PURCHASING SPECIALIST

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

We Never Walk Alone

WORKING TITLE: PURCHASING SPECIALIST

This open competitive advertisement is for a Career Service position located at Central Office in Tallahassee, FL in the Bureau of Procurement.

The mission of the Bureau of Procurement in the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) is to ensure the efficient, ethical, and cost-effective acquisition of goods and services necessary for the Department's operations.

This position is not a telework position and is required to report to the FDC office in the area it serves.

JOB DUTIES:

• Stay abreast of all State of Florida and Department of Corrections rules, laws, regulations, policies, and statutes that impact the purchasing profession.
• Analyzes purchase requests to determine the appropriate procurement action, issues purchase orders, formulates specifications for informal and formal bids, coordinates bid openings, awards and maintains commodity contracts, drafts correspondence and legal advertisements.
• Prepares bid specifications, types and distributes formal and informal bid invitations to vendors, prepares legal ads and reviews bids for acceptance based on cost, specifications and vendor service.
• Prepares and submits proper forms for requesting contract exceptions, single source, single bids, emergencies, copiers and communications equipment and services.
• Establishes and maintains agency term contracts, as needed.
• Makes recommendations to Purchasing Analyst regarding problem areas, market trends or unusual commodity needs.
• Participates in bid protest hearings and bidder's conferences as a procurement expert.
• Confers with staff of supported entities to clarify quality, quantity and specifications for their commodity needs as well as required shipping and delivery schedules.
• Coordinates equipment repairs in a timely manner. Makes recommendations regarding items to be stocked in the central warehouse in support of service center entities.
• Reviews purchase requests on an on-going basis to determine large volume annual usage of their specific assigned commodities to establish term contracts to improve the efficiency of the Service Center.
• Assists procurement management staff by solving routine problems and by bringing unusual problems and administrative matters to their attention.
• Corresponds with vendors concerning product or delivery problems.
• Assists accounting in matters relating to payment documentation.
• Solves non-routine problems.
• Maintains a classified vendor mailing list for use in bidding commodities and services.
• Meets sales representatives and evaluates products or services to determine their value to the various entities supported.
• Maintain files for competitive solicitations and other projects as required for auditing purposes; provide auditors with purchasing information as needed.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of the State of Florida purchasing rules and regulations, procedures, techniques, and practices relating to Chapter 287 and Chapter 255, Florida Statutes.
• Proficiency in desktop applications including Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook, MyFloridaMarketPlace (MFMP)/Ariba on demand (AOD and the Vendor Information Portal (VIP).
• Knowledge relating to methods of compiling, organizing, and researching information on available suppliers, current contracts with other similar entities, and cost drivers.
• Give great customer service to internal and external customers by dealing with people in a tactful and courteous manner.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, to technical staff and Department leadership; and
• Ability to work effectively in independent and team-centric environments, serving on procurement project teams and collaborating with other programs, agencies and private businesses.

BENEFITS:

• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
• Comprehensive health insurance and life insurance with accidental death and dismemberment benefits.
• Supplemental Dental, Vision, Life, Disability and Hospitalization insurance.
• Tuition-Free college courses.
• Retirement Plans with the Florida Retirement System:

• • Pension Plan (Traditional Retirement Pension Plan)
  • Investment Plan (401(K)-Type Retirement Plan)
  • Deferred Retirement Option Program (Drop)
  • Deferred Compensation
  • Recently Retired? Beginning July 1, 2024, there is no longer a reemployment limitation; beginning with the 7th calendar month from the member's distribution date, there are no restrictions on working for an FRS employer. You will not be required to repay any prior distributions, and you may continue receiving distributions from the Investment Plan or Pension Plan without interruption.

REQUIREMENTS:

Please note, when submitting a college/university degree, if selected for this position official transcripts will be required.

• Must possess a high school diploma or its equivalent.
• Must possess three (3) years of professional procurement/sourcing experience.
  • Postsecondary education may substitute for up to two (2) years of the required experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Prior government procurement/contract management experience.
• Experience using Ariba, MyFloridaMarketPlace or FLAIR; or
• Florida Certified Contract Negotiator (FCCN), Project Management Professional (PMP), Florida Certified Contract Manager (FCCM); Certification as a Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB), Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO), Certified Associate Contracts Manager (CACM), Certified Professional Contracts Manger (CPCM), or a Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM).

Support of knowledge, skills, and abilities should be demonstrated on the application, in the education, in the work experience, in the work sample, in the interview and/or during reference checks.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENT

The Florida Department of Corrections requires all job applicants and volunteers to pass a Level 2 background check as per Chapter 435, Florida Statutes. This check must be completed before they can start working or volunteering.

EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY

The Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) only hires U.S. citizens and those authorized to work in the U.S. FDC uses E-Verify to confirm an employee’s eligibility to work after completing the I-9 form.

The Florida Department of Corrections does not currently support H-1B Visa Sponsorship.

For online application issues, call the People First Service Center at 1-877-562-7287. Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.