Procurement Specialist I

Detroit Transportation Corporation • Detroit, Michigan • Full Time

Posted on Fri, Sep 25, 2026

Job Title: Procurement Specialist I
Department: Procurement and Material Control
Classification: Exempt
Supervisor Title: Strategic Sourcing and Procurement Director
Safety Sensitive: No
Remote Status: Potential with Approval from Supervisor
General Summary: Under the direction of the Strategic Sourcing and Procurement Director, the Procurement Specialist I is responsible for technical and administrative functions of the purchasing activities for the company, which includes purchasing and contract administration. This position prepares bids, proposals and award documents; administers contracts, conducts negotiations in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws, ordinances, rules and regulations, while maintaining the highest level of professionalism and confidentiality.
Duties and Responsibilities:

Procures or coordinates the equipment, goods, services, and supplies required by various departments in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local laws, policies and procedures
Prepares technical and complex specifications, contracts and solicitation documents, including all related research and value analysis
Prepares and analyzes competitive sealed bids, competitive sealed proposals, requests for quotations (RFQ) and requests for proposals (RFP)
Identifies and notifies potential sources
Conducts pre-bid and pre-proposal meetings
Coordinates and supervises activities of evaluation committees
Edits requisitions and confer with departments regarding requirements, specifications, quantity, quality and delivery
Negotiates with sellers and prepares awards
Performs contract administration, including liaison between suppliers and departments, compliance with contract terms and conditions, compliance with grant requirements, negotiation of contract amendments, extensions and change orders
Performs or obtains cost/price analysis, as appropriate
Monitors sellers’ compliance/performance to ensure that specifications/statement of work are met
Maintains status and project file records of procurements including changes and modifications
Performs contract audits when required
Reviews and executes contracts, purchase orders, change orders and other documents within delegated authority
Maintains the integrity of the public procurement process
Researches market sources and suppliers to locate and ensure most cost effective and competitive pricing for the purchase of supplies and services
Prepares and maintains accurate records and documentation on all solicitations, responses, purchases, contracts, correspondence and related follow-up
Actively solicits feedback from colleagues and supervisor on opportunities for growth and development
Retrieves files and documents from the designated procurement folders and drives on the company network.
May utilize approved external programs essential to the procurement deparment’s regular operations.
Incorporates safety into all aspects of job functions
Must work within established methods, practices, procedures, policies of the DTC and federal or state laws
Performs other duties as assigned

Supervision Given To: N/A
Education, Experience and Qualifications: Minimum:

Bachelor’s degree in Public or Business Administration, or related field
3 years of experience as a buyer or purchasing agent
Combination of education and experience may substitute for minimum requirements

Preferred:

Experience in the public sector
Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) or equivalent

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Essential:

Knowledge of contract documents, solicitation methods and contract administration related to procurement
Knowledge of mathematics to perform computations and collect statistics for basic cost and price analysis
Knowledge of laws, policies and procedures governing public procurement
Basic knowledge of blueprint reading
Ability to multi-task
Proficient in Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook, etc.)
Ability to manage projects
Ability to read, interpret, explain and properly apply rules, regulations, laws, policies and procedures
Ability to develop effective and cooperative working relationships with other departments, employees, suppliers and other public agencies
Ability to use judgment and initiative in making recommendations and resolving problems that are highly complex and sensitive in nature
Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing, including the ability to convey complex and technical subjects in a clear, concise and positive manner
Ability to establish schedules and to complete projects on a timely basis
Ability to successfully deal with all persons in a fair and equitable manner
Ability to make difficult decisions and award contracts impartially and objectively
Possess complete integrity and a high sense of personal and professional ethics

Preferred:

Working Environment:

The physical environment requires the employee to work inside
The majority of the work will be in an office, but the position may require work outside of an office setting
May be requested to work outside of regular office hours for special program events

Physical Demands:

Must be able to perform the following with or without reasonable accommodations:
Walk, stand, sit, speak, hear and use of manual dexterity
Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer
Lift and carry up to 15lbs

Other Requirements:

Must pass a background check Must pass complete physical examination and drug screen Must have a driver’s record compliant to ‘DTC Driving Policy’

AuditFriendly salary estimate

The employer did not post a salary for this role. Based on AuditFriendly's salary intelligence model (comparable live postings, role, seniority, and location), we estimate base pay of $54,000–$103,000 per year (median ~$80,000). This is an AuditFriendly estimate, not an employer-provided figure.

More live procurement_specialist roles

Browse all live jobs · Accounting & finance salary data

What the data says about this job

Advertised pay for Procurement Specialist: a median of $77,900 across 1,875 priced postings. Explore the market

Measured from employers' own postings and public filings. How we measure

View the interactive listing →