Description
This position works under limited supervision and acts as a lead specialist. Develops, negotiates, enters into and administers complex or high-risk contracts, agreements and leases, including intergovernmental and interagency service agreements.
This position handles complex procurements that require subject matter expertise and discretion in the field of procurement.
May work in cooperation with or on behalf of local and federal government agencies. May develop complex statutorily defined contracts and/or statewide contracts.
ADDITIONAL SELECTIVE PREFERENCES: Minimum three years experience equivalent to that of a Procurement Specialist.
Education: A Bachelor's degree in business, purchasing, public administration or a related field from an accredited college is preferred.
Professional certification such as a CPPO, CPPB or C.P.M. from a professional purchasing organization is preferred. Other combinations of experience and education that meet the minimum qualifications may be substituted.
This position may offer the ability to work remotely, within Arizona, based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.
The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust.
Across our many agencies, boards, and commissions, many State employees participate in the State’s Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes, in offices, and in hoteling spaces.
All work, including remote work, should be performed within Arizona unless an exception is properly authorized in advance.
Requirements
Job Duties:
- Advise managers, staff, and agency partners on procedures for developing contracts or parts of contracts.
Collaborate with technical resource staff to develop specifications, including scope of work, special terms and conditions, etc.
Collaboratively establishes criteria for requests for proposals.
Analyze consultative or program service needs and develop solicitation documents and contract specifications. Research and analyze products and market trends.
Translate program requirements into contract terms.
Evaluate contracts for potential performance risk.
Develop strategies to minimize potential risk. Solicit and evaluate offers. Facilitate and serve on the evaluation committee.
Analyze the reasonableness of limited competition requests.
Draft the Determinations and prepare the limited competition direct contracts following the Procurement code and SPO processes.
Collaborate with the program on the scope of work and justification.
- Devise negotiating strategies with goals and alternatives.
Negotiate contract or agreement terms to minimize performance risk.
Negotiate price agreements for services.
Negotiate contract or agreement renewals, amendments, and plan changes.
Develop new financial agreements and accelerated delivery schedules to support program needs.
Consult with the Attorney General’s office to facilitate their clarification of legal issues and the approval of contract language.
Function Cas liaison between private attorneys and the Attorney General’s office. Negotiate agreement terms and solve conflicts between local and federal government representatives and agency staff.
- Advise management on contract administration. Evaluate contractor performance or quality of services. Write contract or agreement amendments or extensions.
Evaluate the appropriateness of contract or agreement remedies in the light of a specific situation. Compile contract status reports.
Conduct in-depth research and investigations of alleged contract violations and assist with their resolution. Develop and write non-compliance action plans.
Act as liaison between contractor and staff. Audit and substantiate contractor’s cost data.
Identify cost items for proper charging to the contract. Settle claims of a variety of primary contractors. Settle contracts involving work over several years.
Ensure contract records are maintained by retention schedules.
- Explain department purchasing, contract, or agreement policies to agency program staff. Explain and advise staff on State contracting laws, rules, regulations, operating policies, procedures, and ethics. Explain the contract process or terms to contractors. Prepare and deliver training to agency staff on procedures, requirements, and related issues. Analyze data to formulate policy criteria or develop new acquisition techniques.
Participate in statewide committees to establish and improve specifications, standards, procedures, and policies.
Develop and implement agency policies and procedures for the effective administration of agency contracting or agreement activities.
Audit contracts to identify process strengths and weaknesses and areas of non-compliance with regulations and policies.
Review agency procurement contracts or agreement practices for compliance with rules, statutes, policies, and practices.
Collaborate with management and customers to decide corrective actions. Provide advice to agency management on market rate and site evaluations.
- Track department metrics and performance. Develop continuous improvement plans. Lead special projects to completion according to assigned milestone deadlines.
Collaborate with agency departments and statewide agencies to develop standard work.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):
Knowledge of:
- Considerable knowledge of public contracts management/acquisition process.
- Considerable knowledge of highly complex and technical commodities/services within scope of responsibility; of business law as it relates to contract formation and administration.
- Thorough knowledge of Arizona Procurement Code and related rules and regulations, as well as DHS/State contract management/acquisition process.
- State government organization and reporting structure, including DHS organizational structure.
- Working knowledge of contract management/acquisition software programs, including the Department's automated system.
- Uniform Commercial Code.
-Federal antitrust laws.
- Marketplace and available community resources.
- Marketing practices and principles.
-Performance Management (PM), and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and Lean methodologies.
Skill in:
- Project management, negotiation strategies and techniques and dispute mediation.
- Analyzing and establishing priorities.
- Communicating effectively, verbally and in writing.
- Maintaining positive interpersonal relationships. - Effective time management. - Use of word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.
- Providing excellent customer service.
Ability to: - Interpret and apply agency and program rules and operating procedures.
- Direct an administrative services program for an organization.
- Perform difficult analytic work.
- Use Microsoft Excel, Access and Word.
- Learn and use web-based applications.
- Analyze and resolve complex problems.
- Prepare and develop complex programmatic reports.
- Work separately within direct and indirect reporting lines.
- Support a diverse multi-cultural workforce that reflects the community, promotes equal opportunity at all levels of public employment, and creates an inclusive work environment that enables all individuals to perform to their fullest potential free from discrimination.
Selective Preference(s):
-Minimum three years experience equivalent to that of a Procurement Specialist -Preference will be given to applicants with Public Procurement experience.
ADDITIONAL SELECTIVE PREFERENCES LOCATED UNDER JOB SUMMARY
Application Process
Email: hrisservicedesk@azdoa.gov or call 602-542-4700 for assistance.
If you have questions regarding the information in a job posting, please view the specific job posting for the contact information.
Contact Info
Name: Jacqueline S. Ortega-Avila
Phone: 480-364-7239
Email: Jacqueline.Ortega-Avila@azdhs.gov