procurement, ensuring accurate setup, tracking, and documentation for procurement staff, evaluators, and vendors.
• Review, prepare, and coordinate all required publication notices, including ESBD, CAT, LBB, and other mandated submissions.
• Carefully coordinate the vendor clarification process and support evaluation teams in reviewing, scoring, and validating vendor responses.
• Assist with developing and maintaining evaluation tools, including scoring matrices, clarification requests, meeting coordination, and reference checks.
• Assist with preparing accurate evaluation summaries and ensure all documentation meets legal, regulatory, and procedural requirements.
• Support contract award recommendations by preparing executive-level materials such as briefing documents, agenda items, and presentation content.
• Aid in contract finalization in collaboration with the Office of the General Counsel, including appendices, exhibits, and other required documents.
• Coordinate post-award communications, vendor notifications, conference calls, and activities related to bid protests.
• Facilitate lessons-learned sessions to identify process improvements and promote continuous enhancement of procurement.
• Perform administrative and technical support work with regard to development activities, publication activities, evaluation activities, bid recommendation activities, and contract/post-award activities for moderate to high-risk solicitations.
• Finalize and review evaluation summaries, as necessary.
• Develop and assist in the preparation of administrative reports, studies, PowerPoint presentations, and specialized research projects.
• Assist with updates and maintenance of program policies and procedures.
• Serve as an administrative resource for the Division.
• Attend work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave and attendance policies.
• Comply with all applicable agency policies and procedures, including safety and standards of conduct.

Qualifications

• To qualify as a Contract Specialist II: Graduation from an accredited senior high school or equivalent and 60 semester hours of college credit. Qualifying experience may substitute for education.
• To qualify as a Contract Specialist III: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university. Qualifying experience may substitute for education.
• Two (2) to three (3) years (depending on classification level) of advanced writing experience. Education may substitute for up to two years of the writing experience requirement.

Skills

• Curiosity and a desire to learn and excel in a new area
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Strong written communication skills, including grammar and proofreading
• Excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills
• Professionalism and a customer-service mindset
• A willingness and ability to learn new concepts and processes
• Strong organizational and critical-thinking skills
• Initiative, accountability, and pride in producing high-quality work
• The ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines

Benefits

ERS offers a comprehensive benefits package valued at more than $1,690 per month, including:

• Defined Benefit Retirement Plan
• Optional 401(k) and 457 savings plans
• Medical insurance
• Optional dental, vision, and life insurance
• 8 hours of sick leave per month
• 8 hours of vacation leave per month, with increases based on service
• Additional paid time off opportunities
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Pay

Commensurate with experience.

Schedule

Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Additional Information

In accordance with state law, authorization for telework may not be awarded to an employee as a condition of hiring. As an agency process, new employees complete a 30-day fully onsite period before evaluation for a telework agreement.

How to Apply

Interested in joining the ERS team? Apply online through the CAPPS Careers website by completing and submitting the State of Texas Application for Employment. Please use the link below to create your CAPPS account and build your profile by selecting 'New User'.
https://erphcmprd.cpa.texas.gov/psc/candidateportal/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=327&
Once your profile is complete, click on 'View All Jobs' to view available career opportunities and submit your application.