Procurement Contract Specialist - Construction

About the Role

For over 100 years, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has been designing, constructing, and operating the greater New York and New Jersey’s regional transportation infrastructure. The Port Authority’s Procurement Department has a successful record of excellence in procuring some of the most innovative procurements in the U.S., including the Goethals Bridge Modernization, the LaGuardia Airport Central Terminal Building, and the new Terminal One at Newark Liberty International Airport. The Department is responsible for managing the procurements for Port Authority capital projects delivered using a variety of delivery methods, including design-build, construction manager-at risk, and public-private partnerships, requests for proposals, and bids. The Port Authority’s greatest asset, however, is its people. To this end, to support a growing workload, the Procurement Department is seeking a self-motivated and energetic individual to join the Construction Procurements Division. The ideal candidate will be a team player who is flexible, able to multi-task, work with integrity, and demonstrate professional and ethical behavior with fair and transparent decision making. The candidate will handle a diverse portfolio of important and critical projects with some assignments working independently and others being team based. The job generally consists of all phases of procurement related tasks from requisition to contract award, including but not limited to consulting with client departments and formulating procurement strategy, reviewing scopes of work, pricing methodology, contract terms, developing solicitation packages, evaluating offers, and negotiating agreements.

Responsibilities

• Performs and/or oversees the execution of procurement processes for the retention of construction contractors and professional, technical, and advisory service firms in accordance with federal and Port Authority requirements and in support of the Authority’s Capital Plan.
• Manages the procurement and contract administration process for construction and professional service projects from solicitation through contract award and administration.
• Review contract documents, procurement files and solicitations prior to contract award to ensure compliance with Port Authority policies, federal regulations, and applicable funding requirements.
• Review and negotiate task orders and change order packages (ranging from simple to highly complex transactions), consultant and contractor cost proposals, and supporting documentation to ensure conformance with contractual and procurement requirements.
• Performs cost analyses, develops negotiation strategies, and participates in or leads negotiations to achieve fair and reasonable pricing.
• Conducts pre-audit compliance reviews of procurement actions and contract modifications and prepares audit responses, studies, reports, and supporting documentation as required.
• Debriefs unsuccessful proposers and contractors regarding procurement outcomes and evaluation results.
• Performs and oversees SAP/AVM transactions associated with procurement and contract administration activities, including preparation and review of justifications and supporting documentation for award actions.
• Provides guidance and consultation to Procurement staff, internal clients, external stakeholders, consultants, and contractors regarding procurement methods, strategies, schedules, and compliance requirements.
• Develops, manages, and maintains division-wide training materials, standard operating procedures, templates, and version control processes.
• Prepares, edits, and organizes procurement records and historical data to document negotiations, supports cost acceptance determinations, and establishes price reasonableness.
• Participates in and leads outreach initiatives, including Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE), and Local Business Enterprise (LBE) programs, serving as the Authority’s Procurement representative.
• Prepares and compiles ad hoc reports, analyses, presentations, and workload updates in response to management, executive, audit, and operational requests.
• Supports continuous improvement initiatives by identifying opportunities to enhance procurement processes, increase efficiency, strengthen compliance, and improve service delivery across the organization.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Contract Administration, Construction Management, Business Administration, Finance or a related field.
• Five (5) years of Procurement / Contract Administration experience.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with technology solutions, systems and process improvement measures.
• Experience with construction-related procurements.
• Experience with federal procurement/contract administration processes.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, with ability to interact effectively with all levels of internal and external staff.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Ability to independently multi-task in a dynamic environment and meet deadlines.
• Proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite.
• Knowledge of SAP/AVM.

Selection Process The application process varies by position, but typically includes an initial phone interview for qualified candidates, followed by a more in-depth interview(s) and/or assessment(s). Selected candidates who are made a conditional job offer will be asked to undergo a background check. Compensation, Benefits & On-Site Collaboration Requirements:​ The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey offers a competitive benefits package and a professional environment that supports development and recognizes achievement.​ Click here for more information about benefits, our culture, and career development opportunities.​ ​ The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey anticipates that the actual salary offered to a successful candidate will depend on aspects such as experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and internal factors. The expected compensation range for this role is:​ ​ Minimum: $119,678 Midpoint: $155,582 Maximum: $191,490 ​ In accordance with Port Authority policy, this position permits employees to work remotely a maximum of one day per week. In person collaboration is essential to how the Port Authority conducts business, and regular in-office days or team collaboration days may be required on business needs.