Division of Financial Operations
Office of Procurement
1789 West Jefferson Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85007

Salary: $67,567.00 - $82,499.87 Annually

Grade: 22

Closing Date: October 1, 2026

Would you like to be part of an amazing team that makes Arizona thrive? At the Department of Economic Security (DES) we strengthen individuals, families, and communities for a better quality of life. DES is looking for individuals that are committed to service, community, and teamwork. To learn more about DES please visit des.az.gov; or click on the link here to view ‘Our DES’ video. Come Join the DES Team!

The Department of Economic Security, Office of Procurement, is seeking an experienced and highly motivated individual to join our team as a Senior Procurement Specialist.

In this position, you will engage in complex work, exercising considerable independence and discretionary judgment to establish effective, efficient, economical, and legal contract management and acquisitions for DES.​The Senior Procurement Specialist serves as procurement project management lead for assigned procurement projects; exercises procurement authority as delegated, which may include preparation of sole source, competition impracticable, and emergency recommendations and exempt procurement; and provides training and mentoring to colleagues engaged in procurement activities.

This position may offer the ability to work remotely, within Arizona, based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.

The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, and commissions, many State employees participate in the State’s Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes, in offices, and in hoteling spaces. All work, including remote work, should be performed within Arizona unless an exception is properly authorized in advance.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
• Prepares, issues, and administers complex formal solicitations in accordance with the Arizona Procurement Code, facilitating public openings, vendor conferences, and evaluation committees through contract award.
​• Evaluates sole-source, competition-impracticable, and emergency procurement requests, ensuring statutory compliance and proper documentation.
• ​Executes purchase orders, task orders, and contract amendments, providing full contract administration for high-complexity commodities and technical services.
​• Analyzes market data and pricing trends to negotiate financial terms, delivery schedules, and programmatic requirements with vendors.
• ​Researches contract disputes, vendor performance issues, and bid protests, drafting formal determinations and resolution reports for Chief Procurement Officer signature.
​• Utilizes the State's eProcurement system to manage contracts and workflow data, while serving as a technical resource and mentor to procurement staff.

Knowledge in:
​• Arizona Procurement Code, State acquisition lifecycle, and public contract management for complex commodities and services.
​• Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), Federal antitrust laws, and related business law principles.
• ​Enterprise contract management software and eProcurement systems (Arizona Procurement Portal / APP).
​• Professional procurement ethics, confidentiality, and public disclosure requirements.
​Skills in:
• ​Project management, dispute mediation, facilitation, and commercial contract negotiations.
• ​Market research, pricing value analysis, and critical problem-solving.
​• Verbal, written, and interpersonal communication, including customer service and vendor relations.
​• Standard office technology and software suites (Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, and Adobe Acrobat).
​Ability to:
​• Perform statistical and abstract analysis to evaluate bids and complex procurement requests.
​• Plan, organize, and prioritize high-volume procurement assignments effectively under tight deadlines.
• ​Formulate clear reports, contract documents, policies, and standard operating procedures.
• ​Establish positive working relationships across agency divisions while maintaining strict objectivity and confidentiality.

The ideal candidate for this position will have:
• Minimum two years of experience equivalent to a Procurement Specialist.
• A bachelor’s degree in supply chain, business, finance, or a related field from an accredited college or university is preferred.
• Professional certification such as a CPPO, CPPB, or CPM from a professional purchasing organization is preferred. Other combinations of experience and education may be substituted.

•This position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements. Successfully pass background and reference check; employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process and the Agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.
• All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The Arizona Department of Economic Security offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
• Participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) and long-term disability plans
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Paid vacation and sick time
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child.
• Deferred compensation plan
• Wellness plans
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Stipend Opportunities
• Infant at Work Program
• Rideshare and Public Transit Subsidy
• Career Advancement & Employee Development Opportunities

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

State employees are required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), the State sponsored retirement contribution plan and the Long-Term Disability (LTD) program after a 27-week waiting period. The ASRS defined benefit plan provides for life-long income upon retirement. You will also have the option to participate in a voluntary deferred compensation program to take advantage of tax-deferred retirement investments.

On, or shortly after, your first day of work you will be provided with additional information about the available insurance plans, enrollment instructions, submission deadlines and effective dates.

For questions about this career opportunity, please contact dbsdfohr@azdes.gov.

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by contacting dbsdfohr@azdes.gov. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.