Procurement Specialist / Procurement Officer I

Role Overview

This is a contractual opening with the Maryland Department of Commerce, based at the World Trade Center in Baltimore, Maryland. The position sits within the Division of Administration and Technology and focuses on managing procurement activities for a wide range of goods and services.

Key Duties

The selected candidate will handle purchases valued up to $200,000, including equipment, supplies, services, and information technology items. Procurement work may be completed through sole-source actions, competitive processes, negotiated awards, direct bid solicitations, or credit card purchases. The role also includes evaluating, negotiating, and awarding contracts in line with Maryland procurement statutes, rules, and procedures, while ensuring ongoing contract compliance.

Additional responsibilities include running Invitation for Bids (IFB) and Request for Proposals (RFP) processes, issuing contracts after award, advising agency staff, coordinating commodity and service purchasing for divisions, processing requisitions in ADPICS within the State Financial Management Information System (FMIS), maintaining vendor records in FMIS, monitoring statewide commodity and service contracts assigned to the role, and completing departmental administrative work.

Required Background and Capabilities

Applicants should bring strong interpersonal skills, along with solid written and verbal communication abilities. A good working knowledge of government procurement laws, regulations, and policies is essential, as is experience using ADPICS within FMIS. The job also calls for the ability to review contracts for compliance, manage several urgent tasks at once, and conduct pre-proposal conferences. Strong attention to detail and comfort using Microsoft Office, Google Mail, and related software are also expected.

Minimum Experience

The standard qualification is six years of experience, including two years in procurement or contract management work such as sourcing, evaluating, negotiating, and awarding contracts while ensuring compliance with public procurement requirements, plus four additional years of professional contract management or procurement experience.

Substitution Options

• Relevant professional certifications may replace the additional four years of experience, including Certified Public Manager, Certified Professional Contracts Manager, Certified Public Purchasing Officer, or Certified Professional Public Buyer credentials.
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, together with two years of qualifying procurement or contract management experience, may be accepted in place of the full experience requirement.
• Additional graduate-level study at an accredited institution may be counted at a rate of 30 credit hours for the required experience.
• Comparable U.S. Armed Forces experience in contracting, industrial management, logistics, procurement, or financial management roles may be substituted on a year-for-year basis.

Selective Qualification

One year of experience working in the state Financial Management Information System (FMIS) is required as a selective qualification.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with the ADPICS component of FMIS.
• Working knowledge of Maryland state procurement laws, regulations, and policies.
• Experience leading pre-proposal conferences.
• Experience reviewing procurement contracts to confirm compliance with state legal and regulatory requirements.

Assessment Process

Selection may be based on a review of education, training, and relevant experience. Applicants should ensure all information provided is complete and accurate, and should include every qualification related to the role.

Benefits

Contractual employees may qualify for subsidized health coverage if they work for an eligible agency, hold a current employment contract, and work at least 30 hours per week or an average of 130 hours per month. Under this arrangement, the employee pays 25% of medical and prescription premiums, including coverage for eligible dependents, while the State covers the remaining 75%. Employees may also choose dental, accidental death and dismemberment, and life insurance coverage, but those premiums are paid in full by the employee.

Leave accrues at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked, up to a maximum of 40 hours in a calendar year.

Application Instructions

Online submission is strongly encouraged. A complete application must be received by the closing date and must include all required materials, including the supplemental questionnaire. A resume can be uploaded as supporting documentation, but it will not be accepted as the only application material. Anything submitted after the closing date will not be reviewed.

If online submission is not possible, applicants may send their state application and resume by the deadline to the HR contact listed below. Supplemental documents should preferably be uploaded with the application; if upload is not possible, they may be emailed to the HR contact before the deadline.

HR Contact: Anna Halikias, anna.halikias@maryland.gov

Recruitment Questions: Department of Commerce at 410-767-6300

Online System Support: MD Department of Budget and Management, Recruitment and Examination Division at 410-767-4850 or Application.Help@maryland.gov

Mailing/Email Submission: anna.halikias@maryland.gov

Equal Opportunity and Accessibility

The State of Maryland is an E-Verify employer and an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse workforce. Candidates with disabilities and bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply. Veterans are strongly encouraged to consider the role. TTY users may contact Maryland Relay at 1-800-735-2258.

Additional Notes

This position is graded at level 16. It is a contractual role, not a permanent position.