Assistant Director of Procurement

Assistant Director of Procurement

We are seeking an Assistant Director of Procurement to join our Office of Finance and Information Technology at the Oregon Department of Education. This is a Limited Duration management service position ending June 30th 2027.

This role is a hybrid of remote work and will need to report to the office when business or operational needs are dependent on onsite activities. Remote work is embraced to the fullest extent possible without interfering with business.

About Us : The Oregon Department of Education's mission is to foster equity and excellence for every learner through collaboration with educators, partners, and communities. In fulfilling its mission, ODE has the vision to ensure all students have access to and benefit from a world-class, wellrounded, and equitable education system.

The Procurement Services Unit provides the core procurement expertise for services to the agency. The Unit is supervised by the Director of Procurement who reports directly to the Assistant Superintendent of OFIT. The Procurement Services Unit is responsible for the design and implementation of procurement and grant making services that support the agency's mission while ensuring the cost-effective acquisition of commodities and services; agency compliance with purchasing laws, rules and guidelines; and compliance with delegated purchasing authority agreements. The Unit consults with and trains agency employees and external partners on purchasing laws, rules, procedures and policies and administers a training and certification program. The work of the Unit involves administering the procurement and grant making process for complex formal and informal contracts, grants, and projects; advising agency staff, contractors, sub-recipients, and vendors of legal requirements regarding the preparation of specifications for competitive bidding; developing and monitoring annual supply contracts; preparing requests for proposals for procuring professional, technical and expert services; and working with various Business Development programs to promote and attract Minority, Women and Emerging Small Business participation in the bidding process. The Unit also is a key contributor to ensuring the success of ODE's strategic plan.

What You Will Do! Under the leadership of the Director of Procurement Services, this newly added Assistant Director of Procurement position will join the existing leadership team to support the growing needs of the procurement unit. Currently, five work pods consisting of approximately 15 procurement specialists at various levels within the procurement and contract specialist series are overseen by the Director of Procurement and one Assistant Director. With the addition of this position, direct supervision of the team will be sharedeach Assistant Director will manage approximately half of the work pods.

The Assistant Director will assign work, establish schedules, and monitor performance to ensure goals and deadlines are met. They will work in close coordination with the existing Assistant Director of Procurement to ensure consistent support, aligned assignments, and cohesive management across the full procurement team.

This position will also collaborate with the Director of Procurement, the Operational Improvement Strategist, and the Training and Outreach Coordinator to evaluate and revise agency procurement policies and procedures, ensuring alignment with operational needs and continuous improvement efforts.

The Assistant Director of Procurement Services is responsible for supporting a procurement system rooted in equity, excellent customer service, internal and external collaboration, best practices, and strong stewardship of public resources. The role also promotes a high-performance culture focused on quality work, productivity, inclusion, and the core values of ODE : integrity, accountability, excellence, and equity.

Typical duties include :

• Provides leadership and oversight over all contracts and agreements held by ODE.
• Ad-Hoc review of contract files for completeness and alignment with statutory requirements for contract administration.
• Works with the Director of Procurement to have regular customer support meetings with business partners and program staff related to the contracting and grant-making process.
• Partners with customers to develop and maintain procurement policies, procedures, and operating guidelines for their program area.

The work of this position is Fair Labor Standard Act exempt and frequently exceeds 40-hour work week, often extending into evenings and weekends. Job duties may require in and out-of-state travel. Much of the work of this position must be accomplished within time-sensitive constraints. Subject to frequent interruptions. Carries state-issued mobile phone and is available to the executive management team 24 / 7 / 365.

Minimum Qualifications (Need to Have) : Five years of lead work, supervision, or progressively related experience; OR two years of related experience and a bachelor's degree in a related field. Minimum qualifications must be met to qualify for this position.

Desired Attributes (Nice to Have) : Experience supervising and leading a procurement team with an equity lens, with experience that included planning, assigning, and reviewing work, supporting subordinates through training, motivating others to work effectively, and efficiently and effectively managing a budget. Ability to lead and advise with ethical integrity and professional responsibility. Extensive knowledge and skill in analyzing procurement principles, ethics, laws, rules, policies and guidelines used in the procurement of goods and services either at a local, state, or federal government level. Skill in planning, developing, and implementing business policy and process improvements in an effort to create both efficiency and a high quality level of outcomes. Demonstrated accomplishment applying an equity lens to purchasing and contracting, including outreach and working with women and minority-owned businesses. Preference will be granted to those that currently hold a professional procurement certification (e.g. NIGP - CPP, CPPB, CPPO, or OPBC)

We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job. We would encourage you to apply, even if you don't meet every one of the attributes listed.

Why Us? At ODE, we pride ourselves on creating an inclusive, collaborative, and innovative atmosphere. Autonomy is supported while also being offered opportunities to work in dedicated teams or partnerships across the agency. Our office supports a healthy work / life balance and shows genuine care for team members, students, partners, and school leaders. Our team members share and educate with passion for equitable practices and sustainable development for leaders across Oregon. We maintain a constant learning and growing mentality to strive for optimum innovation and consistently applied equity practices.

Our Amazing Benefits Include :

If you have a desire to make a difference in the lives of Oregonians, apply today!

To Apply : Your cover letter and resume are the perfect opportunity to highlight your interest in the position and showcase your skills and experience that make you the best candidate for the position.

Please contact ode.jobs@ode.oregon.gov if you have any questions on the application process. Would you like to learn more about this position or how our application process works? Join our Recruitment team during our ODE Career Chat Sessions. We can assist you with all your application and agency questions! 1st Thursday of the month 11 am to 11 : 45 am (PST)

Join ZoomGov Meeting https : / / www.zoomgov.com / j / 1618573320

Additional Information : Salary Range : The range listed is the