What are the responsibilities and job description for the Buyer I/II position at Kern County?
Position Information
Examination Schedule
Minimum Qualifications/Employment Standards
Level I:
Certification as one of the following: Accredited Purchasing Practitioner (A.P.P.) or Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.) by the Institute of Supply Management or Certified Public Purchasing Buyer (C.P.P.B.) or Certified Public Purchasing Officer (C.P.P.O.) by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing.
OR
High School Diploma, G.E.D. or equivalent AND 60 semester or 90 quarter units of college credit from an accredited college or university in business or public administration, economics, accounting, finance or a closely related field.
OR
Two (2) years of experience in purchasing including reviewing vendor bids, preparation of specifications, analysis and awarding of bids, and working with vendors.
OR
An equivalent combination of related experience and education which has provided the knowledge and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
Level II
Bachelor's Degree from an accredited university in business or public administration, economics, accounting, finance, or a closely related field.
OR
Certification as one of the following: Accredited Purchasing Practitioner (A.P.P.) or Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.) by the Institute of Supply Management or Certified Public Purchasing Buyer (C.P.P.B.) or Certified Public Purchasing Officer (C.P.P.O.) by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing.
OR
Two (2) years experience equivalent to Buyer I in the Kern County Classification System.
OR
60 semester or 90 quarter units of college credit from an accredited college or university in business or public administration, economics, accounting, finance or a closely related field AND two (2) years purchasing and/or contracts experience.
Please ensure applicable degrees or transcripts are attached to your application. If you are unable to attach application materials to your application, you may deliver a copy to the Human Resources Division at 1115 Truxtun Ave. First Floor, Bakersfield, CA 93301 or fax to (661) 868-3926.
Full Job Descriptions for: Buyer I- II
Examinations: Written Exam (Weight 100%): May include knowledge of purchasing practices and ethics, bid preparation and competitive bidding procedures; budgetary controls; statistical analysis; and accounting and completing bid tabulations.
Applicants must attain at least a 70% score on each phase of the exam process.
This position works within the General Services Division of Kern County. For more information about the department, please view their website here.
About Kern County
Kern County employees provide opportunities that are purposeful to our community. Every employee and every action contributes to the improvement and strengthening of our county.
To learn more about Kern County, click here or follow us:
Growth Mindset
We always encourage our employees to grow and develop. Kern County has a culture of innovation that allows employees to explore creative and more efficient ways to accomplish their work. We provide access to training and continued professional development in an effort to ensure that our employees have opportunities for career growth.
Additional Information
All Kern County employees are designated "Disaster Service Workers" through state and local laws (CA Government Code Sec. 3100-3109 and Ordinance Code Title 2-Administration, Ch. 2.66 Emergency Services). As Disaster Service Workers, all County employees are expected to remain at work, or to report for work as soon as practicable, following a significant emergency or disaster.
Following an offer of an employment, you may be required to submit to post offer medical and drug screening tests at County expense.
Admittance to each phase of the examination will require a Government issued photograph identification. Applicants who are unable to present proper identification must make arrangements with the Human Resources Division prior to the test date.
This examination will establish an eligible list from which immediate appointment(s) will be made at the GENERAL SERVICES DIVISION - CAO. Other permanent and temporary appointments will be made as needed. Successful candidates will remain on the eligible list for a period of twelve-months, unless specified otherwise by the Civil Service Commission.
For more information regarding Kern County's recruitment process, please see ourFAQ page.
Kern County is an ADA compliant and an equal opportunity employer and encourages all qualified individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply.
Kern County Employee Benefits
Retirement Program: Kern County Employees' Retirement Association (KCERA). This Section 401 (a) defined benefit retirement plan requires employer and employee contribution and pays retired employees a pension based on salary, years of service, and age upon retirement.
Deferred Compensation: This section 457 plan allows employees to contribute on a pre-tax basis to a supplemental retirement account which is then paid out to them when they retire.
Social Security Administration
Note: Both Kern County and the employee contribute to Social Security and Medicare as follows:
Voluntary Benefits: Chimienti & Associates (Administrator) offers the following voluntary benefits and can be deducted on a pre-tax bases: Short Term Disability Coverage, Accident Plan, Cancer Plan and a Flexible Spending Account.
Paid Holiday Leave: 12 set days (per calendar year)
01
I have a High School Diploma, G.E.D. or Equivalent.
I have completed sixty (60) semester or 90 quarter units of college credit from an accredited college or university in business or public administration, economics, accounting, finance or a closely related field.
If your response to Question 2 was "Yes", pleas indicate your college major below.
04
I have the following certifications: (Please check all that apply)
All applicable diploma(s), transcripts, licenses, and/or certificates must be attached with your application. I have submitted copies of all applicable diploma(s), transcripts, licenses, and/or certificates with my application. (Failure to attach required supplemental materials will result in the rejection of application.)
Examination Schedule
- Written Exam: will be conducted on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.
Minimum Qualifications/Employment Standards
Level I:
Certification as one of the following: Accredited Purchasing Practitioner (A.P.P.) or Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.) by the Institute of Supply Management or Certified Public Purchasing Buyer (C.P.P.B.) or Certified Public Purchasing Officer (C.P.P.O.) by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing.
OR
High School Diploma, G.E.D. or equivalent AND 60 semester or 90 quarter units of college credit from an accredited college or university in business or public administration, economics, accounting, finance or a closely related field.
OR
Two (2) years of experience in purchasing including reviewing vendor bids, preparation of specifications, analysis and awarding of bids, and working with vendors.
OR
An equivalent combination of related experience and education which has provided the knowledge and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
Level II
Bachelor's Degree from an accredited university in business or public administration, economics, accounting, finance, or a closely related field.
OR
Certification as one of the following: Accredited Purchasing Practitioner (A.P.P.) or Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.) by the Institute of Supply Management or Certified Public Purchasing Buyer (C.P.P.B.) or Certified Public Purchasing Officer (C.P.P.O.) by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing.
OR
Two (2) years experience equivalent to Buyer I in the Kern County Classification System.
OR
60 semester or 90 quarter units of college credit from an accredited college or university in business or public administration, economics, accounting, finance or a closely related field AND two (2) years purchasing and/or contracts experience.
Please ensure applicable degrees or transcripts are attached to your application. If you are unable to attach application materials to your application, you may deliver a copy to the Human Resources Division at 1115 Truxtun Ave. First Floor, Bakersfield, CA 93301 or fax to (661) 868-3926.
Full Job Descriptions for: Buyer I- II
Examinations: Written Exam (Weight 100%): May include knowledge of purchasing practices and ethics, bid preparation and competitive bidding procedures; budgetary controls; statistical analysis; and accounting and completing bid tabulations.
Applicants must attain at least a 70% score on each phase of the exam process.
This position works within the General Services Division of Kern County. For more information about the department, please view their website here.
About Kern County
Kern County employees provide opportunities that are purposeful to our community. Every employee and every action contributes to the improvement and strengthening of our county.
To learn more about Kern County, click here or follow us:
Growth Mindset
We always encourage our employees to grow and develop. Kern County has a culture of innovation that allows employees to explore creative and more efficient ways to accomplish their work. We provide access to training and continued professional development in an effort to ensure that our employees have opportunities for career growth.
Additional Information
All Kern County employees are designated "Disaster Service Workers" through state and local laws (CA Government Code Sec. 3100-3109 and Ordinance Code Title 2-Administration, Ch. 2.66 Emergency Services). As Disaster Service Workers, all County employees are expected to remain at work, or to report for work as soon as practicable, following a significant emergency or disaster.
Following an offer of an employment, you may be required to submit to post offer medical and drug screening tests at County expense.
Admittance to each phase of the examination will require a Government issued photograph identification. Applicants who are unable to present proper identification must make arrangements with the Human Resources Division prior to the test date.
This examination will establish an eligible list from which immediate appointment(s) will be made at the GENERAL SERVICES DIVISION - CAO. Other permanent and temporary appointments will be made as needed. Successful candidates will remain on the eligible list for a period of twelve-months, unless specified otherwise by the Civil Service Commission.
For more information regarding Kern County's recruitment process, please see ourFAQ page.
Kern County is an ADA compliant and an equal opportunity employer and encourages all qualified individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply.
Kern County Employee Benefits
- As a regular or provisional employee of Kern County, working twenty (20) hours or more per week, you are presently eligible for the following benefits as described below:
Retirement Program: Kern County Employees' Retirement Association (KCERA). This Section 401 (a) defined benefit retirement plan requires employer and employee contribution and pays retired employees a pension based on salary, years of service, and age upon retirement.
Deferred Compensation: This section 457 plan allows employees to contribute on a pre-tax basis to a supplemental retirement account which is then paid out to them when they retire.
Social Security Administration
Note: Both Kern County and the employee contribute to Social Security and Medicare as follows:
- The County of Kern withholds 6.2% for Social Security (FICA1) and 1.45% for Medicare (FICA2) from employee's payroll warrants
- The County matches the employee's 6.2% for Social Security and 1.45% for Medicare
Voluntary Benefits: Chimienti & Associates (Administrator) offers the following voluntary benefits and can be deducted on a pre-tax bases: Short Term Disability Coverage, Accident Plan, Cancer Plan and a Flexible Spending Account.
Paid Holiday Leave: 12 set days (per calendar year)
01
I have a High School Diploma, G.E.D. or Equivalent.
- Yes
- No
I have completed sixty (60) semester or 90 quarter units of college credit from an accredited college or university in business or public administration, economics, accounting, finance or a closely related field.
- Yes
- No
If your response to Question 2 was "Yes", pleas indicate your college major below.
04
I have the following certifications: (Please check all that apply)
- Accredited Purchasing Practitioner (A.P.P.) by the Institute of Supply Management
- Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.) by the Institute of Supply Management
- Certified Public Purchasing Buyer (C.P.P.B.) by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing
- Certified Public Purchasing Officer (C.P.P.O.) by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing
- Not Applicable
All applicable diploma(s), transcripts, licenses, and/or certificates must be attached with your application. I have submitted copies of all applicable diploma(s), transcripts, licenses, and/or certificates with my application. (Failure to attach required supplemental materials will result in the rejection of application.)
- Yes
- No
- Required Question
Salary : $1,666 - $1,991