Purchasing Agent V - Remote anywhere from Colorado - Classified

Purchasing Agent V - Remote anywhere from Colorado - Classified

Salary

$98,000.00 - $107,000.00 Annually

Location

Denver Metro, CO

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

00699-PurAgtV-SFO-0726

Department

Department of Education

Division

School Finance and Operations

Opening Date

08/19/2026

Closing Date

9/10/2026 11:59 PM Mountain

FLSA

Determined by Position

Type of Announcement

This position is open only to Colorado state residents.

Department Contact Information

HR@cde.state.co.us

Primary Physical Work Address

Downtown/Denver Metro/Eligible for a hybrid (office/remote) work environment.* On occasion may be required to report to the work location.

How To Apply

Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Department Information

This position is only open to current Residents of Colorado.

Incumbent will be required to complete work for CDE within Colorado.

Colorado Department of Education - What We Do

The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) provides leadership, resources, support, and accountability to the states 178 school districts, 1,888 schools, over 53,000 teachers, and over 3,200 administrators to help them build capacity to meet the needs of the states approximately 905,000 public school students. In addition, CDE provides structural and administrative support to the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind and the Charter School Institute.

As the administrative arm of the State Board of Education, CDE is responsible for implementing state and federal education laws, disbursing state and federal funds, holding schools and districts accountable for performance, licensing all educators, and providing public transparency of performance and financial data.

CDE is a values-based agency that serves students, parents, and the general public by protecting public trust through ensuring adherence to laws, strong stewardship of public funds, and accountability for student performance.

CDE strives to incorporate five core values that we uphold in our work internally and externally. If you come to CDE, be prepared to incorporate Integrity, Equity, Accountability, Trust, and commitment to Service in what you do.

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 resolute in non-discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities.

Why Work For CDE

The work we do is rewarding and impacts the students, families, educators, and communities across Colorado. Our leadership also promotes a culture that puts families and self-care as a priority. Along with meaningful work and an environment that puts employees first, the state also offers rich benefits that intend to make us an Employer of Choice!

The following is a summary of the benefits we offer:

• Flexible work schedules and flexible workplace options that may include flexible working hours, working from home, working in the office, and/or a hybrid working environment.
• Premier medical, dental, vision, and dependent life insurance options. All with a generous employer contribution keeping employee costs as low as possible.
• Employer paid short-term disability and life insurance
• Up to 160 hours of Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML)
• 11 paid holidays per year
• Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals
• Retirement through the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) www.copera.org
• Employer paid RTD Eco Pass (certain restrictions may apply)
• Paid professional development opportunities

Description of Job

Work Environment:

This position is full-time and is eligible for a hybrid work environment.

A Remote (Home) office is required.

• May be required on occasion to report to the work location per business needs.

• Essential Functions (ADAAA)

• SEDENTARY/Office environment:

• Required to sit, view a computer screen, and utilize a keyboard and mouse for extended periods of time

• Required lifting, bending, stooping, pushing, walking, etc.

• DL Not Required: Required to independently obtain and determine means to complete travel requirements.

Why Work for CDE Purchasing?

MISSION: Are you interested in drafting solicitations and contracts to benefit schools, students, and teachers in Colorado? Then this is the position for you! Our team procures and contracts for a wide variety of services, such as reading training and assessments for students, training and support for teachers, information technology systems to document students nutrition needs in schools, programs to provide assistive technology for students with disabilities, and much more.

This position will make program-level procurement decisions and collaborate with Directors across the agency, as well as internal and external teams, to draft high-stakes solicitations and contracts that have a critical statewide impact on schools, teachers, and students. By joining the CDE team, you can help support a vital mission and be proud of the work you do!

TEAM: Do you want to work with and help lead a collaborative, supportive team? CDE has an amazing purchasing and contracts team made up of seven individuals who are ready to welcome and support new employees joining the team. CDE's Purchasing Director has been leading the team for going on ten years and has fifteen years of State procurement and contracts experience. CDE purchasing is one of the best teams in the state, with experienced, dedicated, hard-working, fun, and witty individuals.

FLEXIBILITY: Have you found yourself really enjoying working from home? If so, this position can be filled by eligible applicants who wish to work from home, as long as they reside anywhere in the great State of Colorado. Do you still like going into the office? We also have you covered, and you can choose to work in the office if you prefer. In addition, CDE purchasing offers flexible work schedules and promotes a healthy work-life balance.

Position Summary:

The hiring range for this position is reasonably expected to be $98,000-$107,000 annually.

The final salary may be higher or lower based on the selected candidate's relevant experience, knowledge, skills, qualifications, market considerations, and internal equity. Candidates with directly relevant experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications, including comparable experience in another state agency or public-sector organization, may be considered for compensation above the anticipated hiring range, subject to a salary analysis and the approved salary range for the position.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Draft high-stakes solicitations, contracts, and purchase orders, particularly requests for proposals/invitations to negotiate for information technology systems and services that have statewide impact on schools, teachers, and students. Facilitate evaluations for the same high-stakes solicitations, which often include high-level school staff evaluators, such as superintendents, principals, and teachers.
• Coordinates with program staff to draft the statements-of-work and payment structure for contracts, amendments, interagency agreements, intergovernmental agreements, and purchase orders. This position will focus on drafting and executing the highest-stakes contracts, including but not limited to information technology contracts, high-dollar-value contracts, and contracts with statewide impact for schools, teachers, and students.
• Negotiates legal terms for contracts, amendments, interagency agreements, intergovernmental agreements, and purchase orders. This will likely involve negotiating with the legal teams of information technology vendors. Drafts and submits fiscal rule waivers and other approval requests for the State Purchasing and Contracts Office.
• Mediate disputes between CDE and its contractors and draft breach/termination letters.
• As requested by the CDE Procurement Director, solve and render decisions on conflicts of interest, timeline issues, and other complex issues.
• Help provide constructive feedback and assistance to purchasing agent 3s on their contracts, negotiations, and solicitations. Although this position provides constructive feedback, it is non-managerial.
• Learn and apply the construction portions of the procurement code to assist with construction contracts/solicitations and to aid CDE's purchasing agent 4 as needed to interpret the construction code. Applicants do not need experience with construction codes and can learn them on the job.
• Drafts and implements procurement policies and procedures.
• Position maintains knowledge of, interprets, and assists other purchasing staff and CDE program staff in interpreting Procurement Code and Rules, State Fiscal Rules, State Purchasing Office, and State Controller policies, department purchasing best practices, and other applicable department policies and procedures that impact purchasing and contracting.
• Develop and provide CDE-wide training on all topics of procurement and contracting.
• As requested by the CDE Procurement Official, serve on statewide boards or assist with statewide-level review work.
• Conduct advanced review of legislation to provide feedback to legislators on bills that have a procurement impact and review proposed legislation for fiscal impact.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

This position requires eight (8) years of experience OR a combination of education and experience totaling eight (8) years.

Education and Experience:

1. Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college. AND four (4) years of relevant experience. Relevant experience includes writing requests for proposals and/or ITN solicitations and/or writing contract statements of work.

OR

Experience:

2. If you do not have a bachelor's degree, you must have eight (8) years of relevant experience. Relevant experience must include experience writing requests for proposals, ITN solicitations, and/or writing contract statements of work.

OR

Education and Experience:

3. A Juris Doctor degree, or a Master's degree from an accredited college or university in a field of study related to the work assignment, may be substituted for the required experience on a year-for-year basis. Relevant experience must include experience writing requests for proposals, ITN solicitations, and/or writing contract statements of work.

a. For example, if you had a Juris Doctorate degree [three (3) years of study] and a bachelor's degree four (4) years of study), you need one (1) year of relevant experience.

b. For example, if you had a relevant Master's degree (Procurement, Education, or other writing-intensive Master's Degree) that required two years of study and a bachelor's degree [four (4) years of study], you need an additional two (2) years of relevant experience.

The following are NOT relevant experiences:

• Making purchases with a credit card.

• Administrative duties related to purchasing.

• Inventory management.

• Filing of contracts or purchase orders.

• Data entry related to purchase orders or contracts.

• Experience with grant requests for applications or grants.

• Accounting work, such as paying invoices.

• Experience only with lower-stakes purchasing work, like purchase orders, vendor agreements, and option letters.

Relevant work must include significant writing duties, including writing statements of work for:

• Requests for Proposals/Invitations to Negotiate and/or original contracts.

_____

QUALIFICATIONS AND CONDITIONS:

Qualifications for Success in the Position:

• Excellent writing, research, analytical, and critical thinking skills.

• Note: This position will draft high-stakes solicitations and contracts that have a critical, statewide impact on schools, teachers, and students. Excellent analytical, research, and writing skills are required. Applicants should review AdvantageVSS - Solicitation View Page (RFP) and view the following RFP numbers, which were written primarily by CDE purchasing agents (2025000096, 2026000030, 2023000007, and 2022000439) to understand the quality of writing that will be expected for this position and the level of drafting experience needed for this position.

• Skilled at building consensus and making decisions for requirements and scopes of work for complex information technology and service-based projects. Adept at internal stakeholder management and fostering cross-functional agency collaboration.

• Demonstrated diplomacy and acted when working on sensitive topics like conflicts of interest, vendor performance issues, and other topics.

• Initiative-taker with project management skills who independently manages projects and meets timelines.

• Exceptional communication skills with experience communicating with all levels of staff, including Directors.

• Diligence and mindfulness with an attention to detail.

• Experience in training or explaining difficult concepts to internal and external stakeholders.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong attention to detail (proofing work, spelling, grammar, formatting, etc.).

• Demonstrated ability to effectively balance quality of work and productivity expectations.

• Demonstrated ability to effectively collaborate with internal and external customers (e.g. school district personnel, other CDE units).

• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and organize work to accommodate and meet the changing needs of the department and meet deadlines.

• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and exhibit a proactive approach to work

• Demonstrated ability to identify problems and recommend solutions.

• Demonstrated ability to work independently, as well as on a team.

Preferred Qualifications (Preferred/Not Required):

• State or federal government solicitation and/or contract experience.

• Applicants with contract and procurement experience only in the private sector are not likely to have the requisite experience needed for a senior authority position, as the successful applicant must have considerable experience in analyzing, interpreting, and applying government procurement statutes, rules, policies, and drafting solicitations and contracts in compliance with those statutes, rules, and policies. Although applicants from the private sector may apply, they must demonstrate in their applications that they have considerable experience analyzing, interpreting, and applying state procurement statutes, rules, and policies.

• Juris Doctorate Degree.

Conditions of Employment (Required):

• Must be willing and able to submit to the pre-screening process and pass a background check.
• Ability and willingness to independently determine, obtain means, and complete commuting requirements.
• Report to work location per business needs
• DL Not Required: Required to independently determine and obtain means to complete travel requirements.

Supplemental Information

Complete Applications must include:

• Completed Online Application: Required - Submitted through our ATS.

• Cover Letter: Required - Attached as a separate document.

• Resume: Required - Attached as a separate document.

• Transcript: Required if using education to meet MQs - Attached to the online application and meeting requirements as described under "College Transcripts".

• Two writing samples of original contracts or RFPs/ITNs independently drafted by the applicant (with collaboration from program staff but without significant assistance from procurement team leaders or procurement supervisors) attached to the online application.

• In choosing the writing samples to submit, review AdvantageVSS - Solicitation View Page (RFP) and view the following RFP numbers (2025000096, 2026000030, 2023000007, and 2022000439) to understand the quality of writing that will be expected for this position. Note: this position will not handle requests for applications or grants; CDE is seeking contracts and RFPs/ITNs, not grants or requests for applications.

• Answer Supplemental Questions (Please note answers such as N/A will mean automatic disqualification).

College Transcripts: If you are using education to qualify, a legible copy of your official or unofficial college transcript(s) or a foreign credential evaluation report must be submitted with your application. Transcripts must show the name of the school and that a degree was conferred. Transcripts from colleges or universities outside of the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. Failure to provide a transcript or foreign credential evaluation report may result in your application being rejected and you will not be able to continue in the selection process for this position.

Failure to submit a complete application as defined above by the announcement close will result in your application being removed from consideration.

Resumes and Cover Letters WILL NOT be reviewed for minimum qualification screening.

FOR CURRENT OR FORMER EMPLOYEES OF THE STATE OF COLORADO:

Per the requirements of the Step Pay Program implemented on July 1, 2024, any State employee must be paid a rate that is equal to or greater than the appropriate step pay rate within their classification's pay range based on completed years in their current class series as of June 30. All current and former State employees must ensure that your entire work history within the State Classified System, including at Institutions of Higher Education, is indicated in your application so that your time-in-series can be calculated accurately.

Email Address:

All correspondence regarding your status in the selection/examination process will be conducted via email. Include a working email address on your application; one that is checked often as time-sensitive correspondence such as exam information or notification will take place via email. Please set up your e-mail to accept messages from "state.co.us" and "info@governmentjobs.com" addresses. It is your responsibility to ensure that your email will accept these notices and/or review your junk mail and spam-filtered email.

Appeal Rights:

If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for the position, you may protest the action by filing an appeal with the State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director within 10 days from the date you receive notice of the elimination.

Also, if you wish to challenge the selection and comparative analysis process, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director within 10 days from the receipt of notice or knowledge of the action you are challenging.

Refer to Chapters 4 and 8 of the State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Directors Administrative Procedures, 4 CCR 801, for more information about the appeals process. The State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Directors Administrative Procedures are available at www.colorado.gov/spb.

A standard appeal form is available at: https://spb.colorado.gov/ . If you appeal, your appeal must be submitted in writing on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative, and received at the following address within 10 days of your receipt of notice or knowledge of the action: Colorado State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director, Attn: Appeals Processing, 1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver, CO 80203. Fax: 303-866-5038. Phone: 303-866-3300. The ten-day deadline and these appeal procedures also apply to all charges of discrimination.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and Equal Employment Opportunity

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, a medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

The Colorado Department of Education is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or performing essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to hr@cde.state.co.us.

The State of Colorado offers permanent employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, life and disability insurance, as well as a comprehensive leave program. Please click the following link for detailed information: www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/benefits

Please note that each agencys contact information is different; therefore, we encourage all applicants to view the full, official job announcement which includes contact information and class title. Select the job you wish to view, then click on the "Print" icon.

01

Resumes and cover letters must be uploaded as an attachment to your online application. Resumes, Cover Letters, or other required Supplemental Documentation will not be accepted after the closing date and time of the announcement. Have you uploaded and attached your resume, cover letter, and other required documentation to this application?

• Yes
• No

02

Please indicate your understanding that failure to submit all items listed under "Complete Applications" at the time of application may remove your application from consideration. If have not uploaded the required items, you can go back now and upload those documents before submission of this application.

• Yes
• No

03

In an effort to encourage equity and diversity and meet legal requirements in hiring, items with personally identifiable information will not be released to Hiring Managers until the interview stage. Application work history must demonstrate that you meet minimum qualifications and detail any experience relevant to the position. Please indicate your understanding of this requirement.

04

Minimum Qualifications Your application as submitted is used to determine if you meet Minimum Qualifications. Please read the Minimum Qualifications and ensure that the information in your application describes experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities to the Minimum Qualifications. Human Resources Analysts will not infer that you meet the Minimum Qualifications if the information isnt detailed in your application. Years of experience will be expressed in terms of full-time equivalent service with full-time workload equal to one (1) Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) year. No more than 1.00 FTE year may be credited in any twelve (12) month period. Positions working 40 hours or less per week will be pro-rated: 30 hrs/wk=0.75 FTE=9 mos credit; 20 hrs/wk=0.5 FTE=6 mos credit; 10 hrs/wk=0.25 FTE=3 mos credit.)

05

Are you using substitutions to meet the minimum qualifications for the position?

• Yes
• No

06

If you are using substitutions to meet the minimum qualifications for the position, select which option applies to you.

• Using additional education to substitute for the required experience.
• Using additional relevant experience to substitute for the education requirement.
• Not using substitutions.

07

The Colorado Constitution requires that applicants for State of Colorado Classified positions be Colorado residents at the time the application is submitted. Are you a current resident of the State of Colorado who can provide proof of Colorado residency?

08

If you are a current or previous State of Colorado employee (including public Institutions of higher education), please provide your Employee Identification Number (EID) in order to verify your current or previous employment. If you indicated that you are a current State of Colorado employee, please list all State of Colorado Departments or institutions of Higher Education for which you have worked for and your Employee ID (if known): Your EID begins with 997 and is nine digits long. Please do not enter your Social Security Number. If not applicable, please state "N/A".

09

Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application. In the space below, please provide an explanation as to why the prior termination or resignation should NOT disqualify your application from the current position. If this does not apply to you, please put "N/A".

10

If you are a veteran eligible for Veteran Preference Points, a copy of your DD-214 is required to be submitted as an attachment to your online application. If you have not attached a copy of your DD214 to your application, you may go back and do so now. Have you attached a copy of your DD-214 to this application?

• N/A - I am not a veteran.
• Yes - I attached a copy of my DD-214 to this application.
• No - I am a veteran, but I do not qualify for veterans preference.

11

This position is eligible for a Hybrid flex work place; the incumbent is required to maintain a home office within Colorado and report to the office as needed to complete the job duties of this position. Please indicate your understanding and acceptance of this requirement.

12

The salary range listed is the departments good faith range expected to be offered. Are you willing to accept an offer in the range listed in this announcement?

• Yes.
• Maybe. I believe my knowledge and skills encompass all of the minimum qualifications, the preferred qualifications, and special requirements of the position. I have detailed this in the work experience section of the application.

13

If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627 Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application first, ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files, and second, close the document before you attempt upload (attach) it.

• Yes
• No

14

1. Considering the two writing samples (original contracts and/or RFPs/ITNs) you submitted: • Explain who you collaborated with, how you fostered cross-functional agency collaboration to determine the scope of work, and how the drafting responsibilities for the contract and/or solicitation were split between program staff and you. Describe the high-stakes risks associated with the project and how you mitigated those risks.

15

2. Now is the time to brag about yourself! Describe how you meet the definition of senior authority in the Colorado classified system. Describe your overall experience and skills associated with drafting high-stakes contracts and solicitations, facilitating high-stakes solicitation evaluations, and negotiating complex legal terms with vendors' lawyers. CDE realizes that some State procurement units have separate contract and procurement groups, so address as many of the topics above as are relevant to your experience.

Required Question

Employer State of Colorado

Address See the full announcement by clicking

the "Printer" icon located above the job title

Location varies by announcement, Colorado, --

Website https://careers.colorado.gov/