Procurement Lead, State and Local Government

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Procurement Lead, State and Local Government based in United States. This role leads complex IT procurement engagements for state government clients, guiding projects from initial scoping through RFP development and vendor selection. You will serve as a strategic procurement advisor while coordinating internal engagement teams and client stakeholders. The position combines public-sector procurement expertise, project management, executive communication, and team leadership. You will oversee a focused team while ensuring procurement activities align with applicable regulations, strategic objectives, and industry best practices. Success requires strong judgment, meticulous attention to detail, and the ability to navigate complex organizational environments. This is an opportunity to influence critical technology and services procurements while delivering compliant, high-quality outcomes for government clients. Accountabilities: - Lead the end-to-end procurement lifecycle, from initial scoping and requirements definition through RFP development, vendor questions, and support for contract execution. - Serve as a procurement subject matter expert for clients and internal engagement teams, providing strategic guidance throughout competitive procurement initiatives. - Lead the development, drafting, review, and finalization of complex Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Requests for Information (RFIs), and related procurement materials. - Manage and mentor a team of 2–4 professionals, establishing priorities, assigning responsibilities, and maintaining clear accountability across the RFP development process. - Coordinate closely with multiple engagement workstreams to ensure consistent objectives, timelines, and deliverables. - Build and maintain trusted relationships with client executives and key stakeholders, acting as a strategic advisor throughout procurement engagements. - Design and facilitate workshops, adapt communication approaches to different audiences, and help stakeholders build consensus around procurement decisions.

- Apply advanced project management practices to establish schedules, milestones, deliverables, and quality standards. - Proactively identify project risks and develop mitigation strategies to maintain momentum and meet delivery commitments. - Prepare clear reports and analyses covering project progress, challenges, risks, and opportunities for improvement. - Ensure project outcomes meet established success criteria, including procurement compliance, high-quality deliverables, client satisfaction, and on-time execution. - Review potential IT vendor respondents as required to identify and address potential conflicts of interest before an offer is finalized. Requirements: - 8+ years of proven project management experience, ideally involving complex procurement or consulting engagements. - Demonstrated experience developing competitive IT procurements within the public sector, particularly for state government clients. - Experience with Health and Human Services (HHS) competitive procurements is strongly preferred. - Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. - PMP or another relevant professional certification is preferred. - Exceptional project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple competing priorities in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments. - Strong knowledge of procurement processes, requirements development, RFP creation, and vendor management. - Excellent communication and facilitation skills, with demonstrated confidence presenting to and advising executive-level stakeholders. - Strong client relationship and stakeholder management capabilities, with the ability to navigate complex organizational dynamics.