Buyer I

DescriptionUnder close supervision, to perform a wide range of duties involved in the purchasing of materials, supplies, services, and equipment for County departments, special districts, and other public agencies.Candidates who meet the employment standards will be invited to take an online written examination tentatively scheduled for the week of October 28, 2024.Typical Tasks• Reviews and approves requisitions from County departments for the purchase of materials, supplies, services, and equipment;• Determines possible suppliers and specification requirements based on the types of purchases to be made;• Edits product specifications submitted and writes new product specifications when required;• Writes ITBs (Invitations to Bid), RFQs (Requests for Quotations), RFPs (Requests for Proposals), contracts, reports, and correspondence;• Establishes County/supplier contractual conditions, revises and develops contracts, and performs contract administration duties;• Analyzes bid proposals received from suppliers, including evaluating prices, discounts, delivery conditions, and products offered (with respect to specifications) in order to ensure quality and best value;• Determines successful bidders (from whom purchases will be made) and issues purchase orders, makes recommendations relative to the awarding of contracts, and acts as liaison between County and suppliers;• Confers with departmental representatives in the development of product specifications, to standardize contract items, and in attempting to combine purchases to secure quantity discounts;• Confers with suppliers or manufacturers in order to acquaint them with Purchasing policies and procedures and to obtain information on required products and services;• Maintains current and complete lists of suppliers and information on their products based on previous purchases and market research, and maintains information on a wide variety of other sources;• Investigates complaints, secures adjustments, and resolves other purchasing related problems;• May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker, as required;• Performs other related work as required.Employment StandardsSufficient education, training, and experience to demonstrate the possession and direct application of the following knowledge and abilities.Training and Experience Note: The required knowledge and abilities are attained through training and experience equivalent to the possession of a Bachelor's degree with a major in Business Administration, Public Administration, Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Economics, Material or Supply Chain Management, or closely related field.Knowledge Of• Business and organizational principles and practices;• Data collection techniques;• Materials, supplies, and equipment used in various occupations;• Mathematics to perform computations and collect statistics for basic cost and price analysis;• Various computer programs, such as word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and procurement software.Ability To• Evaluate bid proposals, analyze requisitions and specifications, and determine appropriate courses of action;• Analyze and solve buying problems, investigate complaints, write product specifications and contracts, and provide guidance and assistance;• Read, interpret, and properly apply rules, regulations, laws, and policies;• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;• Establish cooperative relationships with those contacted in the course of work;• Reason logically, work under pressure, adapt to varying circumstances, and use sound judgment in the performance of duties;• Conduct value/cost analysis and negotiate purchasing contracts.