Procurement Systems Specialist

This position is eligible for teleworking, which is currently one day per week. New hires are eligible to apply 30 days after their effective hire date.

Opening:

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is North America's largest transportation network, serving a population of 15.3 million people across a 5,000-square-mile travel area surrounding New York City, Long Island, southeastern New York State, and Connecticut. The MTA network comprises the nation’s largest bus fleet and more subway and commuter rail cars than all other U.S. transit systems combined. MTA strives to provide a safe and reliable commute, excellent customer service, and rewarding opportunities.

Position Objective:

The Procurement Systems Specialist is a highly skilled technical and functional position with up-to-date, expert knowledge of Enterprise Resource Planning Applications, computers, and communications systems, industry standards and trends, current and evolving vendor products and services across a broad range of technology categories, including PeopleSoft.  Utilizing this experience, the Procurement Systems Specialist will design business solutions, analyze production issues, work with IT to produce customizations, evaluate, advise, select third-party bolt-ons, and oversee the implementation of technologies integrated with the MTA Business Service Center (BSC) PeopleSoft system to best meet the consolidated needs of the MTA and its constituent agencies.  This position will be assigned to work in the BSC Procurement Department to support the critical business functions (Purchasing, eProcurement, Inventory, Commitment Control, Strategic Sourcing, Supplier Contracts) and the integration with various systems throughout the MTA and the agencies, and with 3rd party catalog management providers.  These touch points systems at the agencies range from home grown legacy systems, customized off the shelf (COTS) products and leading edge state of the art transportation and information systems.

Responsibilities:

• Share technological knowledge with the BSC IT team

• Support enhancements, modifications, and additions with regard to potential Bolt-ons to PeopleSoft.
• Provide advice and recommendations for the integration of new technologies at the BSC.

• Supports Procurement functions as needed and makes suggestions for business process improvements based on emerging technology.
• Coordinates and guides IT staff with regard to providing enhancements to self-service, portal, and web enhancements for the BSC.
• Support Procurement PeopleSoft production, including troubleshooting error messages, closing requisitions, purchase orders, and contracts, clean-up of sourcing errors, interface issues with 3rd party catalog maintenance providers or bolt-ons. Regularly meet with senior MTA Procurement staff and Agency subject matter experts.
• Perform other duties within the Procurement Dept as assigned or as required. Assisting in the completion of tasks to ensure and enhance the Department's effectiveness in the completion of its mission statement.
• Further, the MTA's mission and objective are to use new technology to increase transparency and improve internal and external customer services and information delivery.
• Utilize their knowledge and experience with PeopleSoft (Financials) and/or Oracle Hyperion products and the technologies to help deploy their new mobile architecture, web architecture, or cloud architecture, and improved features.
• Troubleshoot Commitment Control errors and warnings. Roll purchase orders from one budget year to the next, and clean up outstanding pre-encumbrances and encumbrances. 
• Performs research on state of the art information technologies, presenting and making recommendations. Analyzes and reports on the information technology impact on other agency functions and systems; ensures the interoperability of systems and initiatives.

Qualifications:

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Must possess the ability to interface with all levels of staff, affiliated agencies, other departments, consultants, and other outside agencies.
• Must possess excellent conflict management skills with the ability to resolve conflicts in a constructive and timely fashion while maintaining proper procedures and practices, as required. 
• Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to review and edit work done by others. 
• Must possess excellent analytical and problem solving skills.  
• Must be adept at balancing time between projects that require long and concentrated time at the desk, often meeting tight deadlines, with other projects that require frequent time spent away from the desk attending various meetings (e.g., conversion, implementation, testing, training).

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent combination of education and experience) in Business, Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, or related field.
• A minimum of 6 years' experience with major IT procurement projects (e.g., ERP implementation or upgrade, or hands-on support). 

Preferred:

• A minimum of eighteen months of managerial/ supervisory experience is preferred.
• An advanced degree and/or professional certification are desirable.

Other Information

May need to work outside of normal work hours (i.e., evenings and weekends)

Travel may be required to other MTA locations or other external sites.

According to the New York State Public Officers Law & the MTA Code of Ethics, all employees who hold a policymaking position must file an Annual Statement of Financial Disclosure (FDS) with the NYS Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (the “Commission”).

Employees driving company vehicles must complete defensive driver training once every three years for current MNR drivers, or within 180 days of hire or transfer for an employee entering an authorized driving position.

Equal Employment Opportunity

MTA and its subsidiary and affiliated agencies are Equal Opportunity Employers, including those concerning veteran status and individuals with disabilities.

The MTA encourages qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and abilities, including military service members, to apply.