Buyer- Business Management

Reports To: Sr Coordinator for Business

Salary: This is a (40 hours a week-12 month) full-time position at 232 days with a minimum annual salary of $45,000.


Primary Purpose: To purchase supplies, equipment, and services at the best value and in sufficient quantities required to maintain and support on-going operations of the center, districts, and departments.


Education/Certification:

• Graduation from an accredited high school or GED
• Experience in purchasing/buying, preferably in public education

Special Knowledge/Skills:

• Knowledge of acceptable purchasing laws, rules, and regulations; Center purchasing practices and procedures; purchasing tools and techniques; and market conditions and sources; exercises independent judgment and professional discretion in administrating, advising, planning and coordinating assigned purchasing responsibilities; reasoning skills.
• Skill in operating standard PC software applications (word processing, spreadsheets, etc.); written and oral communications including writing bid specifications.
• Knowledge required to interpret and apply technical procedures and demonstrate strong ethical principles and understand and follow Center policies, including reporting annually or as relationships change, all conflicts of interest and family relationships with Center employees.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as a representative of ESC Region 13, displaying courtesy, tact, consideration and discretion in all interactions with other members of the educational community and with the public.
• Provide excellent customer service, including responding to calls and emails within a maximum of one business day and taking ownership of customers' procurement needs and fulfill them in compliance with applicable statutes, policies and guidelines.
• Analyze center and district requirements and identify campus and/or department needs.
• Procure district needs in assigned categories, including:
  • Proactively establish approved vendors to ensure that center and district needs are generally fulfilled through approved vendors.
  • Develop, issue, manage and award solicitations. Research and validate cooperative contracts. Review and approve sole source and other exemption certifications, with Director of Purchasing approval.
  • If no approved vendor exists, research and recommend to Sr Coordinator for Business to allow use of an unapproved vendor.
  • Proactively award and/or renew center bids/contracts at least 30 days prior to expiration of current bid/contract to ensure no lapse in coverage.
• Act as purchasing liaison for assigned categories and customer groups.
• Collect and organize documentation for audit requests for assigned categories.
• Work with appropriate stakeholders to develop and weight necessary criteria to ensure a fair and unbiased competition and objective measurement tools to use in the evaluation of proposals and/or qualifications, prior to the opening of proposals and/or qualifications to ensure a fair and unbiased competition.
• Review vendor responses for compliance with solicitation requirements, perform pricing analysis and recommend contract awards that result in best value procurements for the Center and Districts.
• Act as liaison between vendors and center personnel, facilitating product and pricing information exchange, monitoring contractor performance, and mediating dispute resolution.
• Evaluate proposals, contracts and legal issues relating to purchasing. Review and evaluate bids and proposals for compliance with solicitation requirements, perform pricing analysis, and recommend contract awards for best value procurement.
• Evaluate vendor performance relative to product acceptability and vendor service to include product quality, delivery performance, shipping accuracy, product packaging, invoicing, warranty support, etc.
• Attend and participate in meetings with staff to address issues as they relate to assigned areas, including planning and coordination with other departments.
• Provide training to center staff.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions:
Mental / Physical / Environmental Demands

• Need to occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc.
• Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer.
• Frequently communicates with other employees or public. Must be able to exchange accurate information.
• Ability to understand, remember, and communicate routine, factual information.
• Ability to organize and prioritize own work schedule on short-term basis.
• Ability to make decisions which have moderate impact on immediate work unit.
• Ability to compose letters, outlines, memoranda, and basic reports and/or to orally communicate technical information.
• Ability to communicate with individuals utilizing a telephone, computer or other electronic device.
• Use standard office equipment including personal computer and peripherals.
• Prolonged sitting; occasional bending/stooping, pushing/pulling, and twisting.
• Repetitive hand motions including frequent keyboarding and use of mouse; occasional reaching.
• Occasional light lifting and carrying (less than 15 pounds).
• Work with frequent interruptions.
• Maintain emotional control under stress.

The above statements are intended to describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and are not intended to represent an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills that may be required.