Job Details

Salary : $94,001.80 - $141,002.70 Annually
Location : (Metro Square) Saint Paul, MN
Job Type: Full Time
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 2026-00079
Department: Strategic Team
Division: Finance/Admin
Opening Date: 02/06/2026
Closing Date: 2/23/2026 11:59 PM Central
Union: Unrepresented
FLSA Status: exempt

Position Summary
This vacancy is with the Finance department on the Strategic service team. The eligibility list created by this vacancy may be used to hire other vacancies in the department or County.

The ideal candidate will collaboratively lead, organize, and continuously improve a relationship-centered purchasing and contracting function for Ramsey County. Serving as a subject matter expert, they will work closely with Division leadership to foster a strategic and productive work environment that supports both team success and broader organizational goals. Key responsibilities include overseeing all aspects of procurement including solicitations, evaluations, contract development, and ensuring compliance with county policies and regulatory standards. The role demands extensive expert experience in drafting and publishing solicitations and complex contracts across a wide range of categories, including construction, information technology, client services, professional services, supplies, equipment, materials, and labor. The candidate will manage a team of seven professionals, providing mentorship and training in procurement practices and contract writing. Strong policy development skills and a deep understanding of county governance and authority structures are essential to succeed in this role.
Manage one of three county purchasing and contracting functions. Collaboratively plan, organize, manage and improve a relationship focused purchasing and contracting function for Ramsey County. Serve as an expert in the area of purchasing and contracting in collaboration with Division leadership. Creates a productive and strategic work environment, ultimately contributing to the success of their assigned team and purchasing and contracting organization as a whole. Functions may include the intake process, purchasing and contracting procedures and evaluating policies and procedures to ensure compliance with regulatory standards and business needs.

To view or print a copy of the complete Ramsey County job (class) description for this position, go to: Once at this page, you can browse the alphabetical list or search for a job description.
Flexible Workplace:
This position is identified under the designation of 'flex work eligible', meaning that the employee can formally opt to be in-office full-time or work a flex schedule in which at least two-days per week are performed in office and other days can be performed in a remote-first environment. Regardless of selection, the position carries expectations regarding on-site responsibilities and will require schedule flexibility beyond the minimum expectations set forth in the county's flexible workplace policy. To view Ramsey County's Flexible Workplace policy, go to:
Examples of Work Performed

1. Promote a diverse, culturally competent, and respectful workplace.
2. Collaboratively develop and continually improve and adapts the standards of purchasing policies and procedures adapted for the county.
3. Partner with other Division leaders, County Attorney's office, Risk Management and others across the county to support an efficient and relational purchasing and contracting system.
4. Collaboratively design, implement, and monitor a comprehensive internal training program for all participants in the purchasing process.
5. Develop long and short range plans; provide advice on cost- effective approaches for procurement of materials, supplies, equipment, space and services.
6. Forecast all staffing needs for their team(s) based on workload and anticipated purchasing and contracting volumes.

Purchasing and Contracting Coordinators and Support Services

1. Act as main point-of-contact for (MPOC) for business owners and representatives and establish a strategic and operational relationship with assigned service team.
2. Partners with business owners to develop the solicitation and perform the purchasing and contracting process components.
3. Develops and maintains purchasing and contracting portfolios reflecting planned, in process and completed initiatives while maintaining a 3-year roadmap.
4. Engages with community as needed throughout the Purchasing and Contracting process.
5. Supports all purchasing and contracting teams throughout the entire contracting life cycle.
6. Collaborates with the Contract Administration Team (CAT) to track contract and vendor information and collect, develop and distribute defined reports.
7. Supports communication including website management and external postings and manages internal and external feedback loops.
8. Facilitates collaboration across all purchasing and contracting functions to develop and deliver purchasing and contract training content.
9. Performs internal audits to ensure official purchasing and contracting records will meet audit requirements.

Purchasing and Contracting Management Team

1. Collaborates with business representatives and purchasing and contracting personnel to manage the solicitation process from the initial posting through response review/contractor selection, through execution of contracts and amendments.
2. Creates draft and final solicitations for approval.
3. Act as main point-of-contact for contractors during the solicitation and contracting process.
4. Reviews, advises, utilizes, approves for use cooperative and/or state contracts.
5. Creates draft and final contracts and amendments for approval.
6. Collaborates with communications and business personnel to develop and manage solicitation social media campaigns and community advertisements.
7. Facilitates pre-proposal conferences.
8. Collaborates across all purchasing and contracting functions to develop and deliver training content.

Contract Administration Team (CAT)

1. Main point-of-contact (MPOC) for contractors subsequent to contract execution.
2. Provides orientation for contractors with business personnel.
3. Tracks contracts: ensures contracts are renewed, amended or closed.
4. Collaboratively administers contracts with business representatives and/or purchasing and contracting personnel.
5. Performs quality assurance activities through contractor service reviews and status reports; facilitates contractor evaluation with relevant stakeholders.
6. Addresses breaches and performance issues.
7. Monitors contractor invoices, payments, and overall spend against the contract.
8. Develops and delivers training content.
9. Tracks contract and vendor (contractor) information in the system of record.
10. Collects, develops and distributes defined ad hoc reports.

(The work assigned to a position in this classification may not include all possible tasks in this work and does not limit the assignment of any additional tasks in this classification. Regular attendance according to the position's management approved work schedule is required.)

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: All essential functions listed
Minimum Qualifications
Education: Bachelors' Degree in Purchasing, Contracting, Business or Public Administration, Economics, Marketing or other closely related field.
Experience: Three years of professional level purchasing and/or contracting experience, two or more years of supervisory experience preferred
Substitution: Equivalent combination of education and related experience.

Exam/Screening Process Information
The examination process will consist of the following section with each section weighted as indicated:

• Training and Experience Rating = 100%

The examination for Purchasing and Contracting Manager will consist of a training and experience rating, comprised of the questions in the attached supplemental questionnaire. Not all applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will pass the training and experience rating. The rating on this supplemental questionnaire will depend on your answers to the questions -do not mark "see resume" or "see work history" as a response. Please answer all your questions clearly and completely. Failure to respond could affect your score and final rank on this examination.
Eligible List: The names of all applicants who filed a properly completed application and passed the examination/screening process shall be placed on the eligible list for an employment opportunity as a Purchasing and Contracting Manager. This list will be certified to the appointing authority which may use this list to conduct interviews to fill a vacancy. Candidates will remain on the list for 30 days or until hired, whichever occurs first. A notice will be sent to applicants at the time the eligible list is posted.
Veteran's Preference: This is a classified position requiring an open, competitive selection process. Veteran's Preference points will be applied after a candidate passes the examination process. Applicants who are eligible for veteran's preference should update their veteran's DD214, and other supporting documents, and submit them as an attachment at the time of application.
Criminal Background Checks: All employment offers are conditioned upon the applicant passing a criminal background check. Convictions are not an automatic bar to employment. Each case is considered on its individual merits and the type of work sought. However, making false statements or withholding information will cause you to be barred from employment, or removed from employment.
E-Verify Participation: Ramsey County participates in the federal E-Verify program. This means that Ramsey County will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. If the Government cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Ramsey County is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact DHS and/or the SSA before taking adverse action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers may not use E-Verify to pre-screen job applicants and may not limit or influence the choice of documents you present for use on the Form I-9.
Equal Opportunity Employer: Ramsey County provides equal access to employment, programs, and services without regard to race, color, creed, religion, age, sex (except when sex is a Bona Fide Occupational Qualification), disability, familial or marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity, public assistance status, place of residence, political affiliation, or national origin.
Ramsey County is deeply committed to advancing racial equity and promoting diversity and inclusion within all areas of its workforce. The county strives being equitable, inclusive, transparent, respectful, and impactful in how we serve and engage with residents, as well as Ramsey County employees. Advancing racial equity ensures all people who need access to opportunities and services we provide, will receive them. Racial equity is achieved when race can no longer be used to predict life outcomes, and outcomes for all are improved.
To print a paper application for this posting click Paper Application You will need to print this posting and answer the supplemental questions associated with this exam and submit them with your completed paper application.

For further information regarding this posting, please contact: ...@co.ramsey.mn.us
Ramsey County provides a wide range of employee benefits to support health, well-being, and work/life balance. Benefits eligibility can vary depending on union status/contract language. A summary of benefits is provided below. Detailed information is available for review at

• Medical, dental and vision insurance
  • The County contributes a bargained percentage to the medical and dental monthly premium
  • Employees choose from four enrollment tiers: Single, Employee + legally married spouse, Employee + Child(ren), Family
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield Medical insurance - three plan options including a High Deductible Plan with a Health Saving Account offered. Earn up to $20/month in electronic gift cards for each enrolled employee or spouse for wellness activity
  • MetLife Dental Insurance - two plan options offered
  • VSP Vision Insurance - Advantage Plan offered

• Pre-tax Benefit Program
  • Pre-tax medical, dental, vision monthly premium deduction option
  • Dependent and Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts
  • County monthly contribution to a Health Savings Account for employees who elect the High Deductible medical plan

• Paid time off
  • Vacation hours, accrued based on years of service, ranging from 12 to 25 days per year (pro-rated for part-time employees)
  • 11 scheduled holidays and two floating holidays
  • Up to eight weeks of 100% paid parental leave, plus additional use of sick time as noted below
  • Sick hours accrued at a rate of three weeks per year, which can be used for medical and dental care; injury or illness for you, your spouse or children; the birth or adoption of a child (up to 80 hours) or the death of a family member (up to 40 hours)
  • Wellness incentive allows conversion of unused sick time to vacation or pay

• Retirement benefits
  • Pension - The county contributes at least 7.5% of your salary to your pension, depending on bargaining unit. Unlike other retirement investments, pension payments are a lifetime benefit once you start collecting payments
  • New employees become vested after three years. For the Police and Fire union, employees are vested after 10 years
  • Deferred compensation - 457(b) account with employer match
  • Health Care Savings Plan - all benefits-eligible employees contribute 1% of gross regular salary to a Health Care Savings Plan account for eligible health care expenses after retirement. Interest accrues tax free. County provides a scheduled contribution after five years of participation

• Transit and parking
  • Fully funded Metropass.
  • Transportation/parking expenses reimbursement account

• Employee well-being
  • Employee assistance program, including telephone counseling, financial counseling, rideshare benefits, etc.
  • Wellness programming
  • Flexible work policy with hybrid work options for eligible positions

• Life Insurance and Disability leave
  • County provided Basic Life coverage - 1x annual salary, minimum $10,000 up to a maximum of $50,000. Optional supplemental coverage available
  • Long-term Disability - County provided coverage replaces 40% of the employee's lost income after six months of disability, subject to a $5,000 monthly maximum. Option to purchase an additional 20% income replacement up to $7,500 monthly maximum
  • Short-term Disability - option to purchase 60% income replacement coverage with 30, 60 or 90-day waiting period

• Career development
  • Tuition reimbursement, up to $4,000 per year
  • Online professional development opportunities through the Learning & Development Center
  • County employment qualifies as a public service organization for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
  • Employee resource groups - help employees build connections through common bonds with colleagues

For information about Ramsey County's 2025 benefits, visit:
01

*Each applicant must complete this supplemental questionnaire as a part of the application screening process. The supplemental questionnaire will be used as a scored evaluation of your knowledge, skills and experience. Provide complete information for each question. Do not write "see resume" as it is not an acceptable answer. The experiences you indicate in your responses will be reviewed and used to determine your eligibility to move forward in the selection process. Select "yes" if you have read and understand.

• Yes
• No

02

*Have you completed or currently participating in any of the following Public Sector Partnership Programs at Ramsey County?

• HIRED
• Project for Pride in Living (PPL)
• Ramsey County Workforce Solutions
• Ramsey County Internship (including Right Track Plus)
• Ramsey County Fellowship
• Ramsey County temporary, limited duration or provisional assignment
• Young Adult Career Academy (YACA)
• Other
• None

03

*Select the option that best describes your highest level of completed education.

• High school diploma or GED
• Associates Degree
• Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree
• Doctoral Degree
• None of the above

04

*If you indicated in the previous question that you have a degree, please describe below your field of study, the name of the school, dates of attendance/completion and type of degree. If you have other formal training and certifications related to this position, you may include that here. If you do not have a degree/college credit, please write N/A in the space below. DO NOT WRITE see resume or see application.
05

Which best describes your years of professional level purchasing and contracting or procurement experience?

• Less than 1 year of experience
• At least 1 year of experience but less than 3 years
• At least 3 years of experience but less than 5 years
• At least 5 years of experience but less than 7 years
• 7 years of experience or more

06

Describe your purchasing and contracting or procurement experience indicated in the question above. Include in your description the number of years of experience, whether your experience is in private/and or public (government) sector, and the role you played.
07

Do you have at least 2 years of supervisory/management experience?

• Yes
• No

08

Describe a purchasing and contracting or procurement project that you led from start to finish.
09

Describe your experience managing a team through a challenging situation.
10

Describe your most significant work experience that you believe demonstrates your ability to interact with people, vendors and businesses from various cultural or ethnic backgrounds.
11

Describe your experience making strategic change and leading the implementation of a new initiative.
12

Describe your experience building relationships and partnerships with functional areas across an organization.
Required Question