Buyer

The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) is a political subdivision established by Chapter 1230 of the 2020 Acts of Assembly. VPRA is responsible for promoting, sustaining, and expanding the availability of passenger and commuter rail services in the Commonwealth, including all administrative and fiduciary responsibilities for Virginia's state-supported passenger rail services. The VPRA also funds Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and administers all capital expansion projects, infrastructure, and land acquisitions related to the $3.7 billion Transforming Rail in Virginia initiative, which will double Amtrak and VRE service in Virginia over the next decade. The VPRA acts as a "responsible public entity" for the acquisition, construction, improvement, maintenance, operation, or any combination thereof, of a "qualifying transportation facility" under the Public Private Partnership Act of 1995.

Think you've got what it takes to manage complex contracts and keep big projects moving? If so, VPRA is looking for you! The Buyer plays a key role in supporting VPRA's procurement and contract administration functions, with a focus on the day-to-day procurement oversight. This position will be primarily responsible for directly procuring a moderate to high volume of construction services, architecture/engineering services, MRO services, and small purchases of goods and services as needed. The provisions of the Virginia Public Procurement Act (VPPA) do not apply to VPRA; however, the Buyer has substantive experience with VPPA requirements and principles and is familiar with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).

This full-time position is based in VPRA's office in either Alexandria or Richmond, Virginia.

Responsibilities

With minimal direction from the Director of Procurement, the Buyer will:

• Ensure that all purchases are performed accurately and timely, following applicable law and VPRA policies and procedures.
• Manage requisitions and confer with departments regarding requirements, specifications, quantity, quality, and delivery.
• Identify and cultivate dependable supply and service sources, actively promoting increased participation from small and diverse businesses (SWaM).
• Oversee all stages of the procurement process, ensuring compliance, timeliness, transparency, and strategic sourcing that aligns with VPRA's objectives and applicable regulations.
• Develop, negotiate, and manage strategic vendor agreements with consultants and contractors, to ensure cost savings, risk mitigation, and compliance with VPRA policies, legal standards, and industry standards while monitoring contracts to uphold best practices and enhance procurement efficiency.
• Oversee contract compliance by managing change orders, analyzing contractor modifications, and resolving RFIs;
• Identify and implement procurement and contracting methods that align with VPRA requirements, Federal grant regulations, industry standards, and marketplace best practices.
• Lead procurement issue resolution by addressing disputes related to scope and performance and serving as an escalation point to mitigate risk and ensure smooth project execution, while maintaining clear communication with VPRA leadership.
• Prepare final project records for closeout and reporting while supporting spend analysis and sourcing development through accurate data collection and documentation.
• Provide guidance and training to staff on procurement best practices while staying current on market trends and product availability.
• Assist with vendor management and prospective bidders, communicating processes, policies, and procedures, and representing VPRA tactfully and professionally.

Education and Experience

Required Education

• High school diploma or equivalent.

Preferred Education:

• Bachelor's degree in business or public administration, engineering, construction management, or related field; or equivalent years of experience.
• Virginia Construction Contracting Officer (VCCO) or other procurement/contracting certifications.

Required Experience:

• Minimum of two (2) years of relevant procurement experience with demonstrated knowledge of best practice procurement principles, public procurement law, and acceptable governmental procurement methods.
• Familiarity with alternative project delivery methods such as design-build (DB), construction manager-at-risk (CMAR), and progressive design-build.
• Knowledge of public procurement law, acceptable governmental procurement methods, terminology, and principles, including the Virginia Public Procurement Act (VPPA) and Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).
• Skilled in negotiating costs to achieve the best value and mitigate risk across procurement activities for goods and services related to construction, engineering, and simple projects.
• Capacity to independently handle many assignments with minimal guidance and make effective procurement decisions.
• Strong analytical skills to evaluate business and procedural processes, identify inefficiencies, and eliminate non-value-added actions, for optimal resource utilization.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and other commonly used office software, such as Adobe, Dynamics 365, and Kahua.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to work effectively under pressure and meet deadlines.

Preferred Experience:

• Ability to make effective decisions that resolve complicated issues when obtaining bids and proposals, awarding contracts, and developing reliable sources of supplies/services.
• Experience working with Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Small Business Supplier Diversity (SBSD).
• Proficiency with ERP and PMIS systems.
• Familiarity with terminology and industry-specific jargon commonly used in engineering, design contracts, and civil construction.

Are you interested in this position, but you don't meet every single requirement? At VPRA, we are dedicated to building a talented team and an inclusive, authentic workplace. So, if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be the right candidate for this or other positions.

Applicants must fully and accurately represent their qualifications and work history on the application or resume. The decision to interview an applicant is based on the information in the application, resume, or other relevant documents; therefore, applicants must supply detailed information. Submitting an incomplete application/resume or an application/resume lacking in detail may impact your interview eligibility. This website will confirm receipt when the application is submitted successfully. Reasonable accommodations are available to individuals with disabilities during the application and interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. VETERANS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AMERICORPS, PEACE CORPS, AND OTHER NATIONAL SERVICE ALUMNI ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. Equal Opportunity Employer