Contracts and Purchasing Agent

Details

Section:
Administration
Position Number:
LAA-00537-3/25 (OC)
Salary Range:
$57,708.00 - $92,340.00 Yearly
Apply By:
Monday, March 31, 2025, 11:59 pm
FLSA:
Exempt
Work Unit:
Contracts & Purchasing
Job Location:
1300 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203
Release Date:
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Employment Type:
Full-Time
Position Type:
Classified

Find a rewarding career making a difference: Join the Office of the Attorney General!

The Department of Law is recruiting for an experienced purchasing/procurement professional. The Contracting and Purchasing Agent is a great opportunity for a professional who is interested in a dynamic, diverse position that involves contracting, purchasing, staff training, and regulatory research and compliance. As part of a small procurement team, this position will help design and develop workflows, initiate, develop, and execute projects, work through challenges in purchasing and contracting in the legal and law enforcement industries, and spearhead procurement for our on-site IT section. DOL manages numerous unique legal challenges that provide our procurement team a breadth of opportunity to expand their knowledge and experience in contracts and purchasing.

WHO WE ARE

The Office of the Attorney General/Department of Law is the “People’s Lawyer.” The Attorney General, Phil Weiser, was elected by the people of Colorado and is the State’s chief lawyer and law enforcement official. Our vision for the Department of Law is: “Together, we serve Colorado and its people, advancing the rule of law, protecting our democracy and promoting justice for all.” Our core values and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, drive our actions and demonstrate our focus on being principled public servants who are innovative and better together.

Description of Job

ABOUT THE UNIT

The contract and procurement unit provides fiscal management and support for all units within the Department of Law and ensures that all purchases of goods and services made and grants issued by the Department are in compliance with State statutes, procurement rules, fiscal rules, and DOL policies and procedures. The unit is responsible for completing departmental financial transactions in an accurate and timely manner, including but not limited to accounting, budget, procurement, and contracts. The unit is responsible for financial reporting to management and assisting departmental units with interpreting financial information and decision-making. This unit works closely with DOL Budget to plan, direct, and control fiscal operations, maintain fiscal oversight, and monitor compliance with various authoritative guidance (include Colorado Revised Statutes, Fiscal Rules, federal reporting guidelines, GASB, GAAS, and other regulatory rules). The contract and procurement team works in a hybrid schedule, with at minimum two days in office and the remaining week worked from home.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

The Contracts and Purchasing Agent (Purchasing Agent III) works with the Contracts & Procurement Official, performing professional level duties involved with procuring goods and services necessary for the operation of the Department of Law. This position serves as a Purchasing Agent that performs purchasing, contracting and competitive grant duties. This position will:

Purchasing

  • Serve as a sub-delegated purchasing agent for the department and is involved with every aspect of ensuring purchases are appropriately procured and legally binding
  • Evaluate purchasing requests to determine the appropriate vendor selection/purchasing method (including State Price Agreements) and appropriate commitment voucher (i.e. purchase order vs. contract)
  • Advise DOL requestors on Procurement Code and rules, Fiscal Rules and policies, and any other pertinent State/DOL laws or rules
  • Draft purchase orders and contracts
  • Conduct initial risk assessment of vendor agreements before forwarding to the Contracts & Procurement Director
  • Review and evaluate vendor agreements to modify specific contract language before forwarding to the Contracts & Procurement Director
  • Negotiate language in vendor agreements with vendors balancing all State requirements, risk analysis, and program need
  • Conduct informal and formal solicitations for quotes or bids, including documented quotes, requests for information, invitations for bid, requests for proposals, and sole source justifications
  • Edit and revise statement of work requirements from DOL staff to meet the needs of the solicitation and desired outcome
  • Interview potential vendors concerning the product or service needs of DOL, including price negotiations, product and service delivery terms
  • Ensure potential awarded vendors are in compliance with State requirements for doing business under State purchasing and contracting guidelines
  • Input all required purchasing documents in the State’s accounting system (CORE) and the State’s Contract Management System (CMS)
  • Maintain complete DOL procurement, contract and grants files

Contracting

  • Determine the appropriate commitment voucher (i.e., purchase order vs. contract, grant) based on the purchasing method used, State Fiscal Rule requirements, Office of the State Controller Policies, DOL policies, other legal or policy guidance
  • Utilize the State’s model contracts and DOL templates to draft purchase orders, contracts, and grants, including but not limited to, statements of work, contract exhibits, amendments, task orders, option letters, etc., in a timely manner, and in consideration of competing deadlines/program need
  • Work closely with DOL managers/program staff to define program need, including complex contracts clauses (such as data protections required under FERPA, CJIS, HIPPA, etc.)
  • Determine specific contract language with review and approval from the Contracts and Procurement Director, and negotiate language with vendors balancing all State requirements, risk analysis, and program need
  • Ensure vendors are in compliance with required liability insurance and that amounts are appropriate for DOL’s potential risk
  • Work closely with Budget Director to determine funding mechanisms for various purchasing efforts.
  • Maintain DOL data in the CMS
  • Provide periodic reporting to DOL staff involved with purchasing or contract efforts (i.e., status of encumbrance, remaining balance, impending expiration dates of contracts, required options or amendments, etc.).
  • Guide contract monitoring efforts (e.g., updated insurance certificates)

Competitive Granting and Grant Development

  • Collaborate and serve as a liaison with DOL grant programs staff on competitive granting functions
  • Provide guidance and best practices to grant program staff for outgoing grants, including grant applications
  • Develop and maintain complete and accurate documentation for each competitive granting process
  • Ensure outgoing grants are appropriately awarded and legally binding and for overseeing all DOL efforts to obtain incoming grants
  • Assist in conducting competitive grant processes, includes draft Requests for Applications (RFA)
  • Assist in coordinating, facilitating, and managing competitive grant evaluations and award processes
  • Partner with grant program staff to draft the appropriate solicitation documentation
  • Ensure competitive grant documents include sufficient specifications and appropriate terms and conditions to obtain maximum competition, as well as meet programmatic and DOL needs
  • Conduct pre-application meetings and post-award applicant debriefings, as necessary
  • Draft Statement of Work (“SOW”)/grant requirements, as well as revise and edit SOWs and technical requirements received from DOL program to meet the needs of the competitive grant process
  • Coordinate with the DOL granting units to develop a timeline of grant projects

Education and Training

  • Train DOL staff on all procurement, granting and contracting guidance and processes including, but not limited to Colorado Revised Statutes, Colorado Procurement Code, Fiscal Rules, Fiscal Procedures, Office of the State Controller policies, and Federal program and data protection requirements (FERPA, CJIS, HIPPA, FTI, etc.)
  • Develop and deliver training on contract and procurement/competitive granting processes to staff as directed

 

Salary note: Although a salary range is listed, salary will be set commensurate with the successful candidate’s qualifications and in compliance with the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. Salary will be paid on a biweekly basis.

This recruitment may be used to fill highly similar positions in the Contracts and Purchasing Unit.
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

 

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Residency Requirement:

This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application.

Minimum Qualifications: Please document all relevant experience in detail on your application. Experience will not be inferred or assumed. Any part-time experience listed will be prorated.

Requires:
Six years of professional experience in purchasing, contracting and/or competitive grant making and at least Two (2) of those years is professional experience with purchasing, contracting and or competitive grant making (as primary job duties) with a government agency.

OR

Graduation from an accredited institution with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, business, finance, public administration or other closely related field AND Two (2) years of professional experience with purchasing, contracting and or competitive grant making (as primary job duties) with a government agency.
OR

A master’s degree from an accredited institution in accounting, business, finance, public administration or other closely related field AND one year of professional experience with purchasing, contracting and or competitive grant making (as primary job duties) with a government agency.

Preferred Qualifications: In addition to the minimum qualifications, if you possess any of the following specifically include the details on your application, as this information will be used to assess your qualifications and may be used to determine a top group of applicants.

  • Experience conducting solicitations, including managing solicitations from cradle-to-grave, solicitation document drafting, including scope of work formation and drafting, and appointing and overseeing evaluation committees throughout the evaluation and award process
  • Experience managing the Request for Proposal (RFP) process including drafting solicitation language, overseeing evaluation committee and vendor selection, and contract writing
  • Extensive purchasing and contracting experience in a governmental setting
  • Experience drafting legal documents
  • Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of theories, principles, and best practices of purchasing.
  • Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of Colorado’s Procurement Code, State Fiscal Rules, Federal Purchasing Rules, and CDOT’s Purchasing Manuals and Guidelines.
  • Though not required, experience with state granting operations including competitive grants and grant development is desired

Desired Competencies:

  • Self-directed and motivated work ethic
  • Strong organizational, planning, and prioritization skills, demonstrating flexibility and an ability to multitask
  • Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills
  • Ability to develop strong ongoing professional relationships and foster strategic partnerships, demonstrating exceptional customer service and respect for others
  • Exceptional attention to detail
  • Highly effective critical thinking, complex problem solving, and decision-making skills
  • Ability to interpret complex rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and guidelines
  • Conditions of Employment:
  • Applicants must pass a thorough background investigation prior to appointment.
  • Hybrid work arrangements require this position to work in-person in the office a minimum of two days and remote work from home on the other workdays not in office.
  • Colorado Department of Law participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

Conditions of Employment:

  • Applicants must pass a thorough background investigation prior to appointment.
  • Hybrid work arrangements require this position to work in-person in the office a minimum of two days and remote work from home on the other work days not in office.
  • Colorado Department of Law participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

 

Please view the full job announcement for more information, including information about compensation and benefits, and to apply online.