Procurement and Specifications Specialist II

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The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) is the public transit authority responsible for planning and constructing Skyline, Honolulu's rail transit system. It is the first fully automated, driverless urban light metro system in the United States and represents the largest public infrastructure project in the history of Hawaii.

Position Overview:

The Procurement and Specifications Specialist II is assigned to HART's Procurement and Contracts Section as an advanced trainee. In this role, you will apply foundational knowledge of governmental procurement practices to develop specifications, prepare solicitations, and support purchasing activities for commodities, services, concessions, professional services, and construction projects that are generally not highly technical or of great complexity. As you gain experience, you will take on more advanced or difficult assignments with increasing independence while working closely with senior procurement staff.

Key Responsibilities:

Draft specifications for routine, noncomplex procurements and, under closer supervision, assist in drafting specifications for highervalue or more technical commodities, services, concessions, professional services, and construction.

Prepare bid documents for noncomplex, advertised procurements; analyze bid results, recommend awards, and prepare written justifications when needed.

Issue purchase orders to successful bidders and respond to questions or complaints from unsuccessful bidders in a professional and timely manner.

Assist with vendor performance issues by gathering facts when vendors fail to deliver or miss deadlines and recommending appropriate actions, including whether liquidated damages may be waived.

Conduct informal and emergency procurements for certain lowcost commodities and services, including soliciting quotes by phone and issuing purchase order numbers.

Collaborate with other Procurement and Specifications Specialists to develop specifications and share specialized knowledge for formal advertised bids.

Research and identify potential suppliers, interview vendors to assess reliability and qualifications, and evaluate the quality of goods and services delivered.

Review product catalogs, brochures, and technical publications to stay current on new commodities, services, and purchasing and marketing techniques.

Provide clear information and guidance to HART staff, consultants, vendors, and the public on purchasing procedures, including applicable laws, rules, regulations, and internal policies.

Perform other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualification Requirements for the Class:

Training and Experience: A combination of education and experience substantially equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with major work in business or public administration, marketing, economics, or a related field and six months of technical experience in centralized purchasing and standards and specifications development activities.

Knowledge of: Basic principles of economics, supply and demand, purchasing, and specifications development; common types of commodities and services and sources of supply; interviewing techniques; research principles, techniques and methods; report writing.

Ability to: Evaluate the quality and suitability of commodities and services; prepare, review, and revise commodity and service specifications for informal purchases; evaluate market conditions and price trends; establish and maintain good working relationships with vendors, technical consultants, and operating agencies; prepare clear and concise written reports.

Physical Requirement: Candidates must meet the health and physical condition standards deemed necessary and proper for performance of the duties.

Physical Effort Grouping: Light

Benefits:

HART is an agency of the City and County of Honolulu, and employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits packaged provided by the City. This includes:

Medical, prescription drug, vision, dental, and life insurance plans

Generous vacation and sick leave, earning up to 21 days per year

13 paid holidays annually (14 days during election year)

Retirement plan contributions through the Employees' Retirement System (ERS)

Deferred compensation options to invest pre-tax income for retirement

Flexible spending accounts for health and dependent care expenses

Pre-tax transportation benefits, including TheBus and vanpool options

Access to confidential counseling services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Additional perks include training opportunities and employer-funded Holo Card for eligible employees to use on public transit

Eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, supporting employees dedicated to public service.

Work Schedule and Location:

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8-hour shift.

Location: The work for this position is conducted on-site at HART's offices, located in Honolulu, Hawaii 96813. Telecommuting is not currently available for this role.

HART does not cover relocation costs. Candidates must be able to reliably commute or relocate to Honolulu by first day of employment.