DEPT OF AGRICULTURE

  Office of the Director
1110 W. Washington Street, #450, Phoenix AZ 85007

Salary:  

Grade: 22

Closing Date: May 21, 2025

The Arizona Department of Agriculture is recruiting for a reliable self-starter to join our team as a Senior Procurement Specialist. This position is onsite and is located at 1110 W. Washington Street, #450, Phoenix AZ 85007.

This position manages agency-wide procurement activities, including developing guidelines, policies, procedures, and training materials for agency procurement processes, as well as developing, negotiating, and administering complex or high-risk contracts, agreements and leases, including intergovernmental and interagency agreements. This position operates with Department of Administration delegated procurement authority.

TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE POSITION YOU MUST INCLUDE A COVER LETTER.

Duties to include but not limited to:

• Advise managers, staff, and customers on procedures for developing contracts.
• Establish criteria for request for proposal.
• Facilitate and serve on bid evaluations teams to measure contract bidders against selection criteria, evaluate proposals, and award contracts.
• Negotiate contract and agreement terms.
• Approve contractor/vendor invoices for payment.
• Consult with Attorney General’s office to facilitate clarification of legal issues and the approval of contract/agreement language.
• Conduct research and investigations of alleged contract violations and assist with their resolution; develop non-compliance action plans.

Knowledge of:
Federal and State laws and statutes governing contractual agreements; Federal and
State funding rules and regulations; fundamentals of budget development and expenditure control;
contemporary service programs and delivery systems in public agencies; available community resources;
Federal laws governing assigned program areas; policies and procedures established for the work
system; principles and practices of work leadership and management; solicitation techniques; proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite and various state systems, Arizona Procurement Portal, AFIS and HRIS; general office procedures; general accounting practices and business law; variety of commodities, products, goods and services, including those specific to the agency; procurement practices, processes and procedures; contractual language (terms/conditions); a wide range of standard commodities and products, sources of supply, local markets and price trends and customer service; auditing and investigation processes and procedures; forecasting processes.

Skills in:
Apply principles and practices of work leadership and management; effective oral and written communication; interpret and apply laws, rules and regulations governing the work system; interpret, analyze and evaluate programmatic and fiscal data; negotiate contracts; establish and maintain work relationships with contracted and governmental agency representatives and citizen advocacy groups; negotiate, arbitrate and supervise effectively; maintain confidentiality of purchasing and procurement details.

Ability to:
Think analytically and solve problems.
Communicate effectively with various internal and external customers.
Work well in stressful, often time constrained situations.
Self-motivated.
Prioritize workload, multi-task.
Remain calm and even tempered under demanding working conditions.

Working knowledge and experience with Arizona's procurement and accounting systems.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The Arizona Department of Agriculture offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:
Sick leave
Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year
Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
Health and dental insurance
Retirement plan
Life insurance and long-term disability insurance
Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS). Mandatory condition of Employment for all employees who meet the eligibility and membership criteria defined in statue. Current contribution rate is 12.27%. Enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Melissa Meek at mmeek@azda.gov for assistance. The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.