Procurement Officer

Department: Charlotte Area Transit System Department

Thank you for your interest in joining the team that keeps Charlotte moving, at a very exciting time for our organization. At the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), we’re committed to delivering safe, reliable, and innovative transit services for our growing community, and we value employees who bring professionalism, passion, and a commitment to public service.

 

This position is currently employed by CATS, a department of the City of Charlotte. With the passage of the PAVE Act and last year’s sales tax referendum, CATS is preparing to transition from a City department to the newly created Metropolitan Public Transit Authority (MPTA). The MPTA was established to strengthen regional transit governance, improve accountability, and support long‑term investment in mobility. It’s an important and exciting step forward for transit in our region.

 

Employees hired into this role will remain City employees through December 31, 2026, and will transition to MPTA employment on January 1, 2027. Benefits and compensation will follow City provisions through 2026 and shift to MPTA provisions in 2027, with clear information shared in advance. Your core duties, reporting structure, and daily responsibilities will remain consistent, with no break in service. If anything delays the transition, your City employment, including compensation and benefits, will remain in place until the move to the MPTA occurs.

 

The creation of the MPTA positions us for a more modern, sustainable, and efficient transit system, one that can better support the Charlotte region for decades to come. We’re excited about what’s ahead and appreciate your interest in being part of it.

SUMMARY

CATS Procurement is the team responsible for developing complex solicitation packages for procuring materials/ supplies, professional, architectural, and engineering services, construction, and commodities. This position analyzes proposals and determining contract strategies, soliciting, evaluating bid and proposals for technical compliance, developing and monitoring project management timelines, coordinating contract specifications, complying with insurance requirements. This position exercises independent judgement and ensures that all activities are conducted in compliance with applicable federal, state, and /or local policies and procedures.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

 

• Develop and maintain professional relationships with Project Managers, Division Heads, Deputies, Directors, the City Attorney’s Office, and others as needed in order to effectively collaborate and deliver the ideal project.
• Supervisory duties for all procurement project activities.
• Maintains a working portfolio.
• Provides support and training to meet established performance measures.
• Prepare recommendation of award for informal and formal projects including conducting quality control reviews of documents.
• Provides strategic consultation to facilitate procurement and contracting decisions, as well as project planning services, requirements, technical specifications, and scope development for all related projects.
• Performs all procurement efforts utilizing statutory guidelines, policies, procedures, and best business practices.
• Develops solicitation documents and facilitates informal and formal solicitation processes as required.
• Develops and negotiates all contractual documents as may be required.
• Identifies potential risks and solutions for risk mitigation in collaboration with City Legal, Risk Management, Internal Audit, and stakeholders.
• Represents the City in dispute resolutions and works to ensure a strong contractually-guided professional business relationship with all vendors, contractors, service providers, subcontractors, and consultants.
• Performs secondary contract administration, monitoring, and reporting as required.
• Interfaces with the CATS DBE and Small Business Program to ensure participation and inclusion of small businesses in contracting opportunities while also supporting the program where appropriate in outreach and networking activities.

 

Core Competencies

The position requires demonstrated competency in the following areas:

• Highly motivated, seasoned professional able to function with minimal supervision and across multiple procurement disciplines, in partnership with all levels of the organization.
• Ability to effectively prioritize and schedule work.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Demonstrate strong supervisory skills.
• Ability to exercise independent sound judgement.
• Requires in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience with the solicitation and procurement of commodities, services, and construction, including contract drafting, negotiation, execution, and management.
• Experience reviewing professional services rates for architectural and engineering services for the prime consultant and all subconsultants, including conducting market analysis to determine the raw rate is fair and reasonable, reviewing overhead rates in accordance with FAR Part 31 ensuring there are no disallowable costs included in the overhead, and negotiating a fair and reasonable profit percentage.
• Requires working knowledge of local, state, federal, and cooperative procurement exemption, and contracting methodologies.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office

• Working knowledge of ERP systems
• Exceptional verbal and written communication, critical thinking, and organizational skills

 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge Of

• Procurement operations, policies, procedures, and internal controls.

• Requires in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience with the solicitation and procurement of services and/or technology, including project management, solicitation and contract drafting, negotiation, execution, contract administration, and grant requirements
• Requires working knowledge of local, state, federal, and cooperative procurement exemptions and contracting methodologies

Ability To

• Ability to lead and facilitate special project teams and effectively manage competing priorities
• Requires working knowledge of local, state, federal, and cooperative procurement exemptions and contracting methodologies
• Highly motivated, seasoned professional able to function with minimal supervision and across multiple procurement disciplines, in partnership with all levels of the organization
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment.
• Promote accountability, data integrity, compliance, transparency, and continuous improvement throughout the Procurement function.

 

Salary: $81,226.00 - $101,533.00 Commensurate with Experience

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate degree in preferably in business administration, supply chain management, or procurement.
• Three years of progressively responsible experience in procurement,
• Experience working with ERP systems preferably Workday.

 

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, supply chain management, procurement.
• Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in procurement, supplier management, procurement analytics, compliance, ERP administration, or related operations.
• Experience with Workday ERP or comparable enterprise resource planning systems.
• Knowledge and application of applicable federal, state, and local procurement laws, regulations, policies, and compliance requirements.
• Previous purchasing experience with a government entity and/or professional services and technology specific purchasing experience are highly desired
• Candidates with strong understanding and experience with contract development, negotiation, and management
• Professional certification(s) (i.e. C.C.M., CLGPO, C.P.M, CPPO, CPPB, and CLGPO) is strongly desired

 

Working Environment and Physical Demands

• Typical office environment

 

Other Requirements and Conditions

• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and data entry accuracy
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Communicate effectively with Suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and data management tools; experience with visualization software is a plus

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.

Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.

Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or on the basis of actual or perceived gender as expressed through dress, appearance, or behavior.

Our culture is to serve the community honorably.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online.

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job.

You are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby, where self-service application kiosks are available. They are located in our office at 700 East 4th Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28202. We are open Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (EST), excluding official City holidays.

For questions about your application or the hiring process, please email Careers@ci.charlotte.nc.us

The City of Charlotte is committed to making our services and programs accessible to all. Upon request, auxiliary aids, written materials in alternate formats, language access, and other reasonable accommodations or modifications will be provided. To make a request, please fill out the Innovation & Technology ADA request form or call 704.336.4120.

BENEFITS

The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees.

Click here to learn more about the City of Charlotte’s benefits.

The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.