PROCUREMENT SPECIFICATION WRITER

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Procurement Specification Writer

DEPARTMENT OF PROCUREMENT SERVICE

Number of Positions: 1

(Additional vacancies possible pending budget approval)

Starting Salary: $89,112

Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59 pm CDT on 5/01/2026

Under general supervision, the class is assigned to the Department of Procurement Services (DPS), responsible for working with City department subject-matter-experts and administrators to prepare specialized and complex technical specification documents for facilitating the procurement of goods and services; and performs related duties as required

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

* Reviews procurement documentation intrinsic to procurement "requisition" requests submitted by City user departments for the purchase of goods and services, especially those of a highly technical and complex nature

* Works with subject-matter-experts in operating departments to gather and ascertain technical requirements and needs

* Works internally with DPS Research and Development staff to ensure all essential information related to the specification is integrated into the specification

* Conducts research and/or reviews trade journals, commodity catalogues, and technical publications to identify best practices and maintain familiarity with industry standards, commodity features and sources of supply

* Utilizes online tools and resources to find industry-leading products and services comparable to the City's needs

* Creates original or revises existing specifications for the procurement of a variety of City goods and services

* Translates requests into technical purchase specifications or requests for proposals that are easily understandable while still communicating the detailed requirements of the City

* Edits and provides special instructions or advice to departments on the preparation of specifications to ensure compliance with City of Chicago policies and procedures and any applicable federal and state laws and requirements

* Prepares contract specifications to accommodate the needs of multiple City departments, as applicable

* Verifies the legitimacy of estimated quantities and needs of the City

* Tracks and expedites contract requests from requisition through award via the procurement process

* Acts as a liaison with the Department of Law and internal department legal staff to finalize scopes of work prior to public advertisement

* Arranges and/or attends meetings and provides revisions as needed

NOTE: The list of essential duties is not intended to be inclusive; there may be other duties that are essential to particular positions within the class.

Location: 121 N LaSalle | May to O'Hare airport 1- 2 days per week

Days: Monday - Friday

Hours: 8:30 - 4:30

THIS POSITION IS NOT IN CAREER SERVICE

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education, Training, and Experience

* Eight (8) years of work experience in the development of procurement specifications or technical documents, OR

* Graduation from an accredited college with an Associate's degree, plus six (6) years of work experience in the development of procurement specifications or technical documents, OR

* Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree, plus four (4) years of work experience in the development of procurement specifications or technical documents, OR

* Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree or higher, plus three (3) years of work experience in the development of procurement specifications or technical documents

Educational & Employment Verification:

Please be advised that if you are selected to be hired, you must provide, upon request, adequate information regarding your education and employment history as it relates to the qualifications of the position for which you are applying. If you received your degree internationally, all international transcripts/diplomas must be accompanied by a Foreign Credential Evaluation. If the City of Chicago cannot verify this information, any offer extended to you will be withdrawn and you will not be hired.

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS

This position requires applicants to complete an interview. The interviewed candidate(s) possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position will be selected.

For Information on our employees' benefits, please visit our benefits website at:

https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fin/benefits-office.html

For Information on our salary and title structure, visit our classifications website at:

https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/dhr/supp_info/JobClassification/2025_Classification_and_Pay_Plan.pdf

APPLICATION EVALUATION: Initial evaluation will be based on information provided on the application and the documents submitted. Department of Human Resources staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow any and all required Employment/Hiring Plan provisions, federal, state, and local laws, and Collective Bargaining Agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview or employment with the City of Chicago.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY: To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience, the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces, and/or residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA), and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates, to be referred to departments for consideration. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders, as Collective Bargaining Agreements define the hiring process for bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates. To learn more about our hiring practices, click here.

ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.

The City of Chicago is an Equal Employment Opportunity, Military Friendly, and Fair Chance Employer.

City of Chicago

Brandon Johnson, Mayor