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(Auraria) Assistant Director of Procurement Services

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(Auraria) Assistant Director of Procurement Services

Salary

$95,000.00 - $115,000.00 Annually

Location

Denver, CO

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

AHEC-4293-08.2025

Department

Auraria Higher Education Center

Division

Auraria Business Services Division

Opening Date

08/27/2025

Closing Date

9/10/2025 11:59 PM Mountain

FLSA

Determined by Position

Type of Announcement

This position is open only to Colorado state residents.

Primary Physical Work Address

Auraria Campus

FLSA Status

Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.

Department Contact Information

Mary Kate Schwien - [email protected]

How To Apply

Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

+ Description

+ Benefits

+ Questions

Department Information

Who we are:

Welcome to the Auraria Campuslocated in the Platte River Valley in downtown Denver. The Auraria Campus is the service provider for 38,000 students and approximately 5000 faculty and staff working at and attending the Community College of Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and the University of Colorado Denver . Learn more about us through this link: The Auraria Campus (https://aurariacampus.edu/)

Auraria employees enjoy an excellent benefits package which includes paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave, multiple medical, dental and vision options, discounted RTD Eco-Pass, BenefitHub and outstanding retirement plan. Learn more through this link: Non-Classified Benefits Package (https://www.ahec.edu/ahec-staff/human-resources/current-employees/non-classified-benefits) .

So, if you're interested in a great job working alongside great people, this may be the opportunity for which you've been waiting for.

Description of Job

Job Summary:

The Assistant Director of Procurement supports and oversees procurement operations across Auraria Higher Education Center (AHEC), Community College of Denver (CCD), and Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver), including contracting, purchasing, and construction-related procurements. This role supervises a team of procurement staff (3 FTEs and 1 part-time student), ensuring equitable workload distribution and compliance with institutional and state rules.

Under delegated authority, the Assistant Director serves as second-in-command, assuming the roles and responsibilities of the Director in their absence. This role oversees procurement operations- including, contracting and purchasing. Responsibilities include daily staff management, project assignment based on experience and workload, and balance procurement requests across the team. This position works with the Director of Procurement Services ensuring work is completed according to the distinct procurement and fiscal rules of each entity (AHEC, CCD (State), MSU Denver), and the Office of the State Architect (OSA), and State Buildings policies and procedures related to construction procurement.

Position leads strategic initiatives, and the development and refinement of procurement policies and procedures. It supports the creation of strategic purchasing plans, contract management training, and AHEC P-Card program to enhance procurement efficiency and compliance. Under the guidance of the Director of Procurement, the role educates stakeholders on the legal, regulatory, and academic concepts and theories relevant to developing, drafting, processing and managing procurement documents.

The position conducts procurements for goods and services, including construction, for AHEC, CCD, and MSU Denver by clarifying, simplifying and modernizing procurement; providing ongoing customer service, building confidence in the procurement process; ensuring fair and equitable treatment of all persons dealing with the procurement system; maximizing to the fullest extent the purchasing value of dollars; fosters effective broad based competition and safeguard the quality and integrity of the procurement system on a professional level consistent with the authority granted to this position.

Essentials Job Functions:Supervision of Procurement Staff (25%)

+ Provide direct supervision and oversight of Procurement Services personnel, including three full-time staff and one part-time student employee. Holding signature authority is accountable for actions and decisions affecting pay, status, and tenure.

+ Manage daily operations, ensuring staffing levels, workflows, deliverables and the quality and quantity of work meets standards and deadlines to align with department deadlines and goals and comply with the distinct procurement and fiscal rules for each entity (AHEC CCD (State), MSU Denver) and the Office of the State Architect (OSA), and State Buildings policies and procedures related to procurement.

+ Establish work schedules, review and approve work, and leave/absences.

+ Initiate recruitment efforts, collaborate with HR during the comparative analysis process, conduct interviews, and make recommendations for hire.

+ Address performance issues, resolve conflicts/disputes, and collaborate with HR to initiate corrective action or disciplinary actions as needed.

+ Identify and deliver/assign staff training and developmental opportunities.

+ Provide on-going feedback and coaching, prepare performance plans, and complete evaluations.

+ Oversee the P-Card Program to ensure compliance with all AHEC policies and procedures, audit requirements, training protocols, etc.

Procurement Activities/Vendor Selection & Solicitations/Purchase Orders & Contracts (30%)

+ Serve as a procurement subject matter expert, oversee and coordinate procurement activities, including contracts, construction-related procurements, and other purchasing initiatives.

+ Proactively collaborate with AHEC Project Management staff, the Auraria Campus State Buildings Delegate, and institutional partners’ Facilities staff to advise and meet deadlines for construction procurements.

+ Maintain appropriate related records and documents, ensuring deadlines are met, and all AHEC or institutional partners’ requirements, and relevant State requirements, and policies are adhered to.

+ Analyze requests for goods and services, recommend alternate specifications, and advise on availability, reviewing for items covered by state, cooperative, and campus agreements. Determine appropriate procurement methods and manage the full solicitation process, including developing specifications and scopes of work, issuing bids/RFPs, evaluating responses, and awarding contracts to ensure maximum competition and compliance with policies and rules. Conduct procurement related meetings, such as pre-proposal, pre-bid, bid openings, post award, and resolution sessions (as needed).

+ Advises stakeholders on legal and regulatory requirements, ensuring awareness of procurement and legal limitations.

+ Maintain up-to-date knowledge and expertise in procurement related laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures. Serve as an agency liaison to internal and external stakeholders for procurement guidance.

+ Coordinate with accounting departments to ensure proper reporting, timely payments, compliance with financial procedures, and other related activities.

Procurement Strategy and Initiatives (20%)

+ Support and collaborate with the Director of Procurement to develop, revise, and implement policies, procedures, and strategic purchasing plans and initiatives.

+ Assist in the design and delivery of procurement related training programs, including purchasing and contract management and P-Card training, to promote best practices and ensure consistent application of procurement standards.

+ Prepare reports to support departmental goals and assist with tracking progress on capital projects and P-Card audit benchmarks and other strategic goals as identified).

+ Engage with vendors to identify new sources of supply, applying industry best practices recommend innovative materials, methods, products and services to meet departmental needs.

+ Train new employees on procurement processes with minimal oversight from the Director of Procurement. Provide refresher training as needed—whether in response to policy violations, user requests, or procedural updates.

Leadership Support and Compliance Oversight (15%)

+ Serve as Assistant Director of Procurement, assuming responsibilities of the Director of Procurement during their absence, including review and approval of sole source and emergency procurements.

+ Collaborates with the Director to support development and implementation of rules, policies and procedures that will affect goods, services, and construction-related acquisitions.

+ Leads training initiatives for procurement staff, as well as customers with Director of Procurement approval.

+ Assist Director of Procurement with execution of internal quality assurance programs and policies ensuring compliance with statutory, procurement, and fiscal rules.

+ Identify and help prevent statutory, procurement, fiscal, and administrative/internal policy violations.

+ Prepares responses to procurement protests and contributes to the defense of written appeals.

Other Duties as Assigned (10%)

+ Cover assignments for staff who are out of the office.

+ Collaborate with Accounting departments on purchase order and encumbrance issues.

+ Request special approvals from State Purchasing for CCD-related needs.

+ Assist with State Risk Management liaison duties including generating insurance certificates for AHEC, reviewing insurance contract language, and contacting State Risk Management with questions from AHEC departments.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Minimum Qualifications:

+ Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a field of study related to the work assignment

+ Degree Substitution: A combination of work experience in the occupational field or subject area of the position work assignment, which provided the same kind, amount and level of knowledge acquired in the required education may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the bachelor’s degree

+ Five years of progressive experience as a professional in Procurement

+ Previous experience being a lead worker or supervising staff

Preferred Qualifications:

+ Experience with governmental procurement

+ Experience in an institution of Higher Education

+ Experience with governmental construction procurement, preferably State of Colorado

+ Procurement Certification (CPPB, CPPO, NIGP-CPP)

Attributes and Abilities:

+ Proven experience in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with a diverse population at all levels throughout the institution—and into the community.

+ Outwardly contributes to a respectful, positive, and professional workspace.

+ Strong judgment and critical thinking skills.

+ Ability to deliberately listen and communicate relevant information, anticipate problems, and offer suggestions for resolution.

+ Proven ability to manage multiple assignments, priorities, and projects in a demanding environment.

+ Ability to work under tight deadlines and be adaptable to changing assignments.

+ Knowledge of designing and delivering effective training programs.

+ Strong ability to effectively communicate in a positive manner, across various modalities.

+ Strong attention to technical detail and accuracy.

+ Ability to quickly learn software systems.

Supplemental Information

Colorado Partnership for Quality Jobs and Services Act information

After careful review of this position and the duties that it performs, it has been designated in accordance with the Colorado Partnership for Quality Jobs and Services Act as a "Not Covered" position, it does not fall in the category of employees that are eligible for representation by COWINS, also known as the union. To learn more about this designation please visit this link: http://coloradowins.org/

Applicant Checklist & Minimum Qualifications

- Resume (optional)

- Cover Letter (required)

E-mail Address

All correspondence regarding your status in the selection/examination process will be conducted by email.

Minimum Qualifications

Your application as submitted is used to determine if you meet Minimum Qualifications. Please read the Minimum Qualifications and ensure that information in your application "draw correlations" to the Minimum Qualifications. Human Resources Analysts will not infer that you meet the Minimum Qualifications if information isn't detailed in your application.

*Years of experience will be expressed in terms of full-time equivalent service with full-time workload equal to one (1) Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) year. No more than 1.00 FTE year may be credited in any twelve (12) month period. Positions working 40 hours or less per week will be pro-rated (30 hrs/wk=0.75 FTE=9 mos credit; 20 hrs/wk=0.5 FTE=6 mos credit; 10 hrs/wk=0.25 FTE=3 mos credit.)*

Commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

Auraria Campus is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to Mary Kate Schwien [email protected]

Please note that each agency's contact information is different; therefore, we encourage all applicants to view the full, official job announcement which includes contact information and class title. Select the job you wish to view, then click on the "Print" icon.

01

Describe your experience supervising or managing a team. How did you ensure equitable workload distribution and team accountability?

02

Provide an example of a strategic procurement initiative you have led. What was the goal, your role, and what was the outcome?

03

Do you have experience as a professional in Procurement?

+ Yes

+ No

04

Do you have experience with governmental construction procurement, preferably State of Colorado?

+ Yes

+ No

05

Do you have experience in Higher Education?

+ Yes

+ No

06

Do you have a Procurement Certification (CPPB, CPPO, NIGP-CPP or other)? Please list below:

07

By submitting this application, applicant acknowledges that the holding of State employment is a public trust and that State employees shall carry out their duties for the benefit of the people of the State of Colorado. § 24-18-103(1), C.R.S. Applicant warrants that they have read and understand the rules of conduct and the ethical principles for State employees as set forth in §§ 24-18-104, 24-18-105, 24-18-108, and 24-18-201, C.R.S. Here is the link for the Colorado Revised Statutes: https://leg.colorado.gov/agencies/office-legislative-legal-services/colorado-revised-statutes. Conflict of Interest: A conflict of interest occurs when an individual or organization has a conflict between competing interests. By submitting this application, applicant hereby discloses the following personal or professional interests, obligations, commitments, or relationships (either personal or professional) that could create the perception of conflicts of interest with their duties at Auraria Campus:

Required Question

Employer

State of Colorado

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Website

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