Category Specialist

Posting Open Until Filled

Salary range: $65,000 - $75,000 depending on Procurement experience

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (8:15am - 5:15pm)

This is a hybrid schedule position 

Training is provided in the role via the department’s internal academy curriculum.

Connect -

At the City of Atlanta, we are passionate about building and improving our community.  Our police officers, firefighters and building inspectors keep our citizens safe. Our Public Works staff keeps our City clean and helps maintain, build and improve our City’s infrastructure.  Our City planners help envision and shape future City growth. Our Parks & Recreation professionals enhance our quality of life.

Our engineers help keep our drinking water clean, the largest airport in the world (by passenger volume) operating and our buildings maintained.  Along with the host of Finance, Procurement, and Human Resources professionals whose support is vital, we are the City of Atlanta!   If you are seeking a meaningful role where you can make a real difference improving and growing our City, we welcome you to explore the job opportunities we have to offer.

Under direction, the Department of Procurement Category Specialist performs procurement processes for government entities, with a focus on acquiring goods and services for the City. This involves reviewing and prioritizing procurement requests, ensuring alignment with market availability, and preparing solicitations. Analysis of bids and contracts, oversee vendor compliance, and coordinate purchasing across various departments. The specialist acts as a liaison between the Department of Procurement and other government departments, offering recommendations and addressing feedback. They must also stay informed about procurement trends and participate in planning and improvement initiatives within the department, requiring a deep understanding of government procurement regulations and practices.

• Perform necessary purchasing procedures for the acquisition of supplies and services such as heavy equipment, large tools, motor vehicles, automated office equipment and supplies, fuels, chemicals, consulting services, industrial equipment, and service and construction contracts. 
• Review and prioritize procurement request packages. 
• Research existing needs to match current market availability. 
• Prepare solicitations and various types of contracts. 
• Receive, and analyze bids/proposals. 
• Monitor vendor compliance with all terms and conditions of the contract/purchase order.
• Provide necessary documentation to clerical staff, departments, divisions, officials, and vendors.  
• Coordinate purchasing procedures among departments and divisions. 
• Compile department and division requests for similar products and services. 
• Serve as liaison between the Department of Procurement and other government departments and divisions.  
• Recommend contracts for and monitor the disposal of surplus equipment, materials/supplies, professional services, and construction. 
• Resolve complaints from users, vendors, and the public. 
• Interview and research potential and current vendors. 
• Provide input for the maintenance of vendor and commodity files. 
• Maintain knowledge base of current developments in the procurement profession. 
• Review new marketplace products and services. 
• Participate in planning and improving Department of Procurement operations. 
• Research market sources and vendors to attain most cost-effective pricing for the purchase of commodities or goods for user agencies, or by commodity code. 
• Assist user agency in determining the best sourcing method, including alternative procurements. 
• Aids user agency in fine tuning the written specification for commodity/good for competitive bids; and from this prepares solicitation document.