Job Description

Sourcing Account Specialist

Central Procurement Office (CPO)

Nashville, TN / Davidson County

$59,700 - $74,604 / Year

Hybrid Schedule

How you will make a difference in this role:

As the Sourcing Account Specialist, you will be responsible for understanding the procurement goals of their assigned agencies and developing a plan to accomplish those goals while maintaining the interests of the State’s Procurement policies and procedures. The Sourcing Account Specialist supports, consults, executes, and administers procurements, using all available methods to include Request for Proposal, Invitation to Bid, Competitive Negotiation and Informal Bid, on behalf of state agencies and the Category Management department. The Sourcing Account Specialist must be able to solve complex problems associated with data and spend analysis, cost benchmarks, diverse and/or conflicting agency requirements, and procurement processes. The Sourcing Account Specialist will administer procurement activities from development and implementation of the sourcing strategy through award of the contract, which includes identifying agency needs, drafting solicitations, executing procurements, managing, and leading the state evaluation process and conducting negotiations. They will represent the state procurement office and speak in public settings to various groups which include, but are not limited to, relevant industry trade groups, the state fiscal review committee, the state procurement commission, the state protest committee, and the advisory council on state procurement. In addition, the Sourcing Account Specialist will serve as the point person for each executed and administered procurement and will utilize problem solving skills to ensure the contract satisfies the needs of internal and external stakeholders.

This position reports to the Sourcing Account Management Team Lead. The position has a hybrid work schedule with a monthly starting salary of $4,975 - $6,217 (determined by experience). The State of Tennessee offers competitive benefits that include hybrid and flexible remote work schedules; health, dental, vision, and life insurance; tuition assistance; retirement plans; employee discounts for personal purchases; free downtown parking; better-than-average sick and annual leave; plus, State holidays. More information regarding benefits can be found at www.tn.gov/hr/employees1/benefits.html.

Examples of Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the direction of the Sourcing Account Management Team Lead:

1. Primary liaison between the Executives of the assigned agency (agencies) and the Central Procurement Office Executive Management

2. Manages multiple procurement projects that require special attention due to the visibility to the public or the dollar amount associated with the service/product

3. Gathers and analyzes contract expenditure data

4. Gathers and analyzes benchmarks for pricing and contract terms

5. Develops solicitation specifications based on internal and external sources of information

6. Analyzes proposal pricing against historical costs, other state contracts, and industry-recognized indexes

7. Calculates and reports on estimated savings associated with contract proposals

8. Possesses and demonstrates strong knowledge of policies, procedures and execution strategy for multiple solicitation methods including Request for Proposal, Invitation to Bid, Multi-step Bidding, Competitive Negotiation and Informal Bid

9. Provides strategic advice and consultation to agency procurement and program staff to determine the proper methods of procurement as well as strategy development and execution of procurement activities

10. Solves common problems associated with procurement activities, including data analysis and negotiations

11. Manages and leads the evaluation team and process to award recommendation

12. Leads and develops strategy for proposal clarifications, price negotiations and contract finalization and supports other procurement staff with similar activities

13. Researches procurement-specific markets and industry developments for incorporation into procurement solicitation specifications to maximize cost savings and quality of procured goods and services

14. Provides protest support in research and development of recommendation for resolution, as needed by the Legal department

15. Works closely with other central procurement teams in support of procurement activities

16. Builds and manages business relationships with agency procurement staff, central procurement category management teams and key vendors to facilitate effective sourcing outcomes

17. Regularly represents the central procurement office while speaking at public events with internal and external stakeholders

Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university

Four years of business, procurement, or contract management experience can substitute for the bachelor’s degree

Preferred by not required:

Experience within a strategic sourcing procurement program
Experience working with Microsoft Office; possesses a developed skill set specifically with Excel
Experience using an enterprise procurement system
Excellent organization, problem solving and negotiation skills
Excellent analytical skills
Excellent presentation, verbal, and written communication skills

Pursuant to the State of Tennessee’s Workplace Discrimination and Harassment policy, the State is firmly committed to the principle of fair and equal employment opportunities for its citizens and strives to protect the rights and opportunities of all people to seek, obtain, and hold employment without being subjected to illegal discrimination and harassment in the workplace. It is the State’s policy to provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment of an individual because of that person’s race, color, national origin, age (40 and over), sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, disability, veteran’s status, or any other category protected by state and/or federal civil rights laws.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $59,700.00 - $74,604.00 per year

Benefits: