MANAGER, STATE PROCUREMENT SPECIALIST

Code: 52632 State Competitive Range: &33 (FY 2027) Work week NL: FLSA exemptOvertime table (4A:3, Appx. A)

Salary: $115,535.86 - $170,730.56/year FY 2027 schedule (last updated 2026-07-27)

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Definition

Under the direction of an Assistant Director in the Department of the Treasury, Division of Purchase and Property, the state's central procurement authority, manages multiple teams of State Procurement Specialists responsible for a computerized central procurement unit operation serving several large state departments and other agencies; directs all procurement and contract portfolio operations in assigned area; establishes and sets standards for awarding state contracts except for state entities with procurement authority; manages highly complex, specialized work preparing bid solicitations for public advertising and awarding contracts for essential products and services for executive branch departments and agencies, state authorities, independent institutions of higher education, school districts and local governments to meet their objectives in accordance with federal and state statutes, regulations and executive orders; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

Directs the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of employees. Directs all procurement and contract portfolio operations in assigned area, directing the use of data-driven methodologies and workflow assessments to identify inefficiencies and recommend actionable improvements. Reviews state agencies' overall program procurement processes and plans to identify programs or program components in which substantive problems or issues exist which require investigation and/or analysis; assists in defining the issue or developing plans for conduct of the analysis. Manages the establishment and maintenance of extensive procurement and related records and files. Manages the development, implementation, and integration of new programs/programs and the revision or sunsetting of existing processes/programs. Supervise the facilitation of process changes, ensuring comprehensive plans that address training needs, timelines, and communication strategies for smooth transitions. Provides expert oversight and strategic guidance throughout the implementation phase, enabling real-time problem-solving, adaptive modifications, and robust training initiatives to ensure project success. Establishes standards for awarding state contracts except for state entities that have procurement authority. Directs the unit's procurement of goods and services; directs staff who prepare highly complex, high priority and critical state procurement projects; manages analysis of vendor proposals and recommends and/or executes contracts for awards in accordance with New Jersey statutes, rules, and regulations. Manages multiple team's very active and highly complex contract portfolios; ensures unit's contracts are extended in a timely manner and vendors are compliant with required approvals and/or certifications to avoid lapse of essential State services; manages contract amendment requests and all contract-related matters; and ensures vendor is compliant with required approvals and/or certifications. Provides expert-level guidance to internal and external stakeholders during the bid solicitation development process including, but not limited to Office of the Attorney General, Office of State Comptroller, staff attorneys, state agencies, Risk Management staff, vendors, and other stakeholders. Determines organizational goals and objectives, establishes policy, and allocates resources. Consults with staff members for identification of staffing or operational needs. Evaluates the overall operation of the program or service. Utilizes advanced project management methodologies and tools to establish timelines, track milestones, and ensure the successful completion of assigned projects. Collaborates with senior leaders of the Office of Information Technology (OIT) and Office of Homeland Security professionals on technology and cloud service needs. Responds and may serve on a task force for regarding federal and state emergency declaration requirements for public health, weather events, or other disasters such as COVID-19 and Super Storm Sandy. Directs the drafting bid specifications for a broad range of goods and services, evaluates bidder proposals, and recommends of award(s) of contracts; maintaining quality assurance throughout the process; evaluates and scores bids to prepare detailed bid tabulations; and develops formal Recommendation Reports and Evaluation Committee Reports among other reports and documents required throughout the bid process. Manager State Procurement Specialist awards must be upheld by a high percentage rate in light of public protests. Demonstrates effective negotiation skills. Coordinates the education, training, and development plan for assigned personnel. Oversees and directs the maintenance of all portfolios of multiple teams ensuring timely extension or re-procurement of contracts is done to avoid lapse of essential state services. Makes determinations of appropriate sourcing strategies and contract structure by utilizing national cooperative purchasing or federally-based contracts, market analysis, and historical spend. The Manager State Procurement Specialist must use advanced project management skills and solve challenging problems to ensure the public bidding process remains on track and avoid delays in the timeline established with their clients. Directs and oversees the preparation and advertisement of public bid solicitations and related documents to award contracts. Directs the management of contract tasks, budget, and problems to ensure the public bidding process adheres to mandatory timelines. Directs the development of criteria for measuring effectiveness and performance of public bid solicitation processes. Directs the preparation of analyses of government programs and functions of issued papers and program memoranda; develops and reviews recommendations designed to resolve issues and prepares alternative program proposals. Monitors Procurement Unit workloads through subordinate supervisors to ensure timely completion of projects and reduction of overall cycle time where possible. Completes the most difficult and highly complex analysis for procurement of goods and services for the unit. Ensures unit's work product content is accurate and clear and adheres to applicable policies, Operating Procedures, circular letters, executive orders, New Jersey Administrative Code (NJAC), and New Jersey Statutes. Tracks major errors and omissions in work product for coaching and performance reviews. Manages and performs highly complex analysis of various procurement operations and prepares statistical progress or other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Ensures unit's primary level supervisors and State Procurement Specialists are well-versed in all aspects of Evaluation Committee duties and functions including formation of the committee, evaluation and scoring of technical proposals, and production of highly-detailed Evaluation Committee Reports and/or Recommendation Reports; provides procurement guidance and expertise to Evaluation Committee members as needed throughout the procurement process. Provides expert-level procurement guidance and expertise to state contract managers, agency fiscal and procurement officers and representatives, New Jersey Boards of Education, local government entities, state and county colleges, and other public entities with statutory authority to utilize applicable state contracts. Evaluates efficiency and effectiveness of practices, methods, and activities applied to current procurement conditions, costs, and objectives and makes appropriate recommendations based on feedback from unit staff, agencies, etc. Manages and directs staff efforts to analyze methods used in high impact procurement to determine optimal procurement methods. Directs the analysis of historical procurement data and recommends methods for developing effective procurement of goods, services, and cost savings. Directs highly complex market research analysis of vendor brochures, trade journals, and other technical material, and visits vendors and distributors as required. Directs investigation of complicated agency complaints against vendors regarding goods and services and makes recommendations. Directs the review and approval of projections of agency goods and services needs to determine procurement scheduling, contract development, and staffing requirements. Directs the review and approval of evaluation criteria for quantitative and qualitative analysis. Evaluates administration, efficiency, and effectiveness of unit programs and activities using established procedures/standards. Directs efforts to investigate and identify procurement process issues and eliminates unnecessary and/or wasteful practices/positions. Directs analysis of data on procurement process feedback collected from reviews, agencies, requests, and hearings. Directs the analysis of procurement legislation. Directs the preparation, review, revision, and maintenance of policies, procedures, and instructional material. Manages analysis and forecast of state, regional, and national market trends to establish long and short-range planning of procurement requirements. Manages analysis of technical information accompanying solicitations to determine if specifications are compliant and collaborates with subject matter experts as needed. Ensures bid solicitation process follows methodologies and standards set forth in Operating Procedures. Directs and reviews the research incidental to Procurement Bureau functions and processes. Participates in hearing preparation and vendor/bidder meetings for award and performance of contracts and conducts other related procurement meetings. Guides and directs the buying of units through cost benefit analysis of procurement proposals. Collaborates with representatives of state agencies to review existing and anticipated procurement needs and provides technical assistance and advice. Participates in meetings to discuss procurement and contract processes with state agencies and vendors. Prepares clear, sound, accurate, and informative statistical and other reports containing findings, analyses, conclusions, and recommendations. Manages coordination of the flow of information to ensure accuracy of reporting and that the appropriate level of information is legally obtainable by requestors dependent upon their roles in the process. Recommends legal action or fines for noncompliance with terms of contract agreement. Assigns procurement documents and instructions to professional, technical and/or clerical staff. Reviews and/or prepares clear, technical, accurate, and detailed reports and correspondence. Evaluates solicitations and quotations to determine qualified bidders and makes recommendations based on the determinations. Ensures procurement of goods and services are compliant with Department of Treasury rules and regulations. Assists the Assistant Director with continuing studies of state procurement unit organization, functions, staffing patterns, work procedures, and workflow to assess existing conditions and improve operating efficiency. Formulates and reviews work plans and establishes operating procedures to implement/facilitate the work of the program or unit. Prepares and reviews formal recommendations based on analysis of budgets, programs, performance, and workload. Formulates new plans, policies, and programs to enhance effectiveness of the state's procurement program and improve and/or broaden established programs; prepares recommendations for and implements changes in existing procurement programs and policies. Plans, conducts, and/or participates in workshops and conferences with lay and professional groups. Prepares, edits, and distributes administrative and instructional material on department activities. Ensures emergency procurements are handled promptly and in accordance with existing procurement regulations. Reviews procurement documents prepared by support staff to ensure compliance with New Jersey Statutes and procurement rules and regulations. Ensures compliance with goods and services specifications or standards and suggests alternatives when necessary. Manages the formal agency vendor complaint process for goods and services to ensure issues are resolved. Evaluates preparation of highly complex goods and services procurements for establishment of non-existent term contracts for the unit. Oversees and reviews budgetary planning information provided to state agencies. Delegates procurement assignments to subordinates based on difficulty. Plans, organizes, and assigns work of the organizational unit and evaluates employee performance and conduct. Develops staff performance assessment documents and provides timely and accurate ratings for each assigned staff member. Directs maintenance of records and files including personnel, procurement, and correspondence. Provides guidance and instruction to staff in the performance of their duties. Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

License

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

Knowledge of centralized goods and services procurement, contract development, and administration. Knowledge of laws, regulations, policies, and procedures for Department of the Treasury's centralized procurement agency operations (N.J.A.C. 17:12). Knowledge of methods and procedures used in planning, coordinating, monitoring, evaluating and/or implementing programs administered by the Division of Purchase and Property. Knowledge of competitive solicitation methods, techniques and procedures. Knowledge of the methods used to negotiate, develop and modify contracts. Knowledge of research and investigative methodologies and techniques. Knowledge of operations analysis. Knowledge of management information and electronic procurement systems applications. Knowledge of fiscal planning factors such as centralized procurement, electronic procurement systems, and budget preparation. Knowledge of cost benefit analysis principles. Knowledge of procurement authority, responsibility, reportability, and accountability principles. Knowledge of data collection and analysis principles and methods. Knowledge of bid solicitation standards and processes in accordance with Operating Procedures. Knowledge of goods and services procurement methods, practices, and routines. Knowledge of government regulation affecting economic activity and procurement conditions. Knowledge of data processing applications. Knowledge of administrative practices and procedures of operational and interdepartmental budgeting. Knowledge of statistical and analytical theory, practice, and techniques for budget preparation and evaluation of administrative procedures. Knowledge of national cooperative purchasing or federally-based contracts, market analysis, and historical spend. Knowledge of evaluation methods used for scoring technical proposals, assessing procurement process and procedures, and measuring administration, efficiency, and effectiveness of unit programs and activities. Knowledge of procurement contract negotiations and negotiable instruments. Knowledge of organizational staffing techniques for enhancing employee productivity. Knowledge of pertinent New Jersey laws and federal regulations governing Department of the Treasury budget, budget control, administrative, and fiscal regulations, standards, policies, and procedures. Knowledge of federal and state emergency declaration procedures and requirements for public health, weather events, or other disasters. Knowledge of project management principles and methods. Knowledge of group dynamics and interpersonal relationships. Ability to manage assigned staff and plan, organize, and implement projects within the unit. Ability to monitor and evaluate program services and processes. Ability to forecast budget needs. Ability to recommend, establish, and maintain operation standards for the state's central procurement authority. Ability to apply statistical theory, practices, techniques, and information systems to budget planning and evaluation of administrative procedures. Ability to identify programs or program components in which problems or issues exist that require investigation and/or analysis. Ability to prepare technical specifications compliant with New Jersey Administrative Code. Ability to develop revenue and expenditure analyses and projections. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, staff, supervisors, agency associates, vendors, local and state agency representatives, members of the public, and others. Ability to research and manage complaints against vendors. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing and with technical staff and state agency heads. Ability to analyze problems systematically, organize information, identify key factors and underlying causes, and implement solutions. Ability to read, comprehend, analyze, interpret, and apply laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures of centralized procurement agency operations. Ability to analyze complex procurement data including accounting information and operations research data. Ability to collect and analyze data and information on procurement process, methods, and procedures. Ability to research and analyze specifications and solicitations for procurement of goods and services. Ability to organize assigned purchasing work for service departments and develop effective work methods for large goods and services organizations. Ability to develop and implement bureau policies and procedures. Ability to prepare complex and extensive correspondence and technically sound, accurate, and informative reports of findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Ability to evaluate bid proposals for a wide variety of materials, supplies, professional, and other services. Ability to identify, gather, and evaluate relevant statistics that affect procurement forecasting and program evaluation. Ability to identify, gather, and interpret economic data and trends of centralized procurement. Ability to design statistical indicators that measure timeliness and effectiveness of procurement transactions. Ability to gather and maintain extensive research data and material. Ability to perform basic mathematical and statistical calculations (e.g., percentages, mean, standard deviation, etc.). Ability to plan and organize significant technical projects. Ability to prioritize, schedule, and undertake concurrent work assignments. Ability to monitor progress of multiple ongoing projects. Ability to organize technical analysis, evaluation, and related work and develop effective work methods. Ability to organize and chair committees and/or meetings. Ability to plan procurement programs and establish necessary priorities. Ability to develop and manage continuing studies and analyses of budget requirements administrative procedures, and programs to determine validity of revisions and prevent inefficiency and waste. Ability to prepare and manage preparation of extensive statistical and financial data. Ability to develop standards for administrative practices, procedures, budgets, and award of state contracts. Ability to plan and manage review of state agency operating procedures and provide advice and assistance to department officials on matters pertaining to operating requirements, fiscal procedures, and budget requests. Ability to establish and direct the maintenance of essential records and files. Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units. Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication. Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed. Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester-hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience. Ten (10) years of professional experience in the procurement of goods and services including contract development and administration, one (1) year of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and six (6) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, one (1) year of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity. "Professional experience" refers to work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession's principles, concepts, theories and practices; and is performed with the authority to act according to one's own judgment and make accurate and informed decisions.