IT Specialist

This resource will serve as a Junior IT Specialist for the NYS Department of Transportation (DOT) TSMO Technology Program. The position supports procurement activities for Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) related to transportation systems management and operations. The specialist will assist with sourcing, negotiating, and purchasing hardware, software, services, and maintenance agreements while ensuring compliance with NYS policies, project timelines, and budgetary constraints. Key Responsibilities & Day-to-Day Tasks

• Procurement Support:

• Assist in the end-to-end procurement process for IT/OT goods and services.
• Gather requirements from technical teams and business stakeholders.
• Evaluate vendor budgetary quotes against defined criteria and validate alignment with NYS OGS-approved contracts.
• Assist with vendor selection, terms/pricing negotiations, tracking purchase orders, and confirming receipt of goods.

Vendor Management & Contract Administration:

• Support vendor relationships, performance tracking, onboarding, and discrepancy resolution.
• Assist in reviewing contract terms, tracking milestones, renewals, expirations, and ensuring compliance with contract frameworks.

Market Research & Compliance:

• Research IT/OT market trends, emerging technologies, and potential suppliers relevant to transportation systems.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities and procurement best practices.
• Ensure all procurement activities adhere to NYS policies and generate spend/performance metrics reports.

Collaboration:

• Work closely across cross-functional teams (Business, IT, OT, Purchasing, Contracts, Security).

• Background Checks: Requires NYS ITS Security Agreements and Fingerprint-based Background Check., 1. 24+ months of experience in procurement, supply chain, or a related field with exposure to IT and OT procurement. 2. 24+ months of experience with the full procurement lifecycle (sourcing, negotiation, contracting, purchasing). 3. 24+ months of experience with IT (hardware, software, networking) and OT concepts related to transportation (traffic management, intelligent transportation systems). 4. 18+ months of experience communicating and coordinating with cross-functional teams (business, technical, security, vendor, procurement). 5. 18+ months of experience analyzing data, comparing proposals, and identifying trends. 6. Required Degree: Must hold a Bachelor’’s Degree in Business Administration, Information Technology, or a related field.

Technical Environment

• Agency Software: Microsoft, ServiceNow
• Agency Hardware/Tech Stack: Palo Alto, Cisco, RedLion, Digi, and various Transportation Sector Technologies