Supervising Procurement Contract Specialist (Finance)

The County of Riverside's Purchasing and Fleet Department has an opportunity for a Supervising Procurement Contract Specialist to join their team!

The Supervising Procurement Contract Specialist will plan, organize, and supervise the activities and day to day operations of a procurement team within the Department. This will include coordinating and reviewing the work of staff; participating in the employee selection process; and training, coaching, and mentoring new employees. Each procurement team is comprised of Procurement Contract Specialists and Buyers and each Supervisor will be responsible for certain departments while also supporting each other as needed.

On top of the above duties, Supervising Procurement Contract Specialists will also be expected to manage all components of the bidding process; assist in developing and defining contract specifications; writing and assisting in solicitations for bids; and leading complex negotiations. They will act as liaisons for Purchasing and Fleet, building and maintaining great relationships with department users and vendors as well as developing compromises and resolving contractual disputes.

The Supervising Procurement Contract Specialist is the supervisor level classification in the Buyer class series of the Purchasing and Fleet Services Department performing the full range of supervisory duties. Incumbents report to the Deputy Director of Procurement or designee. This class are assigned the highest level of County purchasing responsibility which include consulting with departments, districts, and affiliates in selection of the most equitable and efficient solicitation process in negotiations, and for major contract implementation.

The below experience and skills are preferred but not required:

• Prior lead or supervisory experience
• Demonstrated experience taking the lead or initiative on projects
• Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO) or Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) certification from the Universal Public Procurement Council (UPPC)
• CAPPO Membership

Please note that there will be no immediate telework schedule for this position. Remote work is likely a possibility in the future but selected candidates will be required to be in the office for an undetermined amount of time when first effective.

The Supervising Procurement Contract Specialist is distinguished from the Procurement Contract Specialist class by the former having supervisory responsibilities, assignment to the most complicated tasks, independence in procurement methods and solicitation processes used, and responsibility for the highest dollar, most complex, political, and higher risk procurements.

Meet the Team!

The Purchasing and Fleet Department's primary function is to provide vehicles, goods and services to other County Departments and agencies within the County of Riverside. Providing a unified purchasing system that ensures integrity and fairness, with centralized responsibility for oversight of solicitation, vendor selection, negotiation, award, contract management, reporting, disposal of surplus property and emergency logistical support for the benefit of Riverside County agencies.• Provide training and guidance to procurement and buyer staff; supervise, assign, review, and evaluate the work of subordinate staff; supervise the day-to-day operations of the procurement function; create and assign work schedules.

• Independently perform and/or assist procurement staff in developing and coordinating the most complex contracts for commodities or services with multiple departments; research, develop and maintain vendor product information lists; survey multiple departments, districts, and agencies to determine product and service needs.

• Write the most complex contracts for specialized goods and services utilizing standard creative terms and conditions that protect the County while motivating vendors to perform.

• Manage all components of the bidding process; lead negotiations to successful award of contracts utilizing a mix of participant input including end users, legal and technical experts.

• Interview, and recommend the selection of staff; assign, evaluate and direct the training of staff.

• Develop and present training sessions for County staff, industry, and other organizations on purchasing related procedures and policies; market County awards to other political subdivisions when applicable.

• Communicate and act as a liaison between vendors and department users to develop compromises and resolve contractual problems or complaints; organize, direct and lead negotiating teams in evaluating and negotiating contracts.

• Lead diverse technical and professional committees in problem resolution relative to County-wide standards and contractual relationships.

• Assist lower-level staff in developing and defining contract specifications; write and/or assist others with solicitations for bids (e.g., Request for Proposals, Requests for Quotations, Invitations to Bid); analyze and determine most appropriate contract types to reduce County's exposure to risk.

• Review findings for accuracy, cost-effectiveness, adherence to standards, codes, and County policies and procedures; identify operational problems and formulate appropriate solutions. OPTION I

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree with major coursework in purchasing, business administration, economics, or a closely related field to the assignment. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for up to two years of the required college coursework on the basis of 30 semester or 45 quarter units equaling one year of full-time experience.)

***Please Note: If qualifying using educational units, proof is required by the closing deadline. Applications without proof of degree/educational units completed will not be considered. Please see "Supplemental Information" below for guidelines.***

Experience: Four years of buying experience in a Purchasing Department or Agency, which includes contract negotiations, development of contract standards and procedures, development of multi-year or major high-value multi-commodity agreements, and management of complex bid solicitations.

OPTION II

Experience: Six years of buying experience in a Purchasing Department or Agency, two years of which should be equivalent to the County of Riverside Procurement Contract Specialist classification, which includes contract negotiations, development of contract standards and procedures, development of multi-year or major high-value, multi-commodity agreements, and management of complex bid solicitations. Possession of one of the following certificates may substitute for one year of the required experience: Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) or Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) or possession of either a certificate in purchasing or a certificate in contracting.

ALL OPTIONS

License: Possession of a valid California Driver's License is required as the incumbents will be completing job walks, visiting PCSs at their job sites, etc.

A successful Security Clearance conducted by the Sheriffs' Department may be required depending on assignment.

Knowledge of: Principles and techniques of supervision and training; methods, principles, and practices of purchasing/material management and of governmental purchasing; County purchasing policies and practices; a variety of product standards required by assigned departments; products, commodities, and services used within one or more commodity grouping; methods and resources used in researching and analyzing commodities services; competitive bid practices and procedures; methods used in evaluating vendor capability and performance.

Ability to: Supervise and train others; work independently; read and interpret rules and regulations; provide direction and technical feedback to subordinate staff; lead specialized focus groups and support staff; collect, organize, and evaluate product or service information; identify alternative solutions, and project consequences of decisions and recommendations; compose clear and concise reports, recommendations, technical procedures, and correspondence; communicate in a clear and persuasive manner; establish and maintain effective working relationships with department officials, staff and company/vendor representatives; prepare purchasing specifications.If you have any questions regarding this posting, please contact Amanda Duarte at aduarte@rivco.org

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BASED ON THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED, THIS POSTING MAY CLOSE WITHOUT NOTICE.