IT Procurement / Purchasing Analyst

Overview

Empower AI is AI for government. Empower AI gives federal agency leaders the tools to elevate the potential of their workforce with a direct path for meaningful transformation. Headquartered in Reston, Va., Empower AI leverages three decades of experience solving complex challenges in Health, Defense, and Civilian missions. Our proven Empower AI Platform® provides a practical, sustainable path for clients to achieve transformation that is true to who they are, what they do, how they work, with the resources they have. The result is a government workforce that is exponentially more creative and productive. For more information, visit www.Empower.ai.

Empower AI is proud to be recognized as a 2024 Military Friendly Employer by Viqtory, the publisher of G.I. Jobs. This designation reflects the company’s commitment to hiring and supporting active-duty and veteran employees.

Responsibilities

Empower AI is seeking an IT Procurement / Purchasing Analyst to lead execution of IT materials purchasing support for an enterprise IT Customer Support Services program supporting a Department of War agency. Acting solely as a procurement agent (all acquisition authority and approvals remain with the Government), the analyst runs the Request to Initiate Purchase (RIP) process end to end under a materials-only T&M CLIN with a not-to-exceed ceiling: sourcing and price reasonableness, review of commercial supplier agreements for terms inconsistent with Federal law, expedited break/fix and mission-critical procurements, monthly bench stock replenishment, receiving coordination, and the financial accounting that feeds the Monthly Contract Performance Report. The role also prepares Cost-Benefit Analyses for innovation-related purchases and supports material estimates for Surge Plans. This is a salaried, FLSA-exempt position in which you will independently analyze situations, determine the appropriate course of action, and exercise discretion and independent judgment on matters of significance to the program and its customers. 

THIS IS A HYBRID ROLE BASED IN QUANTICO, VA (RKB) WITH REMOTE WORK ELIGIBILITY AND UP TO 10% OF TRAVEL INVOLVED. 

JOB DUTIES:

• Manage the end-to-end Request to Initiate Purchase (RIP) process for all pre-approved IT materials, ensuring strict adherence to the Government's RIP process and that no purchase is made without a formally approved RIP. 

• Conduct sourcing for all purchases, demonstrate price reasonableness, utilize Government-approved procurement vehicles when directed, and document the basis for vendor selection. 

• Review commercial supplier agreements and software license terms; identify terms inconsistent with Federal law or that could restrict Government rights; and formally deliver such agreements to the Contracting Officer for review and written approval prior to purchase. 

• Prioritize and expedite the RIP process for break/fix parts and supplies to minimize operational downtime, and submit expedited RIPs with clear justification within 24 hours of identifying urgent, mission-critical requirements, actively tracking them through the acquisition process. 

• Lead the monthly bench stock review: analyze consumption rates and needs, and upon Government concurrence, submit a consolidated RIP to replenish necessary supplies. 

• Prepare Cost-Benefit Analyses (CBAs) for proposed innovation-related procurements for Government approval prior to initiating a RIP, and support material cost estimates for Surge Plans and ROMs. 

• Coordinate receiving with logistics to verify shipment accuracy, certify receipt, resolve discrepancies, and assemble vendor invoices and receipts to support reimbursement invoices that identify actual cost per item, cumulative costs billed, and remaining CLIN balance. 

• Maintain the RIP Status Update for the Monthly Contract Performance Report (dates of RFQ to vendors, vendor responses, RIP submission, COR/KO approval, procurement completion, and receipt; total costs incurred and remaining IT Materials CLIN balance), manage procurement files, and continuously improve procurement SOPs and cycle time. 

Qualifications

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree and a minimum of 3 years of related experience (an additional 4 years of related experience may be substituted for the degree). 

• Must be a U.S. Citizen. 

• Must have an Active Secret Clearance (favorably adjudicated T3/T3R) to start. 

• Must be willing and able to obtain Top Secret eligibility after start, if required by mission needs. 

• Must be within investigation scope and/or currently enrolled in Continuous Evaluation / Continuous Vetting. 

• Demonstrated ability to work independently, analyze problems, determine the appropriate course of action, and exercise discretion and independent judgment with limited day-to-day supervision. 

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in IT procurement, purchasing, or acquisition support, preferably on Federal Government contracts. 

• Working knowledge of Federal procurement principles including price reasonableness, Government procurement vehicles (e.g., GSA Schedules, NASA SEWP), commercial item terms, and T&M/materials CLIN cost tracking against NTE ceilings. 

• Experience reviewing commercial supplier agreements and software license terms for restrictive or non-compliant provisions. 

• Advanced Excel skills and experience maintaining procurement trackers, cost accounting, and status reporting. 

• Experience coordinating with vendors, technical requesters, logistics, finance, and Government approving officials, and managing expedited actions under deadline. 

• Strong analytical, written, and verbal communication skills and meticulous attention to detail. 

DESIRED SKILLS: 

• NCMA CFCM or CCCM, DAU acquisition coursework, APICS/ASCM CSCP, or IAITAM CSAM certification. 

• Experience supporting Department of War (DoW), DoD, or Intelligence Community IT programs and knowledge of DFARS supply chain and security requirements (e.g., Section 889, DoDI 5200.44). 

• Experience with WAWF/PIEE invoicing and receiving documentation and with IUID requirements. 

• Experience preparing Cost-Benefit Analyses and ROMs for IT purchases. 

• Familiarity with software licensing models (Microsoft, Adobe, ServiceNow, Cisco) and hardware lifecycle planning. 

• Familiarity with ServiceNow procurement/asset modules and Power BI reporting. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

This position requires the ability to perform the below essential functions:

(Hiring Manager: the below physical requirements are examples; please ensure you edit these to make them position specific for the job posting then remove this reminder reference)

• Sitting for long periods
• Standing for long periods
• Ambulate throughout an office
• Ambulate between several buildings
• Stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl as required
• Repeatedly lift and carry weight up to 25 pounds
• Travel by land or air transportation 10%

About Empower AI

All hiring and promotion decisions at Empower AI are based on merit to bring the best talent available to contribute to our firm’s overall success. It is the policy of Empower AI not to discriminate against any applicant for employment, or employee because of age, color, sex, disability, national origin, race, religion, or veteran status. Empower AI is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.