State Purchasing Officer III/State Purchasing Officer II

Position Overview

The Chief Procurement Officer for Illinois Public Institutions of Higher Education (CPO-HE) is actively seeking a meticulous, detailed-oriented, and organized problem-solver to regulate state agency procurements. As the State Purchasing Officer, you will play a crucial role in overseeing the procurement process, ensuring that all activities adhere to legal standards. This is an excellent opportunity to make a significant impact while ensuring compliance and efficiency in government purchasing.

The CPO-HE ensures that procurements under its jurisdiction are fair, transparent, accountable and in the best interest of the State. The CPO-HE is under the umbrella of the Executive Ethics Commission (EEC), a nine-member commission that promotes transparency, fairness, and integrity by facilitating compliance and enforcement of the State Officials and Employee Ethics Act. The EEC appoints the Chief Procurement Officer (CPO), subject to Senate confirmation, and provides staff and other support in furtherance of the independent procurement role of the CPO. The staff members of the CPO-HE are dedicated public servants focused on providing exceptional service and valuable results to the Illinois public institutions of higher education and people we serve. The CPO-HE works with the universities and Illinois Mathematics Academy to meet their procurement needs free of undue influence through independent authority, oversight and approval.

The State Purchasing Officer (SPO) exercises procurement authority on behalf of the CPO-HE by regulating the procurements conducted by their assigned agency, university, board, or commission. Appointed by the CPO to a five-year term, the SPOs operate independently from the university they oversee, ensuring compliant, ethical, and legal procurements.

SPO Responsibilities

• Represent the CPO and exercise the CPO’s procurement authority at the university level.
• At the direction of the CPO, the SPO may be assigned responsibility to approve or reject contracts for the university.
• Initiate procurement planning and development activities and establish appropriate activity schedules. Grant and deny approval at various stages of the procurement process.
• Conduct or assist with procurement activities of the university on a routine and ad hoc basis.
• Maintain communication between university procurement staff, university management, and program unit staff to help ensure that program needs are met and that all staff members involved in the purchasing process are aware of and following the procurement process.
• Review and analyze university procurement activities. Make and implement recommendations for process improvements.
• Institute necessary training to further the understanding of the procurement process and for university staff development, including but not limited to identification of procurement method, drafting of specifications, evaluation, award, contracting, procurement file documentation, and procurement systems processes.
• Prepare reports necessary for the management and understanding of university procurement activities. Ensure procurement activities are properly documented to meet legal and other requirements.

SPO III Required Education, Experience, and Skills

• Bachelor-level degree from accredited college or university, preferably with courses in business, procurement, supply chain management, public administration, political science, pre-law, communications, or other disciplines related to the work of the Chief Procurement Office or an equivalent combination of degree or non-degree education and relevant professional experience.
• Certification or ability to be certified by the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council as a Certified Professional Public Buyer or as a Certified Public Procurement Officer within 12 months of appointment.
• 6+ years of State procurement experience and 1+ years of SPO experience; OR 7+ years of non-State procurement experience and 1+ years of SPO experience; OR an advanced degree, 5+ years of State procurement experience, and 1+ years of SPO experience; OR an advanced degree, 4+ years of non-State procurement experience, and 1+ year of SPO experience; OR an advanced degree, 4+ years of private purchasing/supply chain experience, and 1+ years of SPO experience

SPO III Required Education, Experience, and Skills continued

• Ability to effectively communicate information and ideas verbally and in writing so others will understand.
• Ability to identify complex problems and review related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Must be skilled at using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Ability to encourage and build mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• At least three (3) years of experience training by presenting information with a variety of instructional techniques or formats.
• A minimum of one (1) year of experience using a Learning Management System, eProcurement system, or Enterprise Resource Planning system.
• A minimum of one (1) year of experience publicly presenting training material with confidence.
• Experience with responsibilities requiring being thorough in completing work tasks and being organized to accomplish work.
• Experience with responsibilities requiring identifying reasons or facts of information by breaking down data into separate parts to answer questions or troubleshoot issues.
• Experience in a position working with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Experience presenting complex information to a variety of audiences.
• Experience with responsibility managing one’s own time and/or the time of others.

SPO II Required Education, Experience, and Skills

• Bachelor level degree from accredited college or university.  Non-degree education and/or relevant experience may be considered.
• Universal Public Procurement Certification Council (UPPCC) or Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Certification or ability to be UPPCC or ISM certified within 12 months.

• 4+ years State procurement experience; OR 4+ years of non-State procurement experience and 1+ years of State procurement experience; OR 4+ years of private purchasing/supply chain experience and 1+ years of State public procurement experience; OR an advanced degree and 3+ years of non-State procurement experience and 1+ years of State procurement experience; OR 3+ years of private purchasing/supply chain experience and 1+ years of State procurement experience

• Ability to effectively communicate complex information and ideas verbally and in writing, and to determine when each method is appropriate so others will understand.
• Ability to identify issues and review related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Skilled at using logic, reasoning, and critical thinking to identify strengths and weaknesses of solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Ability to encourage and build mutual trust, respect, and cooperation, among team members and with the agencies we regulate.
• Skilled in management of one’s own time.
• Ability to work in a team environment as well as independently. 
• Experience in a position working with Microsoft Office Suite.

Preferred Education, Experience, and Skills

• Seven plus years’ experience in public administration, preferably with State government, higher education, or in another regulatory environment.
• Experience in private or public procurement.
• Current certification by Universal Public Procurement Certification Council as a Certified Professional Procurement Buyer or Officer (CPPB or CPPO) or the Institute for Supply Management as Certificated Professional in Supply Management (CPSM)
• Experience using an enterprise resource planning (ERP) or electronic procurement system.

Requirements Additional Eligibility Requirements

• Ability to maintain certification by the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council as a Certified Professional Public Buyer or as a Certified Public Procurement Officer

The SPO is appointed by the Chief Procurement Officer to a term of five years. By law, the SPO must be able to receive certification by the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council (UPPCC) or the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) within 30 months of appointment. Detailed information on the prerequisites to test for certification can be found on the UPPCC Certification page and the ISM Certification page.

Benefits

This position is eligible to be a member of the State of Illinois Group Insurance program which includes health, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage options. Additionally, this position will annually accrue the following paid benefit leave, prorated based on state date: 12 paid sick days, a minimum of 10 paid vacation days, 6 paid personal days, and be afforded 13 paid state holidays.

NOTE: This is a non-code position. This position is not subject to collective bargaining and does not require a current grade from Central Management Services.