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Purchasing Agent III.

State of Colorado, Lakewood, CO, United States


Department Information This position is open only to current Colorado state residents.

an eligible list established with this recruitment may be used to fill other similar positions within the Colorado Department of Public Safety in the next 12 months.

Mission, Vision, Core Values Our Mission - Engaged employees working together to safeguard lives and to provide diverse public safety services to local communities.

Our Vision - Creating safer and more resilient communities across Colorado.

Our Core Values - Unity, Honor, Service.

Employment Philosophy The State of Colorado strives to create a Colorado for All by building and maintaining workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness. The State is dedicated to non‑discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities.

Careers With a Purpose If you are passionate about public safety and public service, and are eager to dedicate your career to serving Coloradans, consider joining CDPS. Our team at CDPS consists of exceptional individuals and is an environment where you can challenge yourself and acquire new capabilities to build a rewarding and fulfilling career.

We are committed to providing public safety services to our communities including safety on our roads, preparing for and mitigating environmental disasters such as floods and wildland fires, disaster recovery, combating crime, promoting school safety, and victim services.

Classification and Salary Purchasing Agent III

Anticipated Hiring Range: $4,906 – $6,378/month; $58,872 – $76,536/year.

Full Salary Range: $4,906 – $7,849/month; $58,872 – $94,188/year.

Benefits

Medical and dental options for permanent employees and their dependents; short‑ and long‑term disability coverage; life insurance with legal resources and discounts.

Basic Life and AD&D insurance equal to annual earnings, limited to a minimum of $50,000 and a maximum of $250,000. Provided at no cost.

State of Colorado Wellness Program: personalized health coaching, skill groups, and a $20 per month health insurance premium discount.

BenefitHub: discounts and special programs from hundreds of retailers, restaurants, travel, and entertainment venues.

Health Savings Account contribution when enrolled in a high‑deductible health plan.

Medical leave under FMLA and the State of Colorado Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program (FAMLI).

Hybrid or flexible work arrangements based on role.

Retirement benefits: mandatory PERA Defined Benefit or Defined Contribution Plan, optional 401(k) and 457 plans.

Generous time off: 11 paid holidays, accrued annual and sick leave, four annual wellness days.

Employee Assistance Program (C‑SEAP) offering short‑term counseling, referrals, resources, and training.

Tuition reimbursement and reduced tuition at CSU Global and DeVry University.

Credit Union of Colorado membership eligibility.

Description of Job About the Work Unit The Executive Director’s Office (EDO) is the backbone of the Colorado Department of Public Safety, providing effective administrative and management services to the department’s operating divisions. The EDO includes:

Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director – oversee strategic direction and operations.

Administrative Services Office – provides division and department‑level administrative and support functions, including accounting, purchasing and contracts, budget, logistics, and property services.

Human Resources Office – supports recruitment, hiring, evaluation, benefits management, payroll, and all other HR functions.

Compliance Office – manages departmental policy, risk management, workers’ compensation, investigations, auditing, rulemaking, and ensures compliance with state and federal requirements.

Colorado Integrated Criminal Justice Information Systems – develops information sharing services for criminal‑justice agencies.

Office of School Safety – assists local schools to create safe and positive climates for pre‑K through higher education.

The Administrative Services Office supports the divisions within CDPS through:

Chief Administrative Officer’s office

Accounting Services and Commercial Cards led by the Controller

Budget and Policy led by the Budget Director

Purchasing and Contracts by the Purchasing Director

Logistics Services led by the Logistics Director

Property Services led by the Property Services Director

Work Environment

Hybrid: minimum two days onsite in the Lakewood office.

Core business hours: Monday‑Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., with flexibility.

About The Job The Purchasing Agent III works within the Executive Director’s Office, assigned to the Administrative Services Office’s Procurement Section. The role performs procurement and administrative purchasing functions critical to the agency’s operations and ensures compliance with fiscal and procurement rules, state and departmental policies, and applicable laws.

Key Responsibilities Procurement Program Management The Purchasing Agent with Group II delegated authority manages day‑to‑day procurement activities across all divisions, provides guidance and training to staff, and applies knowledge of Colorado statutes, the Procurement Code, and Fiscal Rules. Key duties include:

Utilizing the state accounting system (CORE) daily to create, record, and track solicitions and purchase orders.

Ensuring compliance with the Contract Management System (CMS) and other administrative requirements.

Providing technical guidance in solicition preparation, implementation, and review.

Coordinating and disseminating information to internal customers to ensure procedural compliance.

Researching and consulting with CDPS staff on solicitations and performance criteria.

Assisting customers and vendors with guidance and feedback.

Contract Drafting, Preparation, Negotiations, Tracking and Routing Drafts Department‑requested contracts, contract modifications, and other legal documents, ensuring legal sufficiency under applicable statutes and guidelines. Responsibilities include:

Reviewing Colorado Revised Statutes, federal statutes, contracting guidelines, and other legal standards.

Consulting with program staff before negotiations to confirm departmental intentions.

Negotiating contracts to secure best value while maintaining legal integrity.

Maintaining CMS compliance throughout the process.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights Note: to be considered, you must meet one of the following options. Experience

Six (6) years of professional procurement experience, clearly documented on the application.

Education and Experience, Knowledge, Skills

Bachelor’s degree and two (2) years of professional procurement experience.

Preferred Qualifications and Competencies

High accuracy and attention to detail.

Ability to interpret and coach others on rules and regulations.

Excellent customer service skills and discretion with confidential matters.

Experience creating, maintaining, and producing reports.

Experience creating training materials.

Outstanding organizational skills and ability to prioritize tasks.

Proficiency with spreadsheet and word‑processing software.

Multi‑tasking ability and maintained workflow tracking.

Excellent interpersonal and intercultural competence.

Exceptional verbal, written, and presentation skills.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Suite.

Conditions of Employment

Must be a resident of Colorado at the time of application.

Requires successful completion of an extensive background investigation: reference checks, polygraph, and fingerprint‑based criminal background check.

Appeal Rights If eliminated from consideration, you may protest within 10 days via the State Personnel Board. Appeals for selection and comparative analysis may also be filed within 10 days. Refer to the State Personnel Board Rules or www.colorado.gov/spb for procedures.

Supplemental Information Disability Accommodation For disability accommodations, contact Human Resources at cdps_hr@state.co.us.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to inclusive environments. Employment opportunities are available to all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, medical condition, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status.

Recruitment Timeline Information and Important Notices

Applications considered complete upon submission; no additional information will be accepted afterward.

Closing Date: All applications received by the closing will be reviewed for minimum qualifications.

Supplemental Questions: Effective responses relate to professional experience and career accomplishments.

Transcripts: Unofficial transcripts required if education used as qualification; foreign transcripts evaluated by NACES. Failure to provide may prevent application progress.

Military Veterans: DD‑214 and VA disability letter required for veteran preference; DD‑2058 for out‑of‑state personnel.

Application Tips: Overview available via provided video link.

Resumes, cover letters, or other documents will not be reviewed in initial comparative analysis.

Notifications: Status updates sent via email. Ensure email accepts state.co.us and info@governmentjobs.com addresses.

e‑Verify: CDPS uses e‑Verify to confirm eligibility for U.S. employment.

Comparative Analysis Steps (tentative):

Structured application review by a panel of SMEs – 4/1‑4/7.

Spark Hire One‑Way Video Interview – 4/9‑4/12.

In‑Person Panel Interview – 4/22.

Finalist Interview (Virtual) – 4/27‑4/28.

Anticipated Start Date – 6/8.

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