SPO Deputy Assistant Director

Delivering results that matter by providing best in class support services.

SPO Deputy Assistant Director

State Procurement Office (SPO)

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

Main Office Location: 1400 W Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85007

Salary: $135,000 $150,000 (DOE)

Grade: E3

Open Until Filled (1st Review of Resumes December 22, 2024)

The Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) State Procurement Office (SPO) is seeking a highly skilled leader to serve as the SPO Deputy Assistant Director. This key position oversees the operations of the State Procurement Office, ensuring efficient delivery of statewide contracts and eProcurement services to internal and external customers.

The role includes strategic planning and execution of enterprise-level procurement initiatives, managing high-visibility projects for ADOA Executive Leadership and the Governor's Office, and ensuring compliance with the Arizona Procurement Code and statutory requirements. The SPO Deputy Assistant Director will provide consultative support to senior procurement managers, align statewide purchasing efforts, and oversee processes impacting approximately 120 State agencies and over 1,000 cooperative members.

This leadership position requires exceptional project management, professional integrity, and the ability to effectively address concerns, make recommendations, and manage a centralized procurement organization with minimal oversight. Join us to shape the future of procurement excellence in Arizona.

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.

• Management & Supervision: Oversee and manage the strategic direction and weekly activities of the SPO Operations Team, eProcurement services, SPO Intern program, and our Statewide contracts teams (including setting strategic direction, conducting performance appraisals and 1:1s with direct reports, delegating and monitoring workload, assisting with various special projects, and recruitment and onboarding activities)
• Special Projects Management: Strategic planning and execution of enterprise level procurement initiatives, as well as high-visibility projects identified by both ADOA Executive Leadership or the Governor's Office (including all project management aspects involved in the successful completion of these critical projects)
• Statewide Contracts: Oversee and manage the statewide contract vision, focused on enhancing availability of contracts, reducing overlap in goods and services purchases by agencies, effectively seeking volume based purchasing at the enterprise level, maximizing the value of statewide contracts, and identifying areas of future risk and opportunity within the supply chain. Oversee and appropriately resource statewide contract change management and implementation efforts. Including the proactive identification of high profile contracts that will need additional support to roll out to agencies
• Agency Contracting: Oversee and manage the statewide contract vision, focused on enhancing availability and quality of contracts, reducing overlap in goods and services purchases by agencies, and identifying areas of future risk and opportunity within the supply chain. Manage relationships with key agency stakeholders to ensure the effective and efficient procurement of goods and services across the State
• CPO Assistance: Assist agency CPO’s with various projects and other assorted resources (including response to potentially sensitive inquiries, escalation of issues to Assistant Director, customer service assistance, allocation of SPO resources to assist with projects)
• In coordination with the ADOA legislative liaison and compliance team, propose new legislation that keeps Arizona on the forefront of implementing best practices across the nation and addresses any innovative opportunities to better serve our State. This should also flow to Arizona Procurement Code modification opportunities and the implementation of innovative pilot projects that enhance efficiencies or reduce risk for the State
• eProcurement: Oversee and support the effective delivery of services through our eProcurement system. Ensure consistency in the use of the system and seek opportunities to further refine and expand the scope of services within the tool through use of agency pilots / consideration to be further adopted at the enterprise level
• Collaboration and Networking: Engage with national, regional, and state procurement associations to further the influence and support the State provides to our agencies and cooperative members. Provide statewide contract information to our cooperative program leader for marketing promotion and usage of the contracts
• Cooperative Program / Co-Op Revenue: Oversee the engagement of the Arizona Cooperative Program, ensuring that statewide contract availability is appropriately marketed and any needs brought up by local municipalities are considered in future statewide contract enhancements or developments. In addition, act as the main point of contact for all of the programs revenue related matters, including oversight of incoming revenue, the projection of future revenues to ensure that the organization will appropriately collect all outstanding balances
• AMS Utilization: Act as a change agent for the Arizona Management System, including coaching/training both leadership and front-line team members, assist in development of metrics and other visual material, and lead or sponsor improvement activities within the SPO organization. This includes active oversight and responsibility of the SPO scorecard
• Public Records Requests: Provides oversight to the SPO public record request processes and will be a decision maker on what is able to be and/or should be released upon request
• Intern Program Administration: Streamline and administer SPO's intern program, ensuring that interns are being properly developed for future employment opportunities and are able to support and participate in value-adding activities/projects (in alignment with their respective areas of study)
  

Knowledge of:

• State and Federal Statutes and rules
• State Government operations and business processes
• Lean tools and methodologies
• Effective project management strategies
• Effective techniques of relationship management and team leadership strategies
• State budgeting processes and procedures
• Development and documentation of procedures

Skills in:

• Developing and implementing organizational compliance strategies based upon business' strategic goals/objectives
• Interpreting applicable laws, rules, policies, and procedures
• Leading teams and managing complex projects
• Time management and prioritizing work
• Strong leadership skills, including group facilitation and problem resolution techniques
• Excellent communication skills: verbal and written communication (clearly communicating complex issues)

Ability to:

• Communicate with a wide variety of customers and internal stakeholders at all levels
• Lead teams using a variety of lean tools
• Multi-task; flexible and adaptable work habits
• Embrace change and learn new skills
• Public speaking proficiency, including the ability to communicate effectively to a variety of audiences

• A Master's degree in Business, Public Administration, Organizational Development, Supply Chain Management or similar field
• 7+ years of professional level experience in an operations management / Procurement / Compliance or other closely related field

• Background and reference check, including a criminal records verification

If 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.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

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

• Sick leave
• Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program)
• Health and dental insurance
• Retirement plan
• Life insurance and long-term disability insurance
• Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance
  

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 pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

• Participation in ASRS Lifetime Benefit Pension Plan after 26 weeks of employment

• If you have any questions please feel free to contact Christopher Langseth at christopher.langseth@azdoa.gov for assistance
• The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer