Buyer - Virginia Passenger Rail Authority : Job Details

The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) is a political subdivision established by Chapter 1230 of the 2020 Acts of Assembly. VPRA is responsible for promoting, sustaining, and expanding the availability of passenger and commuter rail services in the Commonwealth, including all administrative and fiduciary responsibilities for Virginia's state-supported passenger rail services. The VPRA also funds Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and administers all capital expansion projects, infrastructure, and land acquisitions related to the $3.7 billion Transforming Rail in Virginia initiative, which will double Amtrak and VRE service in Virginia over the next decade. The VPRA acts as a responsible public entity for acquiring, constructing, improving, maintaining, or operating a qualifying transportation facility under the Public­ Private Partnership Act of 1995.

Are you in need of a change? Do you want great benefits and the opportunity to work with an incredible team? If so, VPRA is the place for you! VPRA is searching for a Buyer responsible for the day-to-day procurement oversight for the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA). This position will be primarily responsible for directly procuring a moderate to high volume of construction, architecture/engineering services, MRO services, and small purchases of goods and services. In addition, the Buyer will develop and deploy high-level strategies and contracting tools to enable VPRA to achieve its goals.

The provisions of the Virginia Public Procurement Act (VPPA)do not apply to VPRA; however, the Buyer has substantive experience with VPPA requirements and principles and is familiar with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR). Additionally, the Buyer is knowledgeable about procurement requirements associated with using federal dollars through grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, such as Buy America and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise utilization.

Under minimal direction, the Buyer will:

• Ensure all purchases are performed accurately and timely and follow applicable laws, regulations, and VPRA policies.
• Perform work of moderate to considerable difficulty, including writing solicitations and obtaining bids, proposals, and statements of interest and qualifications; facilitate bid/procurement process; conduct pre-bid/pre-proposal meetings and public bid openings; issue revisions, addenda, or announcements; perform bid/cost analysis; negotiate and award contracts; issue notices of awards; and participate in bid protests resolution.
• Develop reliable sources of supplies/services, emphasizing increasing participation by small and diverse businesses.
• Select and deploy appropriate procurement and contracting methods consistent with VPRA requirements, Federal grants, rules, and marketplace or industry standards.
• Provide oversight for writing and administering contracts that appropriately balance risk, include appropriate terms/conditions, consider VPRA policies, and are legally sufficient.
• Resolve disputes relating to the scope of work, deliverables, and performance.
• Effectively manage change orders and contract renewals.
• Perform contract administration work for construction projects, such as change orders, maintaining backup documentation, tracking bonding and insurance requirements, SWaM/DBE participation, and subcontractor management.
• Manage procurement issues in coordination with procurement leadership to assign, track, and close all issues.
• Attend all customer service calls, utilizing available resources to resolve issues and conflicts while managing all procurement stages effectively. Serve as an escalation point for procurement issues, ensuring that problems are reduced to VPRA leadership.
• Ensure continued compliance with changes in law and VPRA contracting policy. Develop efficient and effective contracting practices for VPRA, explicitly driven to serve and mitigate risk for internal customers, stakeholders, vendors/consultants, and departmental staff.
• Provide guidance and training to VPRA users on procurement strategies, planning, preparation, compliance, and proposal specifications while staying current on market trends and product availability.
• Develop strategic purchasing agreements that result in cost savings and risk reduction for VPRA, ensuring that best business practices are followed to improve the performance, compliance, efficiency, and effectiveness of VPRA's procurement team.
• Assist with vendor management and prospective bidders, communicating processes, policies, and procedures, and representing VPRA tactfully and professionally.
• Communicate with VPRA leadership regarding procurement issues.
• Provide data to support spend analysis and sourcing development.
• Minimal travel may be required (