Sr. Purchasing Agent

JOB SUMMARY

Under general supervision, responsible for the procurement of supplies, materials, and equipment of the desired grade and quality at prices favorable to the city.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Communicate with the public (vendors) and other city employees to answer questions and/or gather information regarding service, pricing, delivery, and invoicing.
• Review specifications, perform research, and prepare bid documents for items prescribed by State statutes, conduct bid openings, evaluate responses, and prepare written recommendations for award by City Council.
• Access, input, and retrieve information from the financial system.
• Fairly administer contracts and resolve areas of dispute and disagreement with departments and vendors related to specification development, product requirements, delivery, and invoicing.

OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Conduct training in a concise, logical order to all levels of personnel within the city.
• Prepare requests for quotation, issue purchase orders to vendors for supplies and materials, and investigate and research sources of supply.
• Prepare special reports and/or other related duties as needed or directed.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:

• Knowledge of state statutes, local government codes, municipal ordinances, policies, and procedures regarding purchases of supplies, equipment, and contracting for services.
• Knowledge of price quotation systems and discounting procedures.
• Knowledge of local vendors, products, services, and local marketing trends.
• Skill in writing specifications for the purchase of equipment, materials, and supplies.
• Skill in identifying potential vendor sources and reasonable prices for a variety of equipment, materials, and supplies.
• Ability to communicate both orally and in writing to obtain information from city personnel, to negotiate purchases or contracts, and to resolve problems with vendors.
• Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication.
• Ability to analyze, research, and investigate information and data.
• Ability to plan, organize, monitor, and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to accomplish unit objectives.
• Ability to operate a variety of office equipment, including but not limited to PC, keyboard, CRT, calculator, and telephone.
• Ability to perform a variety of physical skills, including but not limited to filing, pulling, seeing, sorting, squatting, standing, stooping, twisting body, typing, walking, and writing.
• Ability to perform a variety of physical skills, including, but not limited to, performing data entry, sorting, and writing.
• Ability to understand mathematical calculations involving fractions, percentages, and decimals.
• Ability to prioritize deadlines and tasks.
• Ability to work within a set schedule.

Qualifying Education and Experience:

• A Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration or related field
• Three years' experience in purchasing equipment, supplies, materials, and services through competitive bidding and preparing specifications, or any equivalent combination of education and experience.