Our mission is simply stated: ERS offers competitive benefits to enhance the lives of its members. Each team member across the agency contributes to our ongoing success. ERS is open for business five days a week, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, to meet customers where they need us: in person, on the phone, in their communities, and online. ERS currently offers opportunities that include flexible work schedules.

ERS is seeking a Purchaser to perform complex (journey-level) purchasing and procurement work as a member of a purchasing team in the OPCO Division.Work involves purchasing and procuring commodities, equipment, and services using guidelines, rules, policies, and laws; preparing procurement documents; planning, organizing, coordinating and preparing specifications; preparing procurement documents; and maintaining records of items purchased, received, prepared, and issued. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Purchasing Supervisor and general supervision of the Director and Assistant Director of the Office of Procurement and Contract Oversight with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Essential Responsibilities include, but are not limited to

• Develops and prepares complex and technical specifications, including conferring with vendors and agency staff (end-users), and may evaluate Invitation for Bid (IFB), Request for Information (RFI), Request for Offer (RFO), and Request for Quote (RFQ) responses.

• Monitors and ensures compliance with legal and regulatory requirements pertaining to purchasing, to include rules relating to historically underutilized businesses (HUB).

• Reviews requisitions for completeness, compliance with procurement rules and regulations, and determines the purchasing method.

• Reviews and tabulates bids and responses to determine bids or responses that provide the best value.

• Prepares, reviews, and tracks purchase orders to verify accuracy, terminology, and specifications.

• Processes vendor quotes, purchase orders, packing slips, and other purchasing documents.

• Processes purchase orders, issues change orders, and provides order status to end-users.

• Tracks the status of purchase orders.

• Coordinates procurement processes with agency divisions and vendors.

• Promotes purchasing opportunities with Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs), helps ensure agency uses good faith efforts to meet agency HUB goals and assists the HUB Coordination Supervisor, as needed.

• Maintains and reviews purchasing and procurement reports, records, and files.

• Reports contracts in the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) Contracts Database in accordance with LBB requirements.

• Assists in monitoring legal and regulatory requirements pertaining to purchasing and procurement.

• Assists with negotiating settlement complaints and resolving disputes.

• May assist in the development and delivery of procedural training in the procurement process for agency staff.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Essential Work Behaviors:

• Attends work regularly in accordance with agency leave and attendance policies.

• Complies with all applicable agency policies and procedures, including safety and standards of conduct.

Required Minimum Qualifications: Your application for employment must reflect how you meet each of the following minimum qualifications:

1.Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in business, public administration, or a related field. Qualifying experience beyond the minimum required may substitute for education.

2.Three (3) years of experience in the purchasing and procurement of goods and services in a public or private agency within the last 10 years.

Preferred Qualifications: Your application for employment should reflect how you meet the following preferred qualifications:

3. Two (2) years of experience reviewing and interpreting contracts.

4.Two (2) years of experience with purchasing through State of Texas contracts.

5.Two (2) years of experience using CAPPS or a similar system for the State of Texas.

6.Experience with Legislative Budget Board reporting requirements.

7.Experience with informal solicitations.

8.Experience with invitations for bid.

Additional Information:

• CTCD certification. Individuals who do not have this certification must obtain it within six (6) months of hire date. Must maintain valid certification for continued employment in position.
• CTCM certification. Individuals who do not have this certification must obtain it within nine (9) months of hire date. Must maintain valid certification for continued employment in position.

PLEASE NOTE All submissions should contain complete job history entries, which includes job title, dates of employment, name of employer, and a description of duties performed as related to the position you are applying for. Resumes lacking sufficient detail, such as a summary of experience in lieu of progression of work history may not meet minimum qualifications.

Other Information: In accordance with state law, authorization for telework may not be awarded to an employee as a condition of hiring. As an agency process, new employees complete a 30 day fully onsite period before evaluation for a telework agreement. This position may require access to privileged, confidential, or sensitive data. ERS will conduct either a TXDPS or FBI criminal history check on all new hires. For more information about this policy inquiries can be made to employment@ers.texas.gov. Please note: Internal applicants in the same salary group and classification as the posted position are eligible to receive an increase in salary where applicable up to the posted maximum.

ERS does not sponsor or assume sponsorship of an employment visa.

Military Occupational Specialty Codes:

Veterans, Reservists or Guardsmen with experience in the Military Occupational Specialty (https://hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MOSC_PropertyManagementandProcurement.pdf) along with the minimum qualifications listed above may meet the minimum requirements and are highly encouraged to apply. Please contact Human Resources at employment@ers.texas.govwith questions or for additional information.

How to Apply: Ready to join the dedicated, customer-focused team at ERS? Submit the following to the ERS Human Resources Office:

A State of Texas Application for Employment submitted online through CAPPS Recruit.

• Use the link below to create a CAPPS Recruit account and build your profile on the “My JobPage” tab in the upper left corner of the screen.

• https://capps.taleo.net/careersection/327/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en

• Once your profile is complete, click on the “Job Search” tab in the upper left corner of the screen to view available career opportunities and submit your application.

Applications submitted through Work in Texas:

If you apply for an ERS position via Work in Texas https://www.workintexas.com/vosnet/Default.aspx, you will also need to complete a supplemental questions form. For more details, refer to the instructions in the email you receive from CAPPS Recruit.

Please contact a Human Resources representative if you need assistance or require accommodation during the application process.

Email: Employment@ers.texas.gov

Web: www.ers.texas.gov

Relay Texas TDD: (800) 735-2989

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/employees-retirement-system-of-texas/