Oversees and performs advanced technical and complex purchasing functions for the Department. Work involves research, study, and evaluation of assigned goods and/or services. Serves as lead worker for a staff of professional, technical, and/or clerical employees. Reports to the Purchasing Branch Manager. Work requires contact with other governmental agencies and private entities. Employees at this level are virtually self-supervising and assume direct accountability for the work product.

Essential Duties:

• Serves as a lead worker by advising, training, and coaching employees to increase job efficiency; acting as a resource
  for complex questions; presenting workflow and operational updates to the supervisor/manager; providing input on team members’
  career conversations.
   
• Assists in establishing, maintaining, and disseminating purchasing and administrative procedures.
   
• Coordinates and compiles basic and/or complex reports.
   
• Corresponds with departmental staff and vendors regarding updates on products/services literature, clarifications, solicitation response reviews, expediting deliveries and coordinating testing/evaluation of products/services.
   
• Develops technical equipment, material, or service specifications/statements of work (SOWs); reviews specifications/ SOWs prepared by others.
   
• Keeps abreast of technological and price changes in goods and/or services; determines impact of changes and recommends necessary actions.
   
• Oversees the development of some specifications and SOWs and reviews all new specifications and SOWs before approval.
   
• Monitors the achievement of individually established Historically Underutilized Business participation goals.
   
• Plans forums to address the availability or establishment of statewide/regional contracts and/or blanket purchases and update of standard specifications.
   
• Prepares and oversees the preparation of evaluation criteria; evaluates vendor pricing and responsive information using the statutory best value criteria; assists management in negotiations.
   
• Prepares requisitions for open market purchases and makes delegated purchases; makes recommendations on the standardization of equipment, materials, suppliers and/or services.
   
• Provides guidance and technical expertise to personnel in the districts and the divisions on quality of goods and services; acts as liaison between districts, divisions and vendors.
   
• Represents the Department at various meetings; may serve as a member on a solicitation review team.
   
• Reviews and analyzes solicitation responses; awards purchase orders and makes award recommendations to management or the Comptroller of Public Accounts.
   
• Visits districts, divisions, and offices to discuss requirements for materials, supplies, and/or services; arranges for tests/demonstrations and evaluations of new equipment and/or supplies.
   
• Performs other job responsibilities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor's Degree in any discipline. Related work experience may be substituted for a degree on a year per year basis. Substitutions for Minimum Qualifications

Experience: 5 years of experience in purchasing, which includes 3 year of public purchasing. (Experience can be satisfied by full time or prorated part time equivalent). Related graduate level education may be substituted for experience on a year per year basis.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Valid driver’s license. This position requires driving a state vehicle.
• Must be Certified Texas Contract Developer (CTCD), Certified Texas Procurement Manager (CTPM), OR obtain specified Texas certification within eighteen (18) months of the date of hire
• Will be delegated signature authority under existing department policy

Competencies:

Extensive knowledge of:

• Technical specification writing
   
• State rules and procedures associated with expediting, ordering, purchasing and warehousing laws, policies and
  procedures

Expert skill in:

• Researching, analyzing, and interpreting policies and state and federal laws and regulations specific to functional area 
   
• Using basic mathematical fundamentals
   
• Following verbal and written instructions

Proficient skill in:

• Scheduling work assignments
   
• Public relations for maintaining effective working relationships with individuals and groups, both internal and external
   
• Leading, assigning, reviewing, and monitoring work and the work of others
   
• Coordinating labor, materials, and equipment
   
• Evaluating products, equipment and material
   
• Persuasion and negotiation of critical issues
   
• Analyzing and organizing business and technical data
   
• Preparing technical/statistical reports
   
• Training in a classroom, office, or field environment
   
• Developing and giving presentations
   
• Using computers and applicable programs, applications, and systems
   
• Evaluating new equipment performance
   
• Maintaining a safe working environment
   
• Evaluating solicitation responses and making awards

Ability to:

• Communicate effectively
   
• Follow verbal and written instructions
   
• Protect sensitive and confidential information

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Sedentary work - Lift up to 10 lbs at a time and occasionally carry files/small tools.
   
• Light work - Lift up to 20 lbs at a time and frequently lift or carry objects up to 10 lbs.
   
• Standing - Prolonged periods of time.
   
• Repetitive Motion - Substantial movements of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers
   

• Close Visual Acuity - Work includes data/figures; view a computer screen; extensive reading

   

Conditions of Employment:

Please click this link to read the standard conditions of employment for all positions: Standard Conditions of Employment (TxDOT)