Purchasing Agent

Applications will be evaluated as received until the position is filled.
This position is a Full-Time, 12-Month, Professional Support Staff appointment with an annual salary of $39,181.27.

The Purchasing Agent is responsible for processing requisitions and purchase orders, communicating with vendors, and securing institutional items for Parkland College. Additionally, the Purchasing Agent regularly communicates with the Accounts Payable Accountant to ensure that vendors are paid timely and accurately.

Applicants must submit:

• An online employment application
• Cover letter
• Resume or CV

Essential Job Functions :

• Process requisitions and purchase orders timely and accurately.
• Ensure appropriate purchasing documentation and invoices are received; train and assist departments on the proper procedures of entering requisitions and locating purchase information for vendors.
• Adhere to college purchasing policies, processes, and procedures; promote proper purchasing practices; provide purchasing advice to departments as needed.
• Ensure the accuracy and completeness of vendor information; maintain and update vendor information and enter new vendors into accounting system as needed.
• Assist Controller and departments with bid and proposal preparation by ensuring that it relates to the College's Strategic Goals.
• Write, review, and assist departments with Requests for Purchases (RFP) and Request for Quotes (RFQ).
• Verify purchase orders by comparing items requested to master list; clarifying unclear items; recommending alternatives.
• Process purchase orders by verifying specifications and price; obtaining recommendations from suppliers for substitute items; obtaining approval from requisitioning department.
• Obtain purchased items by forwarding orders to suppliers; monitoring and expediting orders including entering of Dell, Apple, Staple Business Advantage, and Amazon online orders.
• Verify receipt of items by comparing items received to items ordered; resolves shipments in error with departments and suppliers.
• Follow-up on all outstanding purchase orders and prepare for end of fiscal year close.
• Authorize and monitor purchases through various vendors.
• Complete and accurately submit annual Business Enterprise Program (BEP) report for Minority Vendors to Illinois Central Management Services (CMS).
• Respond to telephone, written, and in-person inquiries about on purchase orders and bids.
• Coordinate fixed assets tagging with Accounts Payable Accountant and Senior Accountant.
• Assist with surplus product collection as needed.
• Serve as backup support for Accounts Payable, Cashiers, and other Business Office staff as necessary.
  Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements :

• Associate's degree in Accounting, Business or a related field; OR equivalent work experience; OR an equivalent combination of college course work and work experience.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and handle multiple tasks.
• Verbal, mathematical and purchasing knowledge and abilities sufficient to prepare requisitions, purchase orders, reports and communicate effectively.
• Functional ability in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel, with the ability to learn the Parkland information system and new programs as technology changes.
• Successful completion of a criminal background check with fingerprinting.
• In an effort to comply with SURS return-to-work restrictions for employers (40 ILCS 5/15-139.5), candidates for employment at Parkland College must either not be a SURS annuitant or must be willing to suspend his/her SURS annuity upon employment. This applies to all SURS annuitants except those receiving their annuity under either the Self-Managed Plan (SMP) or by lump sum payment.

Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Applications not submitted through https://www.parkland.edu/careers will not be considered.

Please monitor your email, including spam or junk mail folders, for future correspondence from Parkland College Human Resources.
For further information application process, please contact at 217-351-2220.

Applicants with disabilities may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process.

Requests may be submitted by contacting Human Resources at 217-351-2220 or by emailing hr@parkland.edu.

Equal Opportunity Employer