Information Technology Procurement Specialist

Per Governor Inslee’s Proclamation 21-14.2 (Download PDF reader), Washington State employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. As a condition of employment, the successful candidate will be required to provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccination as part of the hiring process, prior to their start date. Requests for medical and religious exemptions will be considered. If you have questions, please contact Careers@ecy.wa.gov with “COVID-19 vaccination” in the subject line.  

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Information Technology Services Office (ITSO) within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill an Information Technology Procurement Specialist (Procurement & Supply Specialist 3) position. This position is located in our Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA. This position is eligible for a telework/in-office hybrid schedule. You will have the opportunity to telework the majority of your week, and live within a commutable distance to our Lacey office for in-person meetings and activities.
In this role, you will be responsible and accountable for the procurement and reporting of technology equipment and software license renewals, agency wide. You will have direct input into procurement and purchasing of several million dollars of technology spent on an annual basis. You will identify, track and manage the contracts and service level agreements with the agency’s technology vendors.
 
The mission of the Information Technology Services Office (ITSO) is to create and support useful technology services that adapt for the future and support Ecology’s mission. ITSO’s mission is realized by focusing on the following strategic objectives and outcomes:

• Modeling behavior that demonstrates trust and integrity, accountability, and adherence to Ecology’s Core Competencies.
• Engaging in continuous learning, process improvement and proactive communication with our business partners so that we deliver high quality services that leverage modern technical solutions and meet the business needs.
• Advancing the Portfolio Management program for transparent decision-making, and mission driven prioritization.
• Managing agency systems to ensure confidentiality, integrity, and availability by evaluating business need, cyber threats, risk, and maintainability, so that agency data is accurate and reliable. 
• Leading enterprise data management; promote agency defined data standards and industry best practices, architect technical systems integrations, and provide technical support for hardware and software tools allowing the agency to make data driven decisions.

Protecting Washington State's environment for current and future generations is what we do every day at Ecology. We are a culture that is invested in making a difference. Join a team that is highly effective and collaborative, with leadership that embraces the value of people.
Ecology cares deeply about employee wellness; we go beyond traditional benefits, proudly offering:

• A healthy life/work balance by offering flexible schedules and telework options for most positions.
• An Infants at Work Program that is based on the long-term health values of infant-parent bonding and breastfeeding newborns.
• Continuous growth and development opportunities. 
• A wellness program that offers education, fitness classes, and an agency-wide fondness for outdoor meetings.
• Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work.

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology’s work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations.
 

Diversity: We celebrate and appreciate diversity; our unique perspectives and abilities enrich us all and lead to innovative approaches and solutions. 

Equity: We champion equity, recognizing that each of us need different things to thrive. 

Inclusion: We intentionally create and hold space so that we all have meaningful opportunities to participate and contribute to Ecology’s work. 

Respect: We treat each other with respect and dignity, acknowledging the inherent worth of our diverse perspectives and lived experiences, even in times of uncertainty and disagreement. 

We believe that DEIR is both a goal and an action. We are on a journey, honoring our shared humanity and taking steps to demonstrate our commitment to a vision where each of us is heard, seen, and valued. 

During Healthy Washington Roadmap to Recovery, employees are working a combination of in-office and/or telework based on position and business need. Ecology is following current state guidance regarding mask requirements, health screening questions before entry, and social distancing. 

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, with an initial screening date of March 25, 2022. In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before March 24, 2022. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date. 

Duties

What makes this role unique? 

In this role, you will use a blend of business analysis and technology-vendor management skills. You will influence program managers, budget managers, and customers to make data driven decisions to ensure technology purchases align with statewide technology standards and purchasing policies. You will develop and continuously improve processes to collect, analyze and evaluate IT equipment usage data and recommend procurement strategies that are economical and benefit the agency. Activities include developing specifications for large, complex or unusual procurements projects such as major relocation projects, computer systems, and communications systems.
 
 What you will do: 
 

• Independently perform market analysis on highly complex purchasing projects and take appropriate procurement methodology action to ensure project goals are met.
  • Collect, analyze and evaluate supply and equipment usage data, managing and controlling the IT inventory for all technology hardware coming into and leaving the agency.
  • Track existing inventory, warranty replacement schedules, and new equipment purchases
• Ensure technology software licenses are in compliance with software licensing agreements.
• Work in collaboration with the ITSO staff who manage software and licensing processes; to support license compliance and contract auditing type documentation. 
• Design, create and publish reports/charts on various metrics as directed by management.
• Understand and ensure agency IT procurements are in alignment with current and future IT infrastructure requirements 
  • Submit equipment orders for desktop hardware and peripherals.
  • Receive and inventory, desktop hardware and peripherals. 
  • Maintain tracking system for IT technicians to configure and deploy IT hardware and peripherals
• Develop and continuously improve processes that ensure technology software requests have been properly vetted and are approved for use within Ecology
• Maintain and update approved agency computer and component list
• Ensure proper approvals are obtained for purchases, when purchases do not follow traditional Purchase Tracking System routing.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, educational and volunteer experience. See below for how you may qualify.

Option 1:

Five (5) years of experience in large scale procurement, stock control, receipt, storage and issue functions in either government or business.

Option 2:

An Associate of Arts degree in business administration, procurement, logistics or supply management or allied field;  or one of the following professional certifications: Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB), Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO), Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM), Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) or other related certification.

AND

Three (3) years of full-time experience in large scale procurement, stock control, receipt, storage and issue functions in either government or business.

Option 3:

A Bachelor's degree or higher in business administration, procurement, logistics, supply management or allied field.

AND

One year of experience in large scale procurement, stock control, receipt, storage and issue functions in either government or business.
Desired Qualifications:

We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below.

• Three (3) years of experience working in procurement of IT equipment, software, and services. 
• Three (3) years of experience working with IT vendors.
• Analytical Thinker.
• Experience conducting research.

Note: Having some (or all) of this desired experience may make your application more competitive in a highly competitive applicant pool.

Supplemental Information

Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities. Qualified candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.


Need an Accommodation in the application and/or screening process or this job announcement in an alternative format?

• Please call: (360) 407-6186 or email: careers@ecy.wa.gov and we will be happy to assist.
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing you can reach the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.
• If you need assistance applying for this job, please e-mail careers@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not send an email to this address to follow-up on the status of your application. You can view the latest status of your application on your profile's main page.
• If you are reading this announcement in print format, please enter the following URL to your search engine to apply: https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-to-know-us/Jobs-at-Ecology.   

Application Instructions:

It's in the applicant's best interest to submit all of the documents listed below. Applications without these documents may be declined.

• A cover letter describing why you are interested in this position.
• A resume outlining your experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to the minimum qualifications of this position.
• Three professional references.

Please do NOT include your salary history. Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of promotion, if applicable.  
 
For Your Privacy:
When attaching documents to your application (such as Resume, Cover Letter, Transcripts, DD-214, etc.):

• Please be sure to remove private information such as your social security number, date of birth, etc. 
• Do not attach documents that are password-protected, as these documents may not be reviewed and may cause errors within your application when downloaded. 

Additional Application Instructions for Current Ecology Employees: 
 
Please make sure to answer the agency-wide questions regarding permanent status as a classified employee within the Washington General Service or Washington Management Service. Do not forget to select Department of Ecology as a response to question 2, and type your personnel ID number for question 3. If you are not sure of your status or do not know your personnel ID number, please contact Human Resources.

Application Attestation: 

The act of submitting application materials electronically is considered affirmation that the information is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information and any untruthful or misleading answers are cause for rejection of your application or dismissal if employed. 

Other Information:

If you have specific questions about the position, please email Kristy Schreiner at: Kristy.Schreiner@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Kristy to inquire about the status of your application.
 
To request the full position description: email careers@ecy.wa.gov

Why work for Ecology?

As an agency, our mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.

Joining Ecology means becoming a part of a team committed to protecting and restoring Washington State's environment. A career in public service allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance.

Ecology employees may be eligible for the following:
Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave*, 11 Paid Holidays per year*, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver,  Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP),  Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *See the Benefits tab in this announcement for more information 

Student debt: how working for Ecology can help
The Department of Ecology is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Forgiveness Program (PSLF). See https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service for more details.

To learn more about The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov and follow, like or visit us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.

Collective Bargaining: This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.   

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons needing accommodation in the application/testing process or this job announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 407-6186. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment announcement are filled, the recruitment may only be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days. 

Information Technology Procurement Specialist (Procurement & Supply Specialist 3)