Procurement Specialist III - Austin Financial Services

Job Description:

Procurement Specialist III - Austin Financial Services

Description

JOIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN TEAM

At the City of Austin, we are more than just an employer-we are a vibrant community dedicated to shaping one of the nation's most dynamic and innovative cities. As we strive to fulfill our commitment as public servants, it is important that we ground our efforts in a set of guiding principles - Empathy, Ethics, Excellence, Engagement, and Equity - anchors in delivering services that significantly impact the lives of Austinites. Joining the City of Austin means embarking on a purposeful career, contributing to the community, and being part of a forward-thinking organization that values every employee.

What Makes the City of Austin Special?

• Make a Difference : Join a team driving meaningful change in one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation.
  
• Value and Innovation : Work in an environment where employees are valued and innovation thrives.
  
• Competitive Benefits : Enjoy a comprehensive compensation package that includes generous leave, work-life balance programs, and extensive benefits.
  
• Retirement Security : Plan for the future with the City of Austin Employees' Retirement System.
  
• Sustainable Transportation Options : Commute easily with access to public transit and bike-friendly infrastructure.
  
• Focus on Wellness : Stay healthy through wellness programs, on-site fitness centers, and mental health support.
  
• Career Growth : Advance your skills and expertise with professional development and leadership opportunities.
  
• Modern Workspaces : Work in innovative and sustainable environments that foster collaboration and inspiration.
  

By joining us, you become part of a community that values its people and is committed to making Austin the most thriving and resilient city in the country.

Who We Are:

Our department provides a variety of financial services and programs. Austin Financial Services (AFS) serves residents, vendors, and City departments.

Our mission is to serve as a trusted steward of public resources with integrity and accountability to ensure a fiscally sound city.

Our staff supports a wide variety of financial processes, including preparing the annual budget and annual fiscal report, procurement processes, franchise agreements, real estate transactions, and overseeing the City’s investment portfolio and debt management.

As an internal support function within the larger City organization, AFS is proud to serve and act as a leader in financial management to its partner departments.

Job Description:

Procurement Specialist III - Austin Financial Services

Purpose:

Under limited supervision, and within their delegated procurement authority, this position will perform a variety of procurement services to their assigned department customers including all formal and informal source selection services, contract monitoring and contract administration services, category management, occasional buying services, and a range of advisement and technical support services in these same areas

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:

Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

• Performs source selection and contract formation services including informal solicitations including Requests for Quotations (RFQ), issues purchase orders and single transaction contracts under the State’s formal threshold, participates under and as authorized leading cooperative contracts. Performs all formal solicitations above the formal threshold including Invitations for Bids (IFB), Requests for Proposals (RFP), and Requests for Qualifications (RFQS); solicitations for Citywide, revenue-generating, and concessions contracts; and solicitations for construction and construction-related professional services.
  
• Performs contract management and contract administration services including order monitoring for delivery orders, purchase orders, and single transaction contracts; contract compliance monitoring for project contracts and term master agreements; and contract administration services for assigned contracts.
  
• Performs advisory and technical support services to assigned department customers, current and prospective contractors, and members of the public on variety of procurement activities including procurement cards; delivery orders; purchase orders; informal source selection processes; all formal source selection processes; construction and construction-related professional services; master agreements; order monitoring; participating under and leading cooperative contracts; contract management; contract administration; and category management.
  
• Performs category management of one or more groups of similar and/or related contracts as assigned; develops and maintains product, service, and contractual expertise within assigned categories; develops and maintains market intelligence within assigned categories; develops and executes strategic category plans; and develops and presents reports on the performance of category plans.
  
• Performs, as necessary, occasional buying services including purchases using a procurement card, issuing delivery orders for noncompetitive releases under existing master agreements, issuing purchase orders for non-competitive buys under the State’s informal threshold.
  

Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:

May act in a lead role on assigned projects and/or programs as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of public purchasing practices and techniques.
  
• Knowledge of applicable procurement statutes, ordinances, and codes.
  
• Knowledge of accounting and budgeting process as it relates to purchasing transactions.
  
• Knowledge of contract law, terms, and conditions.
  
• Knowledge of contract category management.
  
• Skill in buying procedures, purchase orders, delivery orders, and the use of purchasing cards.
  
• Skill in informal and all formal source selection processes including price competition.
  
• Skill in contract negotiation and formation, contract management, and contract administration processes.
  
• Skill in computes applications including spreadsheets, databases, and word processing software.
  
• Skill in establishing and maintaining good working relationships with other City employees and the public.
  
• Skill in effective oral and written communication.
  
• Skill in exercising good judgment, tact, and diplomacy.
  
• Skill in using automated purchasing systems.
  
• Ability to develop and lead cross-functional teams.
  
• Ability to resolve all contract disputes.
  

Minimum Qualifications:

• Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, plus four (4) years of experience in a related field.
  
• Four (4) years of applicable work experience may be substituted in place of the minimum education requirement.
  
• Graduation with a graduate degree from an accredited college or university in a related field may substitute for up to two (2) years of the required experience.
  

Licenses and Certifications Required:

None.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in professional procurement, including software, hardware, cloud services, and IT consulting services
  
• Skilled in using Office tools to support procurement documentation, reporting, and contract management tasks efficiently, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
  
• Demonstrated ability to maintain effective communication and foster positive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
  
• Ability to travel to more than one work location
  

Notes to Candidate:

Position Overview:

The position is responsible for managing the full procurement lifecycle. It involves issuing purchase orders, overseeing compliance, and supporting cooperative and citywide contracts. The role also provides technical guidance to departments and vendors, manages assigned contract categories through strategic planning and market analysis, and occasionally performs direct purchasing. This position ensures procurement activities align with legal and policy requirements while supporting operational efficiency and value.

Pay Range:

$68,660.00 - $85,830.00

Hours:

Monday - Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Telework opportunities may be available after an initial training period. Work schedules are implemented to meet the requirements of the department and are subject to change based on business needs.

Staff eligible to telework must be in the office for at least 40% of their scheduled work week.

Location:

124 West 8th Street (Municipal Building), Austin, Texas 78701

Application Details:

• A detailed, complete COA employment application is required. It helps us to better evaluate your qualifications and will be used to determine your salary if you are selected for this position.
  
• Please be sure to detail on the application all previous employment that you wish to be considered as part of your qualifications.
  
• A cover letter is required. In the cover letter candidates should describe, in concise detail, their interest in this position and highlight any prior experience that is relevant to this position.
  
• A résumé is also required but will not substitute for a complete COA employment application. Resumes are not accepted in place of a completed online application. It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the detailed and relevant work experience, which would qualify them for the position.
  
• For each position, please describe your specific experience as it relates to the minimum and preferred qualifications.
  
• When completing the City of Austin employment application, the work experience listed must include a month, year, and a verifiable Supervisor or Human Resources phone number.
  
• Incomplete applications will not be considered.
  
• Each individual who submits an Application as provided in the Municipal Civil Service Rules and meets the Minimum Qualifications for a Competitive Position shall be considered a Candidate for that Position. Employees, in Good Standing, who are candidates within the Department or division that the Position resides in and who meet the Minimum and Preferred Qualifications (if any) of the Position will be included in the initial interview.
  
• Use of AI is strictly prohibited to respond to the application and during the interview process.
  
• Please be aware that the Job Posting Close Date reflects the final day to apply, but the posting will close at 11:59 PM the day before the date listed. All application steps, including attachments and submission, must be fully completed before that time.
  

Additional Details:

• Austin Financial Services may close this job posting at any time after it has been advertised for seven (7) days, please apply as soon as possible if interested.
  
• This position may require a skills assessment.
  
• If you are identified as a top candidate, verification of your education, which may include High School graduation or GED equivalent, undergraduate and/or graduate degrees, will be required.
  
• This position will require a pre-employment Criminal Background Investigation (CBI).
  
• If you are selected as the top candidate for a position, we may contact your current and former employer, as well as the references listed in your application. Please be sure you have listed at least 3 previous supervisors in the application with correct contact information.
  
• If you are identified as a top military candidate or a veteran, you must provide a copy of your DD-214.
  

Travel:

If you are selected for this position and meet the Driver Safety Standards in the City of Austin Driver Safety Program, you may drive when necessary to multiple locations as part of your regular job duties. Otherwise, you are responsible for getting to and from these locations.

90 Day Provision for Additional Vacancy:

When the same or an additional vacancy occurs within a department in the same job title within 90 days after the start date of the top candidate, the hiring department may offer the additional position to another candidate from the same candidate pool.

EEO Statement for City of Austin:

The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual's AIDS, AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk.

City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call (512) 974-3210 or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.

Closing Date/Time: 2025-11-24