Volunteer (Non-Paid) Position - Procurement Advisory Body

Procurement Advisory Body Volunteer Position

Procurement Services is establishing a highly collaborative and effective advisory body that will be integrated into Procurement Services strategic planning and equity work. The member body will serve to advise on procurement equity strategy, policy development, and emergent initiatives and serve as a trusted partner to instill confidence that voices of the local contracting community are represented in City decisions involving public contracting and workforce development.

Committee activities include:

• Collaborate with Procurement to prioritize work plan items, supports or recommends identification for advancement. Involves meetings with Procurement Leadership to assess the plan, assign priority, review resources available to commit to the plan; or,
• Support Procurement's Strategic Plan. Roadmap guides our focus. Involves Procurement informing the Advisory Body of key projects in progress and upcoming. Sharing information and available data. Procurement provides guidance to the Advisory Body members on their role in supporting that work. Boundaries can also be set; and,
• Assist Procurement in responding to ad-hoc items. Gives the City room to be responsive.

Total number of advisory seats: 12-15

Number of seats available: 12-15

To qualify, to be eligible for the advisory committee, members must live, play, worship, go to school, work or do business in the City of Portland. What we look for:

We want people from every part of Portland here to share their voice on this committee, especially people who have not been involved before. If you want to serve your community and to help government make better choices, then we want to see your application. The attributes listed below are what will guide our selection process. It is helpful if you are specific in your answers. We do not expect you to be or have everything listed.

You are passionate about advancing equity and promoting a culture of inclusivity in public contracting.

You have experience building or supporting relationships that strengthen strategic equity initiatives across public contracting.

You have experience collaborating with others to make recommendations to procurement policies, programs and resources to support the development and vibrancy of Portland's contracting community, including local small businesses and workers in the trades.

Areas of Representation, Available Member Body Seats:

• Public Improvement (Construction) Supplier (2 seats): (1) small business, and (1) large firm. Locally based, performs work as a sub and/or prime contractor on public improvement projects
• Brings perspective on construction contracting equity challenges
• Demonstrated commitment to equity in contracting and workforce diversity
• Brings perspective on prime/subcontractor roles and relationships
• Can be ally and partner in solutions
• Professional Services Supplier (2 seats): (1) small business, and (1) large firm. Locally based architect, engineer, consultant, or other professional service provider.
• Brings specialized expertise and perspectives beyond construction
• Brings perspective on professional services contracting equity challenges
• Demonstrated commitment to equity in contracting
• Can be ally and partner in solutions
• Goods/Services Supplier (2 seats): (1) small business, and (1) large firm. Locally based providers of goods or non-construction services
• Brings perspective beyond construction
• Brings perspective on goods/services procurement
• Demonstrated commitment to equity in contracting
• Can be ally and partner in solutions
• Community and Workforce Partners (4 seats)
• Community-Based Organization -Small Business Development (1 seat)
• Brings deep community ties and business support expertise
• Workforce Development Organization (1 seat)
• Pre-apprenticeship, training, or job placement focus
• Brings workforce equity perspective
• Connects contracting to employment opportunities
• Trade Union Representative (1 seat)
• Construction trades union committed to apprenticeship diversity
• Brings workforce perspective and labor partnership
• Small Business Advisory Council Representative (1 seat)
• Connection to broader City small business ecosystem
• Cross-pollination with other advisory work
• Subject Matter Experts & Cross-Sector Voices (2-3 seats)
• Equity/Civil Rights Expert (1 seat): Expertise in structural racism, equity frameworks, civil rights law
• Can be academic, researcher, or practitioner
• Brings analytical lens and national perspective
• Legal/Policy Expert (1 seat): Understanding of procurement law, disparity studies, policy frameworks
• Brings expertise on what's legally permissible and strategically effective
• Academic/Research Institution Representative (0-1 seat, optional): University researcher or policy institute expert
• Brings research capacity and evaluation expertise

Time Commitment

Advisory Body Monthly meetings: 2 hours, 12x per year = 24 hours

Advisory Body Work Group meetings: 1 hours monthly (if participating) = 12 hours/year

Independent meeting preparation: 1-2 hours before each meeting = 12-24 hours/year

Special meetings/events: 2-4 hours/year

Members are involved for a duration of 2-year terms, or no more than 4 consecutive years.

The anticipated time commitment per week/month is 50-64 hours per year (approximately 1-1.2 hours per week average).

We provide interpreters who will translate the conversation in your language during the meeting. Please ask for an interpreter at least a week in advance of the meeting so we have enough time to make arrangements.

You may need to read and write in your language. Verbal and written translations are performed by outside organizations. The dialects may be different than your home region and may be different on each document.

We try to translate the written materials you ask for, but we may not be able to provide translation on all meeting documents.

We Remove Barriers

Please let us know if there are barriers to your participation that we can help eliminate. Examples include bus/parking passes and food at meetings when in-person gatherings return, childcare, or stipends. While we may not have these options on all advisory bodies, the Advisory Bodies Program is interested in planning and budgeting in the future based on needs expressed here.

Volunteer Ethics

People who join this committee will become what we call "Public Officials," which means that while you serve you must behave fair and ethically. We will provide training on this once you are accepted. Part of following Public Officials Ethics laws means you must tell the group when you or a relative may financially benefit (or avoid fees) by your recommendations. This is called a "Conflict of Interest." If you tell us about potential Conflicts of Interest that does not mean you cannot serve, in fact, many committees have potential members with Conflicts of Interest. We appreciate your ethical inclusion of possible Conflicts of Interest on the form included in the application.

The Recruitment Process

Applications are due by 11:59pm on Sunday, February 1, 2026. Applications will be reviewed beginning February 2, 2026. Interviews may take place during the same week. To talk with someone about this opportunity or to receive assistance completing the application, please contact the advisory body staff liaison at Theresa Green, Inclusive Contracting Manager at Theresa.Green@portlandoregon.gov.

Voluntary & Confidential Demographic Information

The City is committed to diversity, inclusion, and equity. Completing the demographic information on the application is voluntary, but we encourage you to provide that information. The City uses this information to help ensure that advisory body appointments represent a broad cross-section of community. Your information will not be used during the recruitment nor the selection process. State and federal law prohibit use of this information to discriminate against you. Questions about this may be sent to AdvisoryBodies@Portlandoregon.gov.

General Questions

For general questions about the Advisory Bodies program, the volunteer recruitment process, or other upcoming advisory body opportunities please email AdvisoryBodies@Portlandoregon.gov.

We Encourage You to Apply

Do you have questions or need more information? Email Theresa Green, Inclusive Contracting Manager at Theresa.Green@portlandoregon.gov