Procurement Manager

The City of Littleton Finance Department has an exciting opportunity for an experienced and collaborative Procurement Manager to strengthen and lead its procurement function. This is a unique opportunity for a hands-on leader and change agent who can build trusted partnerships across the organization, elevate customer service, and bring a thoughtful, solutions-oriented approach to complex procurement matters.

Reporting to the Finance Director, the Procurement Manager will serve as a trusted resource to departments, senior leaders, vendors, and other stakeholders throughout the organization. The successful candidate will combine strong procurement expertise with exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, using sound judgment, diplomacy, and confidence to navigate differing perspectives, resolve challenges, and move the organization toward effective solutions.

This role will be instrumental in fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, consistency, and service. The Procurement Manager will assess existing practices, identify opportunities for improvement, and work with stakeholders to develop practical solutions that improve efficiency, strengthen relationships, maximize the city’s buying power, and enhance customer experience. The ideal candidate will be skilled at building consensus and creating productive partnerships while also having the confidence to provide clear guidance, respectfully challenge assumptions, and advocate for sound procurement practices.

As a working manager, the Procurement Manager will lead by example while mentoring and developing procurement staff and providing hands-on support for the organization’s day-to-day procurement needs. The role will encompass both strategic and operational responsibilities, from developing procurement strategies and leading competitive solicitations to issuing purchase orders, managing RFPs, resolving vendor concerns, and ensuring compliance with applicable laws, policies, and procedures.

About the City of Littleton

The City of Littleton is a vibrant community consistently recognized as one of America’s Best Small Cities, and a top destination for families. Discover some of the remarkable things Littleton has to offer at VisitLittleton.org. With its historic and lively downtown, diverse shopping and dining options, and an extensive network of parks and trails, Littleton boasts a prime location just south of Denver and a short drive to the majestic Rocky Mountains and Colorado ski country. The City of Littleton offers excellent benefits and perks to its employees. For more details, please refer to the 2026 Benefit Guide.

The City of Littleton believes in attracting and retaining the best talent and its strategies include offering competitive pay and investing in employee growth and development opportunities.

In addition to your application, please submit a cover letter that describes why you are the best candidate for this position with the City of Littleton.

Hiring pay range $123,600 - $130,100 per year

This full-time position is exempt per FLSA and is not eligible for overtime compensation.

Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted until finalists are identified or the position is filled, but preference will be given to complete applications received by October 25, 2026. Those who do not apply by this date may or may not be considered.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Consults with and advises key stakeholders on procurement trends and problems; needed policies, standards and procedural rules; and vendor relations to most effectively meet the organization’s goals.
• Provides strategic procurement planning by coordinating with departments to identify procurement needs, conduct pre-project planning, formulate procurement strategies and develop implementation plans and timelines.
• Maintains the integrity of the public procurement process by ensuring that practices are consistent, open and designed to encourage maximum competition and best value procurements.
• Provides support by performing day to day operational tasks such as issuing purchase orders, processing invoices, and other required procurement duties to ensure customer service is excellent.
• Defines procurement strategies ensuring alignment with organizational needs with a focus to maximize buying power and minimize inefficiencies.
• Responsible for the competitive bidding process.
• Continuously reviews policies and procedures governing procurement in order to improve upon and standardize the process.
• Analyzes current procurement activities and recommends improvement through more efficient procurement methods, e-procurement, quantity discounts, standardization, annual contracts for recurring purchases, or cooperative purchasing.
• Becomes a trusted advisor and technical expert to senior leadership and internal stakeholders.
• Leads and mentors staff who provide procurement duties, research, and analysis.
• Prepares and issues solicitation documents.
• Reviews contracts and procurement agreements and coordinates approval through the City Attorney’s Office as needed.
• Assists the City Attorney’s Office in revising standard contract clauses for use in contracts, solicitations and purchase agreements.
• Responsible for resolving vendor performance issues and, when needed recommends suspension or debarment of vendors or persons for cause from consideration of award of contracts.
• Ensures the maintenance of and retention compliance for purchasing records.
• Monitors and analyzes legislative bills relating to procurement policies and standards.
• Develops and conducts procurement training for internal and external customers.
• Effectively communicates purchasing policies and procedures to personnel and interprets said policies and procedures as necessary.
• Serves as the lead representative for the organization on local, statewide and/or national procurement committees.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, management, or a related field; and
• Five (5) years or more of experience in procurement management including progressive leadership in a wide array of procurement functions in a complex organization; or
• An equivalent combination of education, training and work experience that produces the knowledge, skill, and ability to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the position may be considered.
• Must be able to pass a pre-employment criminal background check.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Municipal or other government purchasing experience
• Purchasing certifications such as NIGP Certified Procurement Professional (NIGP-CPP)
• Experience with Workday or similar ERP systems

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES:

• Advanced knowledge of business practices associated with the profession of governmental procurement, strategic sourcing, contracting, vendor performance management, and technology that serves these areas.
• Ability to apply associated theories, methods, principles, and practices.
• Comprehensive knowledge of laws, policies and procedures governing public procurement.
• Considerable knowledge of procurement process disciplines including source-to-pay and procure-to-pay.
• Dynamic leader of people with the ability to: create a compelling vision, demonstrate flexibility in approach, and motivate others to achieve desired results.
• Exceptional negotiation skills and the ability to coach and develop others to do the same.
• Ability to perform related duties requiring creative, analytical, evaluative, interpretive, and/or critical thinking.
• Ability to cultivate a positive work environment that fosters team and individual performance while enhancing accountability.
• Ensures a culture that fosters creativity, growth, and innovation.
• Outstanding management skills and ability to attract, retain, motivate and manage exceptional talent.
• Proven strategic and critical thinking skills as well as an ability to execute.
• Demonstrated excellent analytical skills and quantitative approach to decision making.
• Skillful at aggregating spend in a complex and decentralized organization.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES:

The essential duties for the position are performed indoors in a standard office environment. Requires ability to walk, sit, and stand for long periods. Requires ability to lift, push, pull and carry objects weighing up to 25 pounds with or without assistance.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The City of Littleton is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and intends to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and job applicants regardless of age 40 and over, ancestry, color, disability, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, pregnancy, race, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, military status, or any other status protected by applicable law, and to hire and retain the best-qualified individuals without regard to any of these factors. This prohibition includes unlawful harassment based on a protected class. 

The City of Littleton will consider reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process and employment. Applicants and employees can request an accommodation by contacting Human Resources at 303-795-3857 or emailing hr@littletongov.org.

Drug- and Alcohol-Free Workplace

The City of Littleton is committed to the health and safety of all its employees. To ensure a safe and productive work environment the city prohibits the use, sale, dispensation, manufacture, distribution or possession of alcohol, drugs, controlled substances or drug paraphernalia on any city premises or worksites. No employee shall report to work or be at work with alcohol or with any detectable amount of prohibited drugs in the employee's system. A detectable amount refers to the standards generally used in workplace drug & alcohol testing. This prohibition specifically includes marijuana, and decriminalized psychedelics whether used for medical purposes or obtained legally under state law.