State Procurement Director

The Division of Administration/Office of State Procurement has a vacancy. This job title has an assigned pay grade of AS-626.

The Office of State Procurement serves as Louisiana’s centralized procurement authority by providing compliant, competitive, and cost-effective procurement solutions that support agencies in achieving their missions and serving the people of Louisiana. Through collaboration, customer service, training, and policy leadership, OSP promotes sound procurement practices and delivers procurement solutions that maximize public value and accountability.

The State Purchasing Director serves as the State Chief Procurement Officer and oversees all programs and operations of the Office of State Procurement (OSP), the central purchasing agency within the Division of Administration, as well as the procurement functions of all state agencies subject to the Louisiana Procurement Code. These programs under OSP's jurisdiction include state contracting with policy impact for over $1 billion in state goods/services expenditures annually. The Division of Administration is the state government’s management arm and the hub of its financial operations. Division offices perform a wide variety of activities, including the following:

• Overseeing the state’s capital construction program
• Working to provide state and federal grants for community development
• Development of the state budget
• Providing technology services
• Giving agencies guidance in the state purchasing and contracting process as they seek goods and services
• Administering a program that provides federal funds to help Louisiana residents recover from a series of devastating hurricanes

Three years of the required experience for the following minimum qualifications must have been at the supervisory level or above:

Nine years of experience in procurement, contracts or grants management, financial management, accounting, or auditing; OR

Six years of full-time work experience in any field plus six years of experience in procurement, contracts or grants management, financial management, accounting, or auditing; OR

A bachelor’s degree plus six years of experience in procurement, contracts or grants management, financial management, accounting, or auditing; OR

An advanced degree plus five years of experience in procurement, contracts or grants management, financial management, accounting, or auditing.

EXPERIENCE SUBSTITUTION: Every 30 semester hours earned from an accredited college or university will be credited as one year of experience towards the six years of full-time work experience in any field. The maximum substitution allowed is 120 semester hours which substitutes for a maximum of four years of experience in any field.

Designation as a Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB), a Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO), or a National Institute of Governmental Purchasing Certified Procurement Professional (NIGP-CPP) will substitute for a maximum of one year of the required experience.The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.Job Duties: OFFICE DIRECTION AND ADMINISTRATION

• Directs the Office of State Procurement (OSP), serving as the state’s central procurement officer for supplies, services, major repairs, and professional, personal, consulting, and social services subject to the Louisiana Procurement Code.
• Establishes OSP’s vision, organizational structure, goals, performance benchmarks, budget, and operating plan consistent with Division of Administration (DOA) policies.
• Recommends procurement regulations and statutory changes; adopts internal procedures and promulgates rules under delegated authority. Issues statewide policies, manuals, guidance, and standard forms and directs implementation of enacted legislation.
• Directs statewide procurement systems, including LaGov, LESA, and Data Warehouse reporting; establishes enhancement priorities and oversees procurement data, analytics, and performance measures.
• Oversees category management, strategic sourcing, and process improvements to increase efficiency while maintaining competition, transparency, and auditability.

STAFF SUPERVISION AND DEVELOPMENT

• Directs Deputy Directors, Assistant Directors, managers, procurement professionals, and administrative staff responsible for acquisitions, contracts, policy, compliance, training, outreach, and analytics. Assigns responsibilities and establishes performance expectations and uniform procurement controls.
• Administers direct reports’ attendance, leave, schedules, performance planning, evaluations, and development; oversees performance management for all OSP employees under State Civil Service requirements.
• Reviews and approves hiring, separation, compensation, and organizational actions in coordination with the Deputy Commissioner and DOA Office of Human Resources. Addresses personnel requests, complaints, grievances, and discipline.
• Directs recruitment, succession planning, professional development, and certification. Promotes a safe, respectful, productive workplace and oversees procurement training for OSP staff, agency personnel, and current and prospective vendors.

PROCUREMENT ADVISEMENT AND APPROVALS

• Serves as the principal procurement advisor to the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Administration and provides expert consultation to executive leadership, agencies, oversight bodies, legal staff, and non-state entities on complex procurement and contract matters.
• Interprets applicable federal and state laws, regulations, rules, and executive orders; reviews agency procurement decisions and advises officials on complex program and operational issues.
• Reviews agency requests and issues documented determinations reserved to the State Chief Procurement Officer, including requests for proposals, invitations to negotiate, sole-source and emergency procurements, competitive negotiations, and alternative procurement methods.
• Approves statewide term contracts, certain cooperative endeavor agreements, and amendments and extensions exceeding agency thresholds. Directs specifications and contract forms; oversees inspection, testing, and acceptance of goods and services and inventories of warehoused supplies.

DELEGATED AUTHORITY AND COMPLIANCE

• Delegates procurement authority within legal limits, establishes conditions and dollar thresholds, and monitors agency practices. Directs compliance reviews and modifies, conditions, or withdraws authority when warranted.
• Coordinates procurement audit findings and corrective actions with the Legislative Auditor and DOA internal audit. Ensures required contract information is publicly available.

PROTESTS, CONTRACT DISPUTES, AND VENDOR SANCTIONS

• Resolves solicitation and award protests and settles or decides contract and breach-of-contract controversies, obtaining Attorney General concurrence when required. Issues timely written decisions explaining the action and review rights.
• Administers protest bonds and related informal hearings; suspends or debars vendors for cause following required notice and opportunity to be heard.
• Supports the Commissioner in administrative appeals and litigation and represents OSP in administrative hearings and district court.

COMMUNICATIONS AND STATEWIDE COORDINATION

• Serves as DOA’s principal legislative contact on procurement; presents information and testimony to legislative committees and prepares required correspondence and reports.
• Represents OSP before executive officials, boards, committees, and oversight bodies. Coordinates complex procurement initiatives and implementation of new or revised programs across agencies.
• Directs agency and vendor outreach, maintains communication and feedback channels, and promotes participation by small and disadvantaged businesses.

Position-Specific Details: Appointment Type: This vacancy will be filled by promotion of a current permanent status Office of State Procurement employee. A permanent status employee may be required to serve a new probationary period in lieu of promotion.

Louisiana is a "State as a Model Employer" for People with Disabilities.

How To Apply: No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.

To apply for this vacancy, click on the “Apply” link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page. *Information to support your eligibility for the position must be included in the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education). Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections. Applications may be rejected if incomplete. The transcripts can be added as an attachment to your online application. The selected candidate will be required to submit original documentation upon hire. A criminal history check may be conducted on all new hires as well as employees changing positions, including promotions, demotions, details, reassignments, and transfers. Also, prospective employees may be subject to pre-employment drug testing. New hires will be subject to employment eligibility verification via the federal government's E-Verify system.

For further information about this posting, please contact: Erica R. Gay HR Specialist Division of Administration/Office of Human Resources Email:[email protected]