Director of Procurement and Contracting

JOB INFORMATION

Exempt; full-time; 40 hours per week; Monday - Friday; 8:00 am – 5:00 pm; full-benefits. Partial teleworking schedule may be available in accordance with Division policies.

The Director of Procurement & Contracting serves as Frederick County’s Chief Procurement Officer and holds formal authority under Chapter 1-2, Article II of the Frederick County Code to oversee all purchasing, contracting, and surplus disposition activities. This professional position leads strategic sourcing, vendor engagement, contract negotiation, and regulatory compliance across all County divisions, agencies and affiliated entities. The Director is responsible for promoting transparency, efficiency, and fairness in procurement practices while driving initiatives that support innovation, sustainability, and inclusion, including the future implementation and oversight of the County’s Equal Business Opportunity (EBO) program. Supervision is given to staff; supervision is received from the Chief Financial Officer. This position is appointed and serves at the pleasure of the County Executive.

For best consideration, submit your application by 4:00 p.m. Friday, December 5th.

Frederick County Government values the principles of diversity and inclusion, and strives to ensure equal opportunities for its workforce, applicants and community members. If you are a person who wants to make a difference, give back to your community, and be a voice for change, apply to Frederick County Government today.

TOTAL COMPENSATION PACKAGE:
Frederick County offers an extensive compensation package to reflect how highly we value our employees. The following is what you can expect in your first year as a full-time benefited Frederick County Government employee.

• 11 days of Vacation leave with increase after 2 years of employment
• 15 days of Sick leave with unlimited annual carryover
• 11 paid holidays, plus 2 additional floating holidays
• Day 1 coverage of comprehensive Medical Insurance Plan options to include generous County Health Savings Account (HSA) contribution (if enrolled in the high-deductible plan). This is part of a full range of benefits including Dental, Vision, and Flexible Spending
• Employee Health Center with no or low-cost primary and urgent care
• 100% County paid 2x annual salary Group Term Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) benefit
• County and Employee funded Defined Benefit Pension Plan
  • Vesting after 5 years of service
  • Additional service credit for eligible previous public service, military service, etc.
• Work/Life balance programs include: Employee Assistance Program and Employee Wellness Program
• Generous Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Other employee-paid benefits such as Deferred Compensation Plan, Legal Resources, Supplemental Life Insurance, Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital Indemnity Insurance, Lifetime Benefit with Long Term Care plan.

For more information, visit our benefits page on the Frederick County Government job opportunities webpage

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as a signatory for County procurement contracts and ensure all activities comply with Chapter 1-2, Article II of the Frederick County Code, as well as applicable state and federal regulations
• Develop, update, and enforce procurement rules, policies, and procedures; lead strategic initiatives such as cooperative purchasing, piggybacking, and intergovernmental efforts
• Manage daily operations of the Office of Procurement & Contracting (Office), including oversight of solicitations (RFPs, IFBs, RFQs), contract awards, vendor negotiations, and specialized programs such as the Procurement Card (P-Card), Surplus Property Disposition, Grant Awardee Review, Gift Donation Recording, Travel Program, and construction procurement for Frederick Community College
• Direct the future implementation and oversight of the Equal Business Opportunity (EBO) Program; promote equitable vendor access and supplier diversity
• Evaluate bidder and offeror responsibility based on financial capacity, past performance, legal compliance, and ability to meet contract requirements
• Lead the adoption and optimization of automated procurement systems and web-based tools; integrate artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics to improve workflows, decision-making, and vendor engagement
• Ensure compliance with procurement laws, ethics, and internal controls; manage emergency procurements, contract disputes, protests, and contract closeout procedures; cancel solicitations or reject bids when determined to be in the County’s best interest
• Advise County departments on solicitation strategies and contract administration; conduct outreach to vendors and community stakeholders; present procurement matters to County leadership and elected officials
• Travel regionally to collaborate on best practices and participate in professional trainings, conferences, and events
• Oversee staff hiring, supervision, evaluation, and professional development; assess staffing needs and support ongoing training
• Guide the development and monitoring of the Office’s operating and capital budgets; present budget proposals to the County Executive and County Council
• Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within the Office; collaborate with the Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer to implement equitable practices and monitor progress
• Stay current on procurement best practices, market trends, and regulatory changes through active participation in workshops, conferences, and training programs
• Represent the County on the Maryland Chief Purchasing Officers Committee
• Perform other related duties

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

The qualifications/requirements, knowledge/skills/abilities and physical requirements or working conditions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration or related field
• Minimum 9 years progressively responsible work experience in centralized procurement that must include the following (experience items may be concurrent):
  • Minimum 2 years supervisory work experience
  • Minimum 2 years budget preparation and fiscal work experience
• Current certification as Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO), Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB), or Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM)
• Intermediate skills in Microsoft 365

• Extensive knowledge of legal requirements governing procurement, as well as procurement principles, policies, laws, methods and procedures
• Extensive knowledge of and experience in management and best practices of procurement and contracting
• Extensive knowledge of management practices and procedures, including those related to planning, budgeting, personnel, purchasing and acquisitions, contracts and capital improvement expenditures, and general administration
• Extensive knowledge of automated procurement systems and web-based applications
• Working knowledge of accounting practices as applied to procurement activities
• Ability to accurately compile and prepare statistical data and reports
• Ability to manage complex projects and cross-functional teams
• Ability to effectively access and utilize Microsoft 365, e-mail, spreadsheet and other systems and equipment, and to learn new software as it is required
• Ability to effectively organize work, determine priorities, including the ability to make decisions and complete assigned duties with minimal supervision
• Discretion and good judgment in dealing with sensitive and personal information with ability to maintain appropriate confidentiality
• Ability to effectively supervise and evaluate the performance of assigned staff
• Ability to work collaboratively as a leader, bringing multiple players into the conversation and achieving consensus
• Ability to effectively implement, monitor and comply with Federal and State procurement regulations governing grant programs
• Ability to effectively organize and manage office functions including budget and grant procurement preparation and management, personnel selection, training and evaluation, preparation and maintenance of statistical data and reports, etc.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with elected officials and other directors, co-workers, representatives of cooperating agencies and the general public
• Strong and effective written and verbal (English) communication skills, including the ability to effectively and clearly prepare and present complicated information to officials, peer groups and citizen groups and the ability to clearly explain policies and procedures

• Additional current professional certification as Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM), or Certified in Supply Management (CSM)
• Local or municipal government procurement work experience
• Experience administering public sector diversity programs such as Equal Business Opportunity (EBO) or Minority/Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE), ensuring regulatory compliance and equitable contracting practices
• Experience applying artificial intelligence (AI), advanced data analytics, and/or digital solutions to improve procurement processes, optimize procurement workflows, and enhance decision-making
• Work experience using Infor Financial Systems
• Work experience using OpenGov Systems

• While working in this position, the employee is required to
• While working in this position, the employee is required to

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / EXAMINATION PROCESS

• Available for varied evening and weekend work hours to accommodate meetings, special events, etc.
• Ability to provide own transportation to other local and state-wide locations, as needed
• Required certifications must be maintained throughout employment

• An evaluation of training and qualifications
• One or more interviews

Frederick County Government is committed to providing an inclusive work environment and complies with all applicable laws and regulations regarding workplace accommodation, including for individuals with disabilities. Applicants who require reasonable accommodation during the application and hiring process may contact the Talent Acquisition section of Human Resources. Inquiries about accommodations can be sent to Recruitment@FrederickCountyMD.gov

Retirement Plan:
A defined benefit retirement plan is provided for all regular County employees. Employees are automatically enrolled in either the Uniformed Plan (5 year vesting) or the Non-Uniformed Plan (5 year vesting, effective 07/01/2024) depending upon position classification. The majority of support for the plan is provided by the County; however, employees are required to make a mandatory pre-tax contribution towards their benefit. Retirement benefits are payable at normal, early or delayed retirement. Retirement benefits are also payable upon termination and in the event of death or disability.

Health Insurance:
County employees have a choice of two medical insurance plans, an In-Network (HMO) Plan or a High Deductible medical plan with a Health Care Savings Account, to provide coverage for medical and surgical expenses, hospital and emergency care expenses, mental health expenses and prescription drugs. The County and participants share in the cost of the health insurance with the employee having the benefit of pre tax contribution deductions. Medical insurance goes into effect on the first day of active employment.

Dental Insurance:
Employees may select coverage from one of three dental plan options, ranging from a PPO plan to a dental HMO plan. Coverage includes preventive care, fillings, crowns, bridges and dentures, and the cost of dental insurance is shared by both the County and the employee. Dental insurance goes into effect on the first day of the month that follows the eligible employee's completion of 30 days of active employment

NOTE: Employees working 75% or greater of a 35 or 40 hour position are eligible for health & dental insurance.

NOTE: Regular benefited part-time employees earn annual and sick leave on a pro-rated basis based on their actual number of hours worked biweekly up to their assigned number of regularly scheduled work hours.