Senior Procurement Specialist

About the role

The Department of Social Services partners with families and communities to protect children, rehabilitate youth, and move families to self-sufficiency so that Missourians can lead safe, healthy and productive lives. We are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented individual to assist in managing procurement life cycle, from researching and developing contract and solicitation specifications to developing and growing team members.

Responsibilities

• Assist in managing procurement life cycle, from researching and developing contract and solicitation specifications to developing and growing team members.
• Manage procurement activities that result in contracts empowering Missourians to live safe, healthy and productive lives.
• Supervise, train, and develop other procurement staff.
• Conduct pre-bid/proposal conferences for DSS procurements.
• Manage vendor communications and dispute resolution during the contract lifecycle.
• Ensure solicitation responses are evaluated in a fair and open process and comply with solicitation documents.
• Establish and administer contracts in accordance with state purchasing regulations (i.e., RSMo. Chapter 34).
• Analyze situations to determine the appropriate procurement path for products, services, and technology and initiate and provide follow-through on the procurement.
• Collaborate with legal counsel regarding such items as contract language and DSS program needs.
• Afford assistance to DSS program staff with developing solicitation and contract documents that ensure DSS needs are met.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and 3-5 years of relevant experience.
• Ability to work independently while assessing and managing priorities.
• Effective written, comprehension and oral communication skills.
• Experience or familiarity with information technology procurement paths, software licensing, and technology service contracts.
• Strong organizational skills and detail oriented.
• Ability to embrace change within processes, procedures and working environment when necessary.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, DSS team members, other state agency staff members, and vendors.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office applications.
• Experience and knowledge in public procurement is strongly preferred.
• Experience working with databases, SAMII, MissouriBUYS, and SharePoint are preferred.

Qualifications

• Lack of post-secondary education will not be used as the sole basis denying consideration to any applicant.

Skills

• Independent judgment.
• Versatile communication skills.
• Writing proficiency.
• Critical thinking.
• Building and maintaining positive relationships with vendors and other external partners.

Benefits

• The State of Missouri offers an excellent benefits package that includes a defined pension plan, generous amounts of leave and holiday time, and eligibility for health insurance coverage.
• Your total compensation is more than the dollars you receive in your paycheck. To help demonstrate the value of working for the State of Missouri, we have created an interactive Total Compensation Calculator.

Pay

Semi-monthly salary: The current rate for this position is $2,776.58. Individual(s) selected for this position may receive a higher rate based on a pay differential (e.g. shift, or time-of-service pay). Annual Salary: $66,638.02

Schedule

Work Hours: The work hours for this position are 8:00 to 5:00, Monday through Friday.