Procurement Officer Senior

Department: Charlotte Area Transit System Department

Salary: $85,288.00 - $122,601.49 Commensurate with Experience

Thank you for your interest in joining the team that keeps Charlotte moving, at a very exciting time for our organization. At the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), we’re committed to delivering safe, reliable, and innovative transit services for our growing community, and we value employees who bring professionalism, passion, and a commitment to public service.

 

This position is currently employed by CATS, a department of the City of Charlotte. With the passage of the PAVE Act and last year’s sales tax referendum, CATS is preparing to transition from a City department to the newly created Metropolitan Public Transit Authority (MPTA). The MPTA was established to strengthen regional transit governance, improve accountability, and support long‑term investment in mobility. It’s an important and exciting step forward for transit in our region.

 

Employees hired into this role will remain City employees through December 31, 2026, and will transition to MPTA employment on January 1, 2027. Benefits and compensation will follow City provisions through 2026 and shift to MPTA provisions in 2027, with clear information shared in advance. Your core duties, reporting structure, and daily responsibilities will remain consistent, with no break in service. If anything delays the transition, your City employment, including compensation and benefits, will remain in place until the move to the MPTA occurs.

 

The creation of the MPTA positions us for a more modern, sustainable, and efficient transit system, one that can better support the Charlotte region for decades to come. We’re excited about what’s ahead and appreciate your interest in being part of it.

SUMMARY

Under the general direction of the Transit Procurement Manager, the Senior Transit Procurement Supervisor provides strategic leadership and managerial oversight for all assigned procurement and contract administration functions. The position is responsible for supervising, developing, and evaluating procurement staff, ensuring operational excellence, and driving compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. This leader oversees complex procurements in technology, construction, rolling stock, professional services, and engineering while guiding the organization on best‑practice purchasing strategies and risk‑aware decision‑making.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership & Staff Management

• Leads, supervises, and evaluates a team of procurement professionals, establishing clear performance expectations, goals, and development plans to maintain a high‑performing team.
• Provides coaching, mentorship, and technical guidance to procurement staff and internal customers, ensuring consistent application of procurement laws, policies, and procedures.
• Oversees workload distribution, prioritization, and resource allocation to support organizational goals and customer service standards.

Strategic Procurement Management

• Directs the planning, development, and execution of complex solicitations, including ITBs, RFPs, and RFQs, ensuring strategic alignment with agency needs and regulatory compliance.
• Develops and implements procurement strategies for major capital projects, ensuring that funding requirements and restrictions are met.
• Provides executive‑level recommendations on procurement approaches, market conditions, contract terms, and opportunities to achieve cost savings and operational efficiency.

Policy, Compliance & Governance

• Oversees development, interpretation, and enforcement of procurement policies and procedures; recommends updates to ensure continuous improvement and regulatory adherence.
• Ensures all procurement actions and contracts protect the agency’s interests and comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including FTA guidelines.
• Conducts quality control reviews of procurement documentation to ensure accuracy, completeness, and professional standards.

Contract Administration Oversight

• Directs administration of high‑value and high‑visibility contracts including performance oversight, compliance monitoring, amendments, closeouts, and dispute resolution.
• Leads complex negotiations, cost and price analysis, and evaluations, serving as senior reviewer and final recommender for contractor selection.
• Advises project managers on contract compliance and collaborates to resolve performance issues.
• Negotiates settlement of significant contract disputes in concurrence with the Chief Procurement Officer and General Counsel.

Organizational Representation & Training

• Represents Procurement as a senior subject matter expert on cross‑departmental initiatives, system implementations, and organizational planning efforts.
• Develops and delivers training to enhance agency‑wide understanding of procurement planning and contract administration.

Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Oversees preparation of periodic reports and metrics to inform leadership decision‑making and drive continuous improvement.
• Evaluates operational processes and identifies opportunities to improve efficiency, risk management, and procurement outcomes.

Procurement

• Assists project managers with development of scopes of work; develops and prepares solicitation materials for highly complex procurements; determines appropriate procurement methods.
• Evaluates bids, proposals, and quotations; conducts cost and price analysis; chairs and/or presents as subject matter expert at evaluation committee meetings, as well as vendor interviews with contracts with high visibility and/or value; determines contractor selection recommendations and acts as advisor to procurement team members regarding selection recommendations.
• Assists in the review of invoices for projects that are highly complex, are highly visible, and or have a high value, when required.

• As part of your responsibility to support the CATS Safety Culture, report safety concerns and issues through the various methods established by CATS as outlined in the ASP. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply complex procurement, contracting, and risk management regulations.
• Strong leadership capabilities, including employee performance management and team development.
• Skilled in prioritizing assignments, managing competing deadlines, and directing staff in a dynamic environment.
• Exceptional communication, critical thinking, and organizational skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and ERP systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and five years of related experience.
• Previous construction contracting/purchasing experience with a government entity is highly desired.
• Professional certification(s) (i.e. C.C.M., CLGPO, C.P.M, CPPO, and CPPB) is strongly desired.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate’s Degree with seven years of related experience or High School Diploma or equivalent and nine years of related experience or an Associate’s Degree and seven years of experience or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the essential job duties.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.

Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.

Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or on the basis of actual or perceived gender as expressed through dress, appearance, or behavior.

Our culture is to serve the community honorably.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online.

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job.

You are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby, where self-service application kiosks are available. They are located in our office at 700 East 4th Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28202. We are open Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (EST), excluding official City holidays.

For questions about your application or the hiring process, please email Careers@ci.charlotte.nc.us

The City of Charlotte is committed to making our services and programs accessible to all. Upon request, auxiliary aids, written materials in alternate formats, language access, and other reasonable accommodations or modifications will be provided. To make a request, please fill out the Innovation & Technology ADA request form or call 704.336.4120.

BENEFITS

The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees.

Click here to learn more about the City of Charlotte’s benefits.

The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.