State of Minnesota · 1 month ago
Procurement Specialist / Buyer 2
St Paul, MN
Full-time
Hybrid
Entry, Mid Level
$26.43/hr - $38.55/hr
2+ years expThe State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and is seeking a Procurement Specialist for its Housing Finance Agency. This role involves managing and executing all purchasing for the agency while ensuring compliance with state statutes and policies, providing training, and supporting procurement processes.
Government Administration
Responsibilities
Conduct effective and equitable purchasing within state law, statute, rules, Department of Administration’s and agency’s policies, procedures and processes to meet the agency needs for services, supplies and equipment
Serve as an agency expert on procurement and provide direction, guidance and resources to agency staff during the purchasing process to ensure needs are effectively and efficiently met and problems are resolved timely
Analyze purchasing needs and make decisions on the proper method of procurement; direct staff on the proper process to remain compliant and review submitted purchasing requests for completeness and accuracy
Promote, monitor and evaluate the agency’s equity in procurement goals including identifying possible Targeted Group, Economically Disadvantaged and Veteran-Owned vendors to meet agency need, ensure accurate reporting and evaluate how to increase utilization of targeted vendors
Support, identify, develop, implement and maintain agency purchasing policies, procedures, processes, resources and forms utilized by staff
Provide training and resources to agency staff regarding purchasing procedures, processes and required forms to ensure compliance and reduce or eliminate violations; provide introductory procurement training to new staff as part of their onboarding as appropriate
Create, maintain, and manage accurate purchase orders in the State-Wide Integrated Financial Tools (SWIFT) accounting and procurement system and maintain proper documentation for all purchase orders in agency records
Complete monthly purchase order reviews, close zero balance purchase orders, monitor encumbered amounts and address any issues identified in the review, including POs needing prompt payment and those that may need additional funding added
Complete and manage the fiscal year end reviews of purchase orders, including closing of purchase orders, ensuring adequate funding remains on purchase orders for final year-end payments and certification of necessary purchase orders
Complete and manage the creation of new fiscal year purchase orders, including overseeing the establishment of new fiscal year blanket purchase orders
Complete initial review of various types of third-party agreements for unenforceable terms, coordinate legal review and negotiation with vendor
Lead, manage and maintain P-Card administration for the agency including reviewing monthly P-Card statements and supporting documentation for accuracy, proper use and compliance, address denied P-Card transaction and requests for new P-Cards or removal of access when appropriate
Support, identify, develop, implement and maintain P-Card procedures and processes to be used by agency staff and provide ongoing training to P-Card holders
Represent the agency at various enterprise-wide meetings, community procurement fairs and events
Perform other duties as assigned
Qualification
Required
Two (2) years of advanced technical/professional level experience in purchasing, developing and evaluating specifications and issuing purchasing orders and encumbering contracts
A Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Public Policy or Administration may substitute for one (1) year of professional experience OR an Associate's degree in the above fields may substitute for six (6) months
Two (2) years of experience working with the Statewide Integrated Financial Tool (SWIFT) accounting and procurement system, including reporting functionality
Must currently have Authority for Local Purchase (ALP) certification at the $25,000 level
Working knowledge of state statutes, principals, practices, and procedure regarding government purchasing and contracting
Experience drafting, publishing, and managing Request for Bid
Experience drafting, reviewing, and interpreting contracts and general contracts management, including development and drafting of scope of work, deliverables, and outcomes
Experience with reading, comprehending, researching, and analyzing state laws, regulations, policies, procedures and guidelines as they relate to purchasing and procurement with the ability to apply them to individual circumstances
Experience with project management, including leading processes with tight timelines, adjusting to changing priorities, strong organizational skills, and attention to detail
Preferred
Our employees are dedicated to ensuring cultural responsiveness. Preferred candidates will have a variety of experiences working effectively with others from different backgrounds and cultures
Authority for Local Purchase (ALP) certification or experience at the $50,000 level
Experience with SWIFT Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) Data Warehouse reporting
Experience drafting and implementing policies, procedures, and related resources
Experience with professional technical contracts, interagency agreements and other contracts
Demonstrated communication skills, including ability to comprehend and communicate complex information in plain language to a broad audience, including internal and external customers
Experience with applicable state and federal laws, rules, regulations that relate to procurement and contracting using state and federal resources
Experience with public sector procurement and contracting processes
Benefits
Paid vacation and sick leave
12 paid holidays each year
Low-cost medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug plans
Fertility care, including IVF
Diabetes care
Dental and orthodontic care for adults and children
6 weeks paid leave for parents of newborn or newly adopted children
Pension plan that provides income when you retire (after working at least three years)
Employer paid life insurance to provide support for your family in the event of death
Short-term and long-term disability insurance that can provide income if you are unable to work due to illness or injury
Tax-free expense accounts for health, dental, and dependent care
Resources that provide support and promote physical, emotional, social, and financial well-being
Training, classes, and professional development.
Student Loan Reimbursement (pilot program)
Tuition Assistance Program
Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid website at studentaid.gov)
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for work/life support
A voluntary confidential program that helps employees and their families with life challenges that may impact overall health, personal well-being, or job performance
Common sources of stress can be addressed through the EAP: mental health, relationship challenges (personal and work), grief and loss, finances, and legal issues
Daily Living/Convenience Services: Chore services, home repair, trip planning, child/elder care
Company
State of Minnesota
State of Minnesota provides information for residents, businesses, government, employment, education, and travel.
10001+ employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Tim Walz
41st Governor of Minnesota
Recent News
2026-01-22
2026-01-16
Company data provided by crunchbase