Senior Procurement Specialist

POSITION SUMMARY The Senior Procurement Specialist under the direction of the Procurement Manager is responsible for providing training and technical assistance to Procurement Specialists. The Senior Procurement Specialist will assist the Procurement Manager with departmental work activities and special projects while ensuring that CHA's procurement policies and procedures are communicated and adhered to by staff and vendors. The Senior Procurement Specialist will have the ability to work independently, employ excellent business decisions to solve problems, and implement solutions. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Responsible for researching, evaluating and developing Invitations for bids, complex Request for Proposals and Requests for Qualifications. Performs procurement outreach activities communicating Chicago Housing Authority's procurement process. Provides Weekly Procurement Reports and ad hoc reports to management. Assist departments to resolve procurement issues and improve communication. Educate and train staff on procurement policy and procedures and assist management in developing policies and procedures and training material. Analyze market conditions to develop appropriate sources of supply. Maintain cooperative working relationships with vendors to stay abreast with trends, technologies, products and services. Develop and maintain an effective vendor base to procure various services and products. Facilitate evaluation committee meetings and negotiations with CHA user departments and vendors. Assist in the preparation and development of scopes and specifications. Determine and implement the appropriate method of procurement to secure the requested service, commodities or supplies within an assigned department area. Oversee the soliciting of bids, proposal evaluation and request for qualifications process in accordance with CHA’s policy and perform bid analysis and make the appropriate procurement recommendation. Coordinate and facilitate pre-bid meetings, pre-proposals meetings and bid openings with user departments. Gather and collect information on problems to determine areas of deficiencies; resolve disputes between suppliers and departments regarding service, cost, and delivery. Prepare appropriate correspondences to suppliers relating to inquiries and procurement issues. Maintain the integrity and confidentiality of assigned contract files and various report documentation for accuracy to ensure information is properly stored on CHA network. Perform other duties as assigned by department management. QUALIFICATIONS This position requires a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration or a related field with a minimum of five (5) years' experience of responsible buying or the equivalent combination of education and related work experience with a minimum of three (3) years procurement experience, or a minimum of five (5) years equivalent work experience in various areas such as construction, professional services, and supply commodities. Experience within the public procurement sector is a plus. Knowledge and understanding of procurement methods, principles and terminology. Require effective verbal, written, and interpersonal skills to work with a diverse staff of managerial and professional employees. Proficient in analyzing and evaluating data. Strong organization, problem solving and analytical skills. The ability and skills to exercise and use sound business judgment, discretion, maintain confidentiality and work on multiple projects simultaneously. Skilled in providing customer service. The ability to perform and work well under pressure. It is encouraged that a purchasing/contracting/procurement certification be obtained, and example certifications are: The National Institute of Government Purchasing (NIGP), and the National Association of Purchasing Managers. This role requires competent computer proficiency in Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and general math aptitude to perform statistical calculations. BENEFITS AT-A-GLANCE Vacation, Sick and Personal, competitive PTO package Medical (HMO, PPO, and No employee cost High-Deductible PPO) Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance Long-Term Care Insurance Pet Insurance Parking Transit Prepaid Legal Services Brightstar 529 College Savings Plan Identity Theft Protection Hospital Indemnity Insurance Voluntary Critical Illness Insurance Deferred Compensation Plan: Empower 457/401(a) with a 3% employer match Pension Plan: CHA makes contributions on behalf of the employee, along with the employee's 3% contribution; 100% vesting occurs after 6 years of continuous employment or opt-out of CHA's Retirement Plan and continues to participate in the Municipal Employees Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago Hybrid work schedule (position specific) This position may be eligible for remote work following a successful completion of a 90-day probationary period according to CHA’s established policies and procedures. "Applications will be accepted for 30 days from the date of posting. However, the position may be closed at any point if a sufficient number of qualified applications are received.” Salary Range: $80,000 - $85,000 Grade: S8 FLSA: Exempt Union: None