Salary
$124,440\.00 \- $155,150\.00 Annually
Location
110 SE Watula Ave, 3rd Floor, Ocala, FL 34471, FL
Job Type
Full\-Time
Job Number
0518
Department
Procurement and Contracting
Opening Date
05/19/2026
Closing Date
Continuous
Description
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In accordance with Section 2\-387 of the City Code, this position serves as the director of the Procurement and Contracting Department of the City and is appointed by the City Manager. This is an executive position responsible for ensuring compliance and safeguarding the interests of the City of Ocala in its procurement functions and contractual relationships. As the Director of the Procurement and Contracting Department, this person shall be responsible for the operational management and administrative direction of the procurement division, contracting division, and vendor relations division of the Department and supervise, oversee, and manage solicitations, informal procurement actions, vendor relations, and contracts for City departments in support of their duties.
Examples of Duties
1\. Develop procurement and contracting policies and manage operations of City procurement and contracting including supplies, contractual services, professional services, construction services, warehousing, inventory, asset management, and capital improvements.
2\. Prepare and adopt standard procurement and contracting policies and procedures for using departments, agencies and suppliers.
3\. Define procurement methods, policies, and solicitation thresholds. Ensure compliance with the procurement code and rules and regulations applicable to same.
4\. Assure best practices and value in the City’s acquisitions, including making procurement and contracting decisions in the best interest of the City, consistent with the direction and policies of City Council.
5\. Supervise the bid process from solicitation preparation to contract closeout. Make all bid awards in the best interest of the City subject to final contract approval by City Council or a City Council designated officer.
6\. Perform citywide contracting oversight including drafting, negotiation, and review.
7\. Authorize emergency purchases in accordance with the Procurement Policy.
8\. Prepare and enforce standard specifications.
9\. Sell, trade, donate, destroy, transfer, exchange, or otherwise dispose of material, which is surplus, including salvage.
10\. Declare vendors who violate the requirements of this procurement code or of City procurement policy; or state or federal law; or who default on their contracts or otherwise demonstrate that they are irresponsible bidders, and discipline them by suspending or banning them from bidding on solicitations and/or receiving business from the City for a stated period of time, subject to review and approval by the city manager or his designee.
11\. Oversee vendor relations including vendor registration, contract performance, ratings, disputes, and ensuring vendors are treated fairly with open and transparent competition.
12\. Create and maintain a suspended and disbarred vendor list for vendors who violate or default on the City’s procurement policies and ordinances, state or federal law, bid terms and conditions, contracts, purchase orders, amendments or change orders.
13\. Prepare and maintain a current vendor's list for sources of supplies and services, to which vendors may request to be included.
14\. Procure goods, services, capital improvements in accordance with applicable laws.
15\. Assist and advise city departments on policies and methods of procuring goods, services and capital improvements.
16\. Negotiate and award contracts for goods, services and capital improvements
17\. Provide a surplus facility and oversee the transfer and/or disposal of City property.
18\. Formulates and administers the annual operating budget for the Procurement and Contracting Department.
19\. Operate and manage the procurement and contracting department and perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the city manager or his designee in connection with the procurement of goods and services for the city.
20\. Directs the City’s purchase card (P\-Card) program which involves card dissemination to staff, setting single\-transaction or monthly limits, and managing bank portals.
21\. Establishes and enforces strict p\-card policies to ensure purchases abide by local, state, and federal policies, guidelines, and regulations.
22\. Review cardholder statements, ensures receipts and proper documentation are attached, and reconcile monthly charges. Audit usage to prevent fraud, abuse, or unauthorized expenses.
23\. Formulates and administers the annual operating budget for the Procurement and Contracting Department.
24\. Develops and maintains effective working relationships throughout the organization and within the vendor community. Provides expert contracting and procurement advice to Senior Leadership and City staff.
25\. Ensures that all programs, activities, and initiatives related to procurement and contracting comply with local, state, and federal regulations.
26\. Maintain the City’s procurement website (www.bidocala.com) ensuring that available bids, results, vendor lists, and vendor resources are publicly available and up to date.
27\. Provides guidance to City departments to maintain complete and accurate files of all documents pertaining to contract performance measures, implementation, contract fulfillment, including final closeout of City contracts. Establish and maintain a database to monitor all contract changes, amendments, or negotiations made by the City of Ocala and/or other party.
28\. Provides guidance to City departments for discrepancy issues regarding proper receipt of supplies or services. Trains and mentors using departments to identify and ensure contractor compliance with bid specifications, terms and conditions.
29\. Oversees procurement Buyers’ duties, assigns workloads, and reviews the bid process to ensure specifications are accurate and City procurement policies are followed.
30\. Advises all City departments of changes to contractual and procurement policies and procedures.
31\. Coordinates and ensures that pay requests and change orders are accurately completed by City departments and the agreeing party.
32\. Assists in evaluating and making recommendations for acceptance or rejection of requests for exception to policy or contractual requirements.
33\. Assist departments in resolving conflicts with vendors and contractors. Negotiates cure plans to correct contract performance failures between using city departments and vendor.
34\. Attends trade shows to keep abreast of new and innovative products and services. Attends contract/procurement related seminars to keep updated as to new regulations, requirements and guidelines and to improve specification writing, contracting for services, etc.
35\. Direct customer service is performed to both city employees and to the public in a courteous and professional manner. Must communicate clearly and concisely orally, in writing and by telephone.
36\. Works directly and indirectly with the City Attorney and Assistant City Attorney on contract terms and negotiations and to facilitate contract execution.
37\. Serves on various internal committees and represents the City of Ocala at various state and national association functions.
38\. Attend City Council meetings and advise City Council on issues related to contract approvals and the procurement process.
Perform other work as required
Minimum Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty mentioned satisfactorily.
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
B.A. or B.S. degree with course work in contracts, purchasing, business management/marketing, or related field.
Must have a minimum of a combination of four years’ experience in public or private sector senior level procurement, contract management, contract writing, large scale buying, materials management, or government related supply activities.
Two years’ supervisory or senior level procurement and contract experience is required.
REQUIRED LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS
Must possess and maintain a valid Florida Operator Driver's License with an acceptable driving record.
PREFERRED CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
NIGP\-CPP (Certified Public Procurement Professional)
CPCM (Certified Professional Contracts Manager)
CPPO (Certified Public Procurement Officer)
CPSM (formerly C.P.M.) Certified Professional in Supply Management
Supplemental Information
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Must have a strong working knowledge of State of Florida statute related to procurement and public sector contract law, in addition to an understanding of City of Ocala procurement policies.
Must have demonstrated procurement and contract management experience with a large\-scale public\-sector entity or large private sector business. Knowledge of quality levels, supply and demand, and professional sourcing techniques for commodity categories frequently required by user departments.
Must have knowledge of e\-procurement processes, and software. Responsible for electronic purchasing initiatives, and for instituting e\-buying procedures within the city.
Must have knowledge of automated purchasing operations.
Should have a working knowledge of P\-Card public sector programs, along with P\-Card spend analysis, and payment efficiencies for the city.
Ability to maintain detailed records and perform a variety of related management tasks as needed.
Ability to obtain and interpret market prices and trends, and to apply such interpretation to provide procurement guidance and suggestions for the city.
Ability to operate a computer, including data input with accuracy and efficiency.
Strong skills using Microsoft Office, or comparable office software suite.
Responsible for mentoring and training procurement, contract, and project management staff. Establishes on\-going training programs as needed throughout the City to ensure departments are aware of current procurement policy and buying procedures.
Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with subordinates, representatives of other departments, vendors and the general public.
Ability to remain calm in stressful situations.
Must exclude personal bias from work performance, exercise tact and diplomacy, and strive to promote and maintain a cooperative workplace atmosphere.
Must have effective customer service skills and ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with employees, outside agencies and organizations, and the public.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR FUNDS, PROPERTY and EQUIPMENT
Annual Budget: $1,300,000\.00
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
This position will directly supervise 5 employees.
This position may indirectly supervise 13 employees.
If applicable, supervisory responsibilities include interviewing, hiring and training employees; planning, assigning and directing work; appraising performance, rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
ANALYTICAL ABILITY / PROBLEM SOLVING DIRECTED.
Supervisory and/or professional skills using structured practices or policies and directed as to execution and review.
PLANNING
With regard to general assignments in planning time, method, manner and/or sequence of performance of own work.
CONSIDERABLE RESPONSIBILITY; in addition, the organization and delegation of work operations for a Group of employees engaged in Widely diversified activities.
DECISION MAKING
Performs work operations which permit opportunity for decision\-making of minor importance. FREQUENTLY.
Performs work operations which permit opportunity for decision\-making of major importance. FREQUENTLY.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Ability to read, analyze, and understand the most complex documents.
Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS
Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area circumference, and volume.
Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
Ability to interpret and extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED
Under direction where a definite objective is set up and the employee PLANS AND ARRANGES OWN WORK, referring only unusual cases to supervisor.
MENTAL DEMAND
INTENSE; Operation requiring sustained directed thinking to analyze, solve, or plan highly variable, administrative, professional, or technical tasks involving complex problems or mechanisms.
USE OF MACHINES, EQUIPMENT AND/OR COMPUTER
Regular use of complex machines and equipment (desktop/laptop computer and software, road and production machines and equipment, etc.)
ACCURACY
Probably errors would normally not be detected in succeeding operations and would definitely have serious effects in relationships with patrons and/or with the operations of other segments of the organization.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Frequent contacts with general public, patrons, or other outside representatives, wherein the manner of handling these contacts has a bearing on the organization’s position and operation.
EMPLOYEE CONTACT
Establishes Company Culture by setting tone of interactions and communication with senior executive level internal officials and employees throughout the organization.
SOFTWARE SKILLS REQUIRED
Accounting Advanced
Alphanumeric Data Entry Intermediate
Contact Management Advanced
Database Advanced
Enterprise Resource Planning Advanced
Human Resources Systems Intermediate
Payroll Systems Intermediate
Presentation/PowerPoint Intermediate
Spreadsheet Advanced
Word Processing/Typing Advanced
OTHER SKILLS
Must have a strong working knowledge of State of Florida statute related to procurement and public sector contract law, in addition to an understanding of City of Ocala procurement policies.
Must have demonstrated procurement and contract management experience with a large scale public\-sector entity or large private sector business. Knowledge of quality levels, supply and demand, and professional sourcing techniques for commodity categories frequently required by user departments.
Must have knowledge of e\-procurement processes, and software. Responsible for electronic purchasing initiatives, and for instituting e\-buying procedures within the City.
Must have knowledge of automated purchasing operations. Should have a working knowledge of P\-
Card public sector programs, along with P\-Card spend analysis, and payment efficiencies for the City.
Ability to maintain detailed records and perform a variety of related management tasks as needed.
ability to obtain and interpret market price.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES
While performing the functions of this job, the employee may be required to:
Stand Occasionally
Walk Occasionally
Sit Frequently
Use hands to handle or feel Frequently
Reach with hands and arms Occasionally
Climb or balance Never
Stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl Occasionally
Talk or hear Frequently
Taste or smell Never
WEIGHT LIFT REQUIREMENTS
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move:
Up to 25 pounds
VISION REQUIREMENT
Specific vision abilities required by this job may include:
Ability to adjust focus (work duties that require the ability to adjust the eye to bring an object into sharp focus at various distances or focal lengths).
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
The following work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Work near moving mechanical parts (spinning shafts, engines, lifts, etc.) Never
Work in high, precarious places (tall structures, bucket lifts, extension ladders, etc.) Never
Fumes or airborne particles (painting, sanding, solvents, flying lint or dust particles, etc.) Never
Toxic or caustic chemicals (including potential for chemical spills, etc.) Never
Outdoor weather conditions (exposure to outdoor heat, cold or inclement weather) Occasionally
Wet or humid conditions (not weather\-related, such as greenhouse, carwash, etc.) Occasionally
Extreme cold (not weather\-related, such as freezer, cold storage, etc.) Never
Extreme heat not weather\-related, such as furnace, kitchen, ovens, etc. where temp is regularly above 100 degrees F) Never
Risk of electrical shock (live electrical wires, equipment that retains power after shutoff) Never
Work with explosives (TNT, dynamite, nitroglycerine or other related explosives) Never
Risk of radiation (x\-ray equipment, nuclear radiation, electromagnetic radiation, etc.) Never
Vibration (jack hammer, soil compactor, equipment that creates high vibration, etc.) Never
The noise level in the work environment is usually Moderate (business office with computers/printers, light traffic, etc.)
This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts, or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed when circumstances change (e.g., emergencies, changes in personnel, workload, rush jobs, or technological developments).
The City of Ocala provides a competitive, comprehensive benefit package for all full\-time employees.
Health Insurance
We offer both single and family coverage, for employees working 30 or more hours per week.
Dental Insurance
For full time employees, we offer both single and family dental coverage.
Vision Insurance
For full time employees, we offer both single and family vision coverage.
Life Insurance
For full time employees, the City of Ocala provides Basic Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberments policies as an employer paid benefit. Employees can opt for additional coverage such as supplemental voluntary life, spouse life, dependent life, and child life. For full time employees, the City of Ocala provides Basic Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberments policies as an employer paid benefit. Employees can opt for additional coverage such as supplemental voluntary life, spouse life, dependent life, and child life.
Short Term and Long Term Disability
Offered to full time employees, STD and LTD coverages are income replacement benefits that assist policyholders who are unable to work for an extended period of time due to sickness or accidental injury.
Medical FSA (Flexible Spending Account) and Dependent Care FSA
Flexible spending accounts allow employees to pay out\-of\-pocket medical, dental, vision, and dependent care expenses using pre\-tax dollars.
Pet Insurance
We also offer special pet insurance for your pets in the case of illness or accidents, as well as preventative care.
Employee Health \& Wellness Center
The City of Ocala offers the use of the City Clinic for those employees, and covered dependents over the age of 8, which have elected one of our health insurance plans. Services offered by the City Clinic include primary care, chronic disease management, labs, x\-rays, and wellness coaching.
Voluntary Cancer Insurance
For full time employees, the cancer insurance policy can help provide security if you, or a covered dependent, suddenly become diagnosed with cancer.
Supplemental Critical Care Insurance
Our full time employees have the option of electing critical care insurance that is available to help with medical expenses that could arise from things such as a heart attack or stroke.
Supplemental Accident Insurance
Also available to full time employees, is our Accident Coverage. This supplemental plan can be used to help with expenses like MRI's, physical therapy, and hospital admission.
Legal Plan Insurance
Full time employees can have access to local attorneys for a monthly fee and receive discounts on services such as legal consultation, wills, traffic violations and the purchase or sale of your home. The carrier also has a separate policy assisting with the matter of identity theft and social media monitoring.
Deferred Compensation Plan
Deferred compensation is available to all full\-time employees at the time of employment. This benefit allows the employee to defer income without paying taxes until money is withdrawn. Current plan is administered through MissionSquare.
Direct Deposit
Direct deposit automatically deposits your net pay each pay period to your checking or savings account at your own financial institution. Direct deposit is a condition of employment for a person hired by the City.
Each pay period the employee receives an earnings statement showing gross pay, taxes, other deductions, accruals and net pay. Enrollment forms are available at Human Resources or Payroll.
Discounts \- Theme Park
Discounts are available to all non\-temporary employees at the time of employment.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
The Employee Assistance Program is available to all full\-time employees and members of your household as an employer paid benefit. The EAP offers emotional wellbeing support in the form as counseling sessions and all sessions are confidential. The EAP also provides daily life assistance, legal services, and financial services.
Holidays and Paid Time off
The City provides paid holidays and paid time off for full\-time employees. Refer to the Employee Handbook for details.
Retirement Plan
All full\-time employees hired after 10/01/2013, apart from Sworn Police Officers and Firefighters, are enrolled in the 401a Defined Contribution Retirement Plan with MissionSquare. All contributions to the 401a Defined contribution plan are pre\-tax and earnings grow tax\-deferred. The City contributes 8% and employees contribute 3%. City contributions are 100% vested after one year of employment. You will be enrolled automatically and should take time to review your investment options at your earliest convenience.
Training Programs
The City is committed to provide training programs for all departments and all positions. Risk Management conducts classes in Defensive Driving, Safety, and Insurance. With rare exceptions, classes are offered during working hours, and are open to all eligible employees.
Tuition Reimbursement
All regular, full\-time employees are eligible to participate in the tuition reimbursement program.