Strategic Sourcing Specialist

Title: Strategic Sourcing Specialist

Hiring Range: $78,572 - $105,000

Pay Band: UG

Agency: Virginia Lottery

Location: VAL RICHMOND HQ

Agency Website: www.valottery.com

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

For more than three decades, the Virginia Lottery has worked to build a strong reputation, one synonymous with providing fun, entertaining experiences and doing so responsibly and with integrity. Proceeds from traditional Lottery games support K-12 public education in Virginia. Taxes generated by sports wagering and casino gaming, which are regulated by the Lottery, benefit other priorities of the Commonwealth.

The Virginia Lottery, an independent state agency, is currently seeking a Strategic Sourcing Specialist to join our Procurement Team. This position is located in Richmond, Virginia. As an independent state agency, the Lottery is not subject to the Virginia Public Procurement Act (VPPA) or the Agency Procurement and Surplus Property Manual (APSPM). Instead, the Lottery follows the Lottery Procurement Manual for policy and procedures related to procurement activities.

The Strategic Sourcing Specialist will strategically source complex goods and services. The Specialist will partner with key stakeholders and with partners to address agency objectives, utilizing excellent technical writing skills to ensure all necessary details and requirements are included in all procurement documents (solicitations, contracts, MOU’s, scoring documentation, etc.) This position will contribute to the continuous development of sourcing knowledge base and best practices by identifying and implementing sourcing “pockets of excellence”.

The Strategic Sourcing Specialist duties include:
• Keeping up with supply market trends, supplier economics, and best practice sourcing, especially within the Marketing and Information Technology categories.
• Determining the best method of procurement by analyzing the customer needs, specifications, and budgetary requirements all while satisfying the regulations as outlined in the Lottery Procurement Manual and ensuring ethical and procedural standards are maintained at 100%.
• Coordinate with other departments and teams, including Accounts Payable, Budget, Legal, and Information Security—to confirm that solicitations and contracts contain appropriate language.
• Preparing solicitations wherein awards will result in the best value, to ensure customer Acting as project lead when collaborating with technical experts in developing detailed specifications or project planning.
• Acting as lead negotiator for major programs to understand goods being procured, prepare parameters for negotiations (requirements, concessions) and develop comprehensive contract documents that include detailed requirements of all parties including the requirements of other Lottery Departments affected by the resulting contract.
• Consistently developing methods for adding value to services provided to customers while identifying and executing cost savings.
• Writing and developing contracts that include scopes of work, terms and conditions, liquidated damages, Service Level Agreements, pricing models, etc. In addition to issuing POs, this position drafts independent two-party contracts.

Other duties involve managing contracts by:
• Establishing Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) to monitor duration, renewals, and reporting requirements.
• Establishing metrics to measure and assess the effectiveness of all contracts.
• Monitoring the tasks and reporting requirements of the Contract Administrator as it pertains to assigned contract
• Attending technical reviews and performing contractual interfacing with Contractors to include receiving and transmitting all correspondence relating to deliverables, contract changes, approvals, invoices, and payments.
• Maintaining contract files and records, preparing status reports, and reconciling differences between Contractor and other Lottery Departments.
• Monitoring and promoting the active recruitment of SWaM vendors as well as administering the Agency’s SWaM program. This position will the Agency’s SWaM champion.
• Assisting with the Administration of the Agency’s Small Purchase Charge Card (SPCC) Program.

Other duties may be required based on supplementary assignments.

Note: This position requires in-office work three days per week including Tuesday and Wednesday.

Minimum Qualifications

The person selected for this position will have:
• 2+ years extensive procurement experience.
• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited 4-year college or university in Business Administration, Acquisition and Contract Management, or related field.
• Demonstrates the capability to enhance procurement processes and add value by applying critical analysis and thoughtful inquiry.
• Demonstrated technical writing skills when writing procurement documents (solicitations, contracts, MOU’s, scoring documentation, etc.)
• Ability to independently determine the appropriate method of procurement for each purchasing transaction.
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
• Expert negotiation skills.
• Extensive knowledge of the principles and practices of procurement, developing detailed solicitations, evaluating vendor responses, negotiations, contract preparation, and monitoring contractor performance.
• Working knowledge of managing and prioritizing a large volume of purchasing programs.
• Ability to consult effectively with all levels of management, including leadership.
• Strong technical writing, verbal, interpersonal, organizational, and presentation skills.
• Significant experience negotiating multi-million dollar goods and services contracts, including developing and negotiating contract terms and conditions.
• Proficient with desktop applications such as, but not limited to, Microsoft Word, Excel, and Access..
• Proficient with procurement and contract management systems.
• Detail oriented with self-starting and problem-solving qualities, and the ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, diagram, verbal, or scheduled form
• Ability to work well under pressure, prioritize work and meet deadlines.
• Ability to use analytical skills to visualize, articulate, and solve both complex and straightforward problems with limited existing templates or solutions.
• Ability to effectively and independently lead procurements on a project by project basis with internal customers.
• Ability to interpret, explain, and properly apply rules, regulations, contract language, laws, policies, and procedures.

A comparable amount of education, training and professional work experience may be substituted for minimum qualifications.

Additional Considerations

Professional certifications in the areas of governmental purchasing (CPPB, CPPO, CPM, VCO) are strongly preferred.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

The selected candidate will be required to complete a background investigation and possess a valid Driver’s License. Requires in-person work three (3) days a week including Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Virginia Lottery is an independent state agency, and as such all positions are exempt from the Virginia Personnel Act, as well as most Executive Branch human resources policies. The Virginia Lottery is a fun place to work and values diversity in the workforce. We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits. The Virginia Lottery is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Only online applications completed in their entirety will be accepted for this position. The Virginia Lottery will provide, if requested, reasonable accommodation to applicants in need of accommodation in order to provide access to the application and/or interview process. If any assistance is needed when applying online, please contact the Virginia Lottery’s Human Resources Department at (804) 692-7000. Applications will be accepted until a suitable pool of candidates is received. After 5 business days, this position may be closed at any time.

Contact Information

• Name: Human Resources
• Phone: 804-692-7000
• Email: N/A

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.