Procurement Specialist

Job Description

The Iowa Department of Transportation’s mission is Making Lives Better Through Transportation. To accomplish our mission, the person selected for this position will demonstrate actions and behaviors guided by the Iowa DOT’s five core values:
Safety First, People Matter, Customer Focused, Servant Leadership, and Integrity Without Exception.

We are seeking a motivated, detail-oriented professional to join our team as a Purchasing Agent 3. In this role, you will be part of the Purchasing Team within the Administrative Services Division’s Procurement and Distribution Bureau. This team oversees the annual procurement of more than 100 million dollars in goods and services that support the Department of Transportation’s statewide operations.

Location: Ames, Iowa 50010

Schedule: Monday–Friday, flexible shift (typically 7:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.), with occasional travel

• Lead the development, compilation, and organization of formal bid solicitations and requests for proposals for purchases over $50,000, as well as competitive bids for purchases under $50,000.
• Coordinate and facilitate pre‑bid meetings and various onsite or virtual team meetings.
• Procure a wide range of goods and services based on customer and agency needs.
• Use negotiation and contracting skills to ensure high‑quality, cost‑effective procurements.
• Apply knowledge of contract law, federal and state regulations, and procurement best practices.

• Experience creating bid solicitations, managing contracts, and applying federal and state procurement laws and regulations.
• Ability to interpret and apply the Code of Iowa, Iowa Administrative Rules, and agency procurement policies accurately and effectively.
• Strong mathematical abilities, including calculating percentages, ratios, and averages.
• A commitment to providing exceptional customer service.

• A collaborative and positive work environment.
• A flexible work schedule.
• A competitive benefits package including health, dental, flexible spending, and life insurance.
• Insurance benefits start the first month following 30 days of employment.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development.
• Paid time off effective immediately – biweekly vacation, separate sick leave, accruals rollover on a yearly basis, and 9 paid holidays per year.
• Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) Retirement Package with employer match.
• Optional 401A plan with employer contributions.
• Employee discount programs from a variety of vendors (vision, cellular, fitness, recreation, season passes, travel, counseling, legal, financial).

• Seven years of full‑time work experience in the procurement of technical, standardized, expendable, and non‑expendable items, or in services procurement and contract administration, including the review of ongoing compliance with contract requirements and terms.
• Graduation from an accredited four‑year college or university with a degree in business or public administration, accounting, or economics, and experience equal to three years of full‑time work in the procurement of technical, standardized, expendable and non‑expendable items or in services procurement and contract administration, including the review of ongoing compliance with contract requirements and terms.
• A total of seven years of education and/or full‑time experience (as described in number one), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university coursework in any field equals one year of full‑time experience.
• All of the following (a, b, and c):
• Two years of full‑time work experience in the procurement of technical, standardized, expendable, and non‑expendable items, or in services procurement and contract administration, including the review of ongoing compliance with contract requirements and terms.
• A total of four years of education and/or full‑time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university coursework in business or public administration, accounting, or economics equals one year of full‑time experience.
• A total of one year of graduate‑level education and/or full‑time experience (as described in part…