Port Authority of NY & NJ Careers

About the Role

For almost 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 greatest asset, however, is its people. To this end, we are looking for a self-motivated individual to join the Commodities and Services Division as a Buyer. The Commodities and Services Division promote a competitive environment primarily through bids, managing the entire process through contract award to ensure fairness. The ideal candidate will be flexible, work with integrity, and demonstrate professional and ethical behavior with fair and transparent decision-making.  The individual will be able to work both independently and collaboratively with a diverse workload consisting of all phases of public sector procurement and should be versed in implementing various sourcing techniques.

The Buyer will be able to lead teams and work independently, drive work assignments to effective and efficient conclusion, and handle a diverse portfolio of Port Authority and Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) warehouse contracts.

The job generally consists of all phases of procurement-related tasks from requisition to contract award, including but not limited to consulting with internal client departments and formulating procurement strategy, reviewing scopes of work, pricing methodology, contract terms, developing solicitation packages, evaluating offers, and negotiating agreements. 

Responsibilities

The Buyer will utilize technology-based recording and reporting systems to analyze information. Under the supervision of the Program Director, Commodities and Services Division, the Buyer’s responsibilities will include but not be limited to:

• Procure goods and services for Port Authority and PATH warehouses and facilities operations.
• Analyze shopping carts (requisitions), scopes of work, product specifications, pricing sheets and solicitation documents to ensure clarity and completeness, and recommend revisions when appropriate.

• Identify and utilize the most effective procurement method for the request (bid, call-in, RFP, etc.), facilitate all aspects of the strategic sourcing and procurement processes for various commodities and services.
• Review and provide targeted feedback on scopes, price sheets and solicitation documents to ensure clarity and completeness.
• Research other government agency contracts online for piggybacking opportunities
• Manage the procurement process to ensure fairness, competitiveness, transparency and integrity.
• Conduct virtual pre-bid, pre-award, post-award and other vendor meetings, as well as occasional off-site meetings at various Port Authority facilities in New York and New Jersey as needed.
• Award contracts and purchase orders
• Assist with sourcing materials and services during the activation of emergencies by the Port Authority’s Office of Emergency Management, which may require off-site attendance.
• Work with the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI) to solicit bids under the Port Authority’s Small Contracts Program and ensure MBE/WBE/SDVOB/DBE Outreach goals are submitted for ODEI approval.
• Work with the internal stakeholders to ensure policy goals are met.
• Participate in the Port Authority’s MBE, WBE, SBE and SDVOB outreach functions, serving as the Procurement’s representative.
• Review and edit authorization documents for assigned procurements.
• Act as a liaison for dealing with non-performance, poor performance, default of contracts and payment issues.
• Gather information in response to Public Records Access (Freedom of Information) requests.
• Build competency in an assigned secondary procurement category determined by the Chief Procurement Officer, such as technology acquisitions, and act as a backup resource to ensure operational resilience and continuity of knowledge.

Minimum Qualifications

Candidate must present the following qualifications to be eligible for this position

• Bachelor's Degree or a minimum of two (2) years of procurement, contract administration or project management experience in a related field.
• Working knowledge of procurement principles inclusive of sourcing methods and award determination.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently.
• Demonstrated experience handling a variety of assignments simultaneously while meeting tight deadlines in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience in comprehending, reviewing and drafting contracts, including key components such as scopes of work, product specifications and terms and conditions.
• Experience developing and maintaining project schedules and delivering completed work product on time in a fast-paced environment with vague information.
• Demonstrated experience with standard business applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint Adobe Acrobat and Office 365.
• Experience effectively using ERP systems such as SAP.
• Demonstrated market research, problem-solving, analytical and negotiation skills.
• Effective written and communication skills, with a strong customer service orientation
• Effectively interact with all levels of stakeholders and management.

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.

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.​

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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:​

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Minimum: $73,658   Midpoint: $95,742   Maximum: $117,832

In accordance with Port Authority policy, this position permits employees to work remotely a maximum of one day per week, subject to operational and business needs.