Director Procurement

Thank you for considering a career at Port Houston. We appreciate your interest in joining our team. By applying, you are taking an important step toward advancing your career with an organization committed to excellence.Port Houston offers competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and a diverse, inclusive work environment. Joining our team means embarking on a fulfilling career path with opportunities for growth and impact.Before submitting your application, please ensure your resume is ready for upload in either .doc or .pdf format. Application must be completed in full.Key Responsibilities/DutiesProvide short and long-term vision, direction, guidance, and support to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of Port Houston’s procurement functionCollaborate with Port business units (Operations, Project and Construction Management, others) to develop advantageous procurement methods aligned with the Texas Water Code or affect legislation to enable such methodsGain employee engagement of the department through setting objectives and obtaining alignment on the department direction and initiatives; reinforce change management by embracing and driving the processes for continuous improvementPartner with the Business Equity division to deliver program growth and useful analytics associated with Small, Minority and Woman-owned Enterprise participationEstablish priorities and advise internal customers on acquisition strategies and the resolution of procurement-related obstaclesMaintain a procurement manual which provides useful, procedural instruction for user groups based on and aligned with the Texas Water Code and industry best practicesEstablish goals, objectives, and performance standards for the department consistent with Port Houston mission and valuesDirect overall planning, organization, and policy development of the departmentDirect and manage multiple functions of Procurement, including purchase orders, contract management, small business vendor administration, and records retentionDevelop methods to reduce costs and increase efficiency within the departmentOversee procurement policies and procedures training Port-wide; address all issues relating to procurement policies, practices and guidelinesInitiate and review all procurement processes, including, requisitions, purchase orders, request for method of procurement, pre-bid and proposal conferences, initial and final rank and evaluation, debriefingsAttend all initial and final rank and evaluation sessions and perform all debriefingsSupport open competition, strong customer service and personal development; keep current on contract compliance regulations and apply new information and techniques as appropriateEstablish effective communication and cooperation across Port Houston functional boundariesAdvise and assist senior staff on studies, investigations and analyses related to procurementWork in partnership with internal/external business partners to increase contracting opportunitiesPrepare communications for the Chief Executive, the Port Commission and the publicServe as an effective interface between Port Houston and its contractors/vendorsRepresent Port Houston in meetings with representatives of governmental agencies, professional and business organizationsAct in accordance with Port Houston core values (respect, excellence, accountability, diligence, and you)Perform other duties as requiredEducation/ExperienceBachelor’s degree in business administration, Economics, Finance or related major in a public or accredited private academic institution requiredMaster’s degree preferredWorkdayTM ERP experience associated with Procure to Pay and Strategic Sourcing is preferred7+ years of related experience in a similar role requiredPrevious supervisory experience preferredCertified Public Purchasing Officer preferred or achieved within 1 year of employmentCertified Texas Procurement Manager preferredKnowledge, Skills, Abilities And BehaviorsKnowledge of the principles and practices of public sector procurement laws and regulations, and supply chain managementConsiderable knowledge of Port Houston’s Procurement Manual, regulatory guidelines, industry best practices and Port Houston practicesConsiderable knowledge of processes and regulations of public procurement, contract management, and small businessKnowledge of e-procurement systemsSolid decision-making skillsAbility to direct the overall activities of the organization’s procurement functionVery strong negotiation and mediation skills; excellent communication skills (strong verbal, written, listening and presentation skills required)Skills of influence, persuasion and negotiation to achieve goalsSolid quantitative and analytical skillsAbility to operate successfully in a complex environment and work effectively across multiple groups and levelsAbility to interact professionally with various levels of Port Houston employees and outside representativesAbility to collaborate and networkAbility to manage complex construction and professional service contractsAbility to work in a team setting, drive team results and support change management within the organizationAbility to provide fact-based recommendations to leadership and commissioners as appropriate.Ability to exercise good judgmentAbility to quickly assess, adapt and execute to ensure continuous improvement and aggressively manage change, maximize Port Houston opportunities and partnershipsMust possess an intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OutlookKey Competencies RequiredAchieving ResultsBuilding a Successful TeamBuilding Strategic Working RelationshipsCustomer FocusLeadership PresenceProfessional/Technical Knowledge and SkillsThis work site location of this job is:Port Houston Administration BuildingWork EnvironmentThe work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, but due to open office environment noise level may occasionally be high. To apply, please go to porthouston.com/careers. Only applications submitted through the Port Houston Careers website will be acknowledged. Port Houston is an equal opportunity employer and participates in the E-Verify program supervised by the U.S. Government.DisclaimerThe above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this job. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.We appreciate your interest in Port Houston. Port Houston is an equal employment opportunity employer. Port Houston’s policy is not to discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age (40 and over), disability, military status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Port Houston also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. Application must be completed in full.