DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC SECURITY

Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD)
400 West Congress Street, Tucson, Arizona 85701

Salary: $42,000-$43,000 

Grade: 16

Closing Date: February 22, 2026

Would you like to be part of an amazing team that helps Arizonans thrive? At the Department of Economic Security (DES), we strengthen individuals, families, and communities for a better quality of life. DES is looking for individuals that are committed to service, community, and teamwork. To learn more about DES please visit des.az.gov; or click on the link here to view ‘Our DES’ video. Come join the DES Team!

The Department of Economic Security, Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), is seeking an experienced and highly motivated individual to join our team as a Business Specialist 1. This position is responsible for the full purchasing responsibilities for the district.

DDD provides individuals with developmental disabilities, and their families, services and supports that are flexible, high-quality, and member-driven. These services provide individuals with opportunities to exercise their rights and responsibilities of independent decision-making and engagement in the community.

Applicants for this position cannot be licensed or certified by the DDD Office of Licensing, Certification and Regulation, cannot have a principal interest in or have a spouse or close family with a principal interest in a DDD Qualified Vendor Agreement, and cannot be employed or subcontracted by a DDD Qualified Vendor.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Creates and processes all district purchasing and supply request orders, in excess of $10 million/year; delegated authority to determine appropriate purchasing decisions for simple and complex district needs for ongoing, one-time and emergency requests.
• Maintaining a payment log to ensure timely payments are made to the vendor. Troubleshoot and resolved all purchasing discrepancies and issues as identified and necessary to fulfill all purchasing responsibilities for the District. Works through resolutions with any invoices received without a corresponding purchase order; follows up with vendors and staff to ensure all documentation is present for processing invoices and payments.
• Processes purchasing invoices; ensuring proper documentation is received showing receipts of purchased goods; items, quantities, and cost match the purchase order; invoice follows the purchase order outline; invoices are processed timely.
• Working with district management and staff to receive and analyze purchasing requests of a vast variety of commodities and services, including but not limited to materials, furniture, equipment, medical supplies, vehicles, services, capital needs, etc. Researchers state that contracted vendors and review supply agreements, vendor lists and catalogs for the best prices.
• Obtaining quotes as needed; establishing open and one-time purchase orders (POs) as necessary; sending hard copies of POs to requesting staff; follow up with staff to ensure receipt of purchases; obtaining copies of packing slips/invoices, etc; completing receipts for vendor payment; maintaining up-to-date purchasing log.
• Processing hotel and travel arrangements for district staff attending training and conferences in accordance with division parameters. Create Purchase Orders with frequently used hotels/geographic regions. Maintain and update log of all travel arrangements; then process receipts for payment.
• Writes detailed specifications for items/services not available through State purchase contracts, working with the requester to refine specs, prepare invitations to bid, contact vendors to obtain quotes, determine which vendor will be used for the purchase, and works with the vendor to get registered in the State procurement system.
• Assist with Translation services utilization tracking and payments. Follow up with staff to obtain service utilization forms for billing reconciliation. Ensure payments are made in a timely manner.
• Works with DES procurement for guidance in processing off-contract purchases through the creation of Claim Memo requests and justifications for payment of off-contract purchases.
  
  

• Purchasing and procurement practices and procedures;
• A wide range of standard commodities and products, sources of supply, local markets and price trends;
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suites, particularly Excel (including formulas and pivot tables).
• Principles and practices of administrative and business systems.

Skills In:

• Highly organized, analytical, and detail-oriented;
• Excellent customer service, negotiation and interpersonal skills.
• Professional-level verbal and written communication.
• Make arithmetic calculations rapidly and accurately.

Ability to:

• Learn, understand, and apply state government procurement and purchasing practices and processes.
• Prepare detailed specifications and analyze multi-factor bids.
• Organize, prioritize, and multitask while managing shifting priorities.
• Apply sound critical judgment, problem solve, and conflict resolution.
  

The ideal candidate for this position will have:

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in purchasing and one year of professional-level purchasing experience;
  
  
• Or two years professional level purchasing experience preferred.
  

•  If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements. Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver's license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver's license record checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked nor suspended. Employees who drive on state business are subject to Driver's license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all required driver training. An employee who operates a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) (R2-10-201.11).
• Successfully pass background and reference check; employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process and the Agency's ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions. 
• All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The Arizona Department of Economic Security offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
• Participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) and long-term disability plans
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Paid vacation and sick time
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child.
• Deferred compensation plan
• Wellness plans
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Stipend Opportunities
• Infant at Work Program
• Rideshare and Public Transit Subsidy
• Career Advancement & Employee Development Opportunities
• Flexible schedules to create a work/life balance

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page.

State employees are required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), the State-sponsored retirement contribution plan and the Long-Term Disability (LTD) program after a 27-week waiting period. The ASRS defined benefit plan provides for life-long income upon retirement. You will also have the option to participate in a voluntary deferred compensation program to take advantage of tax-deferred retirement investments.

On, or shortly after your first day of work, you will be provided with additional information about the available insurance plans, enrollment instructions, submission deadlines and effective dates.

For questions about this career opportunity, please contact Stacie Austin at 602-908-6208 or saustin@azdes.gov.
The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by contacting 602-908-6208 or saustin@azdes.gov. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.