Engagement Manager (Local Governments)Location: Greater Portland Area-RemoteA note on length - this posting is intentionally longer than most. That is deliberate. It gives you a realistic preview of the role and clear guidance on how to present your application, so we suggest reading it in full.
About the jobSOVRA is looking for a Local Governments Engagement Manager to support its local government procurement programs in Oregon and Hawaii, OregonBuys and Aloha eBUYS. The role became available through an internal promotion, and it offers the opportunity to carry established programs forward and to become the trusted subject-matter expert for local agencies in both states.
The role combines subject-matter expertise with brand ambassadorship. It builds relationships with local governments and procurement teams through association conferences, procurement events, and hosted webinars, provides baseline training on SOVRA technology and program participation, and gathers insight on program adoption that informs the broader Program team.
Local government procurement teams rely on clear, accurate guidance as they adopt statewide price agreements and cooperative purchasing programs. The person in this role represents SOVRA in person and online, and holds to the standard of accuracy and consistency that public sector audiences expect.
What will your main responsibilities look like?Local Government Engagement- You own outreach to local governments in Oregon and Hawaii, building on SOVRA's partnerships with the Oregon Cooperative Procurement Program and the State Procurement Office in Hawaii.
- You represent SOVRA at association conferences and procurement events, and you visit local government clients to build brand awareness and lasting relationships.
- You manage and store event materials and booth equipment, and you handle booth setup, including physical transport and heavy lifting.
Webinars & Education- You provide baseline training and program education to local governments on how to use SOVRA technology and participate in each program.
- You plan and host webinars, and you create the presentations that support them.
- You promote the use of Statewide Price Agreements, product adoption, and procurement standards within each program.
Program Insight- You gather information on barriers to program expansion, complete gap analysis, and share your findings with the broader Program team.
- You track and report on client technology usage, and you use what you find to guide your outreach and training.
What will you bring to this role?- Relationship building - you build relationships over time, enjoy outreach as a brand ambassador, and work autonomously and collaboratively in a remote setting.
- Customer education experience - you have a track record in account management, customer success, customer support, or another customer-oriented role that includes an educational aspect.
- Public sector knowledge - you bring an understanding of, or direct experience in, government or public sector.
- Event travel and storage - you are able to travel for 1-2 events a month, each lasting 3-5 days, and ability to manage and store event materials (up to 50lbs)
- Exhibiting booth experience - you have experience exhibiting at conferences and tradeshows.
- Adoption growth - you have a demonstrated track record of growing adoption, participation, or spend in a program, territory, or account portfolio.
- Education - you hold a bachelor's degree or have equivalent experience.
- Authorization to work in the US - we are not able to sponsor work visas or transfers at this time.
What are the assets that would make you stand out?- State or local procurement experience - you have worked directly with state or local government procurement programs.
- Platform knowledge - you know SOVRA technology or a comparable eProcurement platform. Candidates without that background are equally encouraged to apply; we will help you learn it.
- Procurement certification - you hold a professional procurement certification such as CPPB, CPPO, or NIGP-CPP. Candidates with equivalent hands-on experience are equally encouraged to apply.
You should apply if- You want to be the trusted local expert for public procurement programs in two states and to see your relationships shape how agencies adopt them.
- You value mentoring and opportunities to advance within a growing company.
- You are motivated by helping local governments stretch taxpayer dollars further through programs that make purchasing simpler.
What we look for in applicationsWe review every application individually and assess it on its own merits rather than screening for keywords. The most impactful applications are specific:
- Describe the programs, accounts, or territories you supported, the audiences you trained or presented to, the events you managed, and the outcomes, with numbers wherever you have them.
- When you name a tool or platform, add a brief note on what you used it to do.
- Specific detail about your own work tells us far more than a general summary of responsibilities.
What does success look like?- By 3 months: you have completed SOVRA onboarding and use SOVRA's client technology with confidence.
- By 6 months: you are hosting webinars and have begun the event season.
- By 12 months: you are the recognized subject-matter expert for SOVRA's local government programs in Oregon and Hawaii.
Why you should join usSOVRA serves the public sector, and the work carries the weight that comes with that purpose. Every improvement to our platform helps government agencies operate more efficiently and deliver greater value to the communities they serve. We are a company in a period of deliberate growth, and we are looking for professionals who want genuine ownership of their work and a direct hand in building the organization around them. In this role, that ownership is real: your work in Oregon and Hawaii shapes how SOVRA delivers to the local government agencies and procurement teams in both states.
Our benefits include the following, with full details shared during the hiring process:
- Comprehensive health and medical coverage.
- Paid time off.
- A structured learning and development program.
- Paid parental leave.
If this role aligns with your experience and ambitions, we encourage you to apply.
Thank you for your interest in SOVRA.
