Procurement Specialist

About the role

New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) is the State’s affordable housing agency, with a mission to build, preserve, and protect affordable housing and increase homeownership throughout New York State. This position is with HCR's Housing Trust Fund Corporation (HTFC). This is not a civil service position and does not require a civil service exam. The Office of Professional Services (OPS) is responsible for all administrative and support services, including Human Resources, Communications and Public Information, Fair Housing, Policy Development, Competitive Procurement and Contract Management, Fiscal Planning, Accounting and Treasury Services, Facilities and Building Management Services, Internal Audit, Project Management, and Information Technology Services. OPS values professionals that enjoy working in a fast‑paced environment and who have the skills required to effectively plan, direct, and coordinate HCR’s wide array of support services.

Responsibilities

• Developing, evaluating or reviewing Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Requests for Bids (RFBs), Requests for Qualifications (RFQs), Requests for Information (RFIs), Sole/Single Source Procurements, Preferred Source Procurement, Discretionary Spend Procurements, and other related procurements from end‑to‑end (80% of workload)
• Creating and maintaining accurate procurement records
• Performing routine administrative processes associated with procurements and contracts including monitoring the reviews of contractor performance and compliance
• Performing contract monitoring tasks including addressing any necessary contract modifications and contract amendments
• Assisting with matters relating to minority and women owned business enterprises and service disabled veteran owned businesses
• Creating requisitions and purchase orders in the State’s Financial System
• Performing general research
• Assisting with FOIL requests
• Maintaining procurement databases and reviewing/modifying/generating various related reports
• Effectively managing communication, both orally and in writing, with agency staff, vendors, and other outside parties
• Performing tasks relating to internal controls
• Performing analysis in detecting trends in procurement matters
• Learning, understanding and following the Agency’s procurement policies/procedures
• Learning, understanding and following State procurement statutes
• Learning and understanding the different procurement vehicles and the associated processes
• Assisting in other procurement and contract matters in the Unit, as directed

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree as well as relevant academic training or transferrable skills; Master’s degree a plus. Minimum of two years of related experience. Substitutions: four years of specialized experience or associate degree and two years of specialized experience may substitute for bachelor’s degree; J.D. or master’s degree may substitute for one year of specialized experience; Ph.D. may substitute for two years of specialized experience.

• Exceptional writing, communication, and documentation abilities, including communication with executive leadership
• Strong organizational and analytical skills with proven ability to manage complex workloads
• Effective leadership with a track record of taking ownership of assigned projects
• Skilled in planning, prioritization, and multitasking under pressure
• Adept at problem‑solving and leveraging available resources to drive solutions
• Builds productive working relationships with internal teams and external partners
• Advanced proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and related productivity tools
• Demonstrates discretion, precision, and sound judgment in handling confidential information
• Creative thinker with the ability to generate practical, innovative ideas
• Committed to continuous learning, professional development, and taking on additional responsibility
• Reliable attendance, punctuality, and strong time, people, and stress‑management skills
• Process‑improvement oriented with the ability to identify and recommend enhancements
• Government procurement experience a plus

Successful candidate must demonstrate ability to pay close attention to detail, have excellent oral and written communication skills together with excellent Word and Excel skills and be able to effectively work independently, and with others. This job description is not intended to be all inclusive and employee will be expected to perform other reasonably related duties as assigned.

Skills

• Intellectual curiosity – consistently trying new methods
• Business acumen – willing to understand how the Agencies’ business operates and how talent drives it
• Analytics and problem solving – uses logic and methods to solve difficult problems with effective solutions
• Comfortable with ambiguity – difference in policies/procedures among agencies
• Positive attitude, flexibility and resilience facing multiple demands and shifting priorities
• Self‑motivated, confident, and able to work effectively with little supervision; takes initiative, makes things happen, accepts accountability, and has a “can do” attitude
• Strong value system, excellent judgment, unquestioned integrity
• Ambitious, confident and professional
• High energy
• Ability to accept constructive criticism

Benefits

• Extensive benefits package including participation in New York State’s Health Insurance Program and New York State & Local Employees’ Retirement System
• Promotional opportunities for dedicated professionals
• Work‑life balance benefits including a 37.5‑hour work week, opportunity for compressed scheduling, and paid time off benefits (vacation, sick, personal days, and federal holidays)
• 12 weeks of Paid Parental Leave
• Paid Family Leave
• As a New York State employee, you may qualify to participate in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments under an accepted repayment plan and while working full‑time for an eligible employer.
• Competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package, including paid leave, health, dental, vision, retirement, and family‑friendly policies