Buyer/Senior Buyer

Ventura County•Ventura, CA

About The Position

The General Services Agency (GSA) serves County departments and agencies across Fleet Services, Facilities, Procurement, Special Services, Parks, Security, and Business Support. Its mission is to contribute to quality of life in Ventura County by partnering with customers to provide expertise and cost-effective services and to foster the preservation of natural resources. Buyer is the entry-level class in the series. Under close supervision, Buyers perform general procurement duties while learning specialized procurement practices and procedures. They must demonstrate proficiency in specified operational activities before promotion to Senior Buyer. Senior Buyer is the full working/journey-level class and performs a broader and more complex range of specialized procurement duties with greater independence. The successful candidate will have experience with city, county, state, or federal government procurement practices; familiarity with procurement-related software; excellent customer service skills; the ability to make oral presentations; the ability to work well with coworkers; and the ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced procurement environment. The position is represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and is eligible for overtime compensation. One regular vacancy is currently available in the GSA Procurement Department. If appointed as a Buyer, the incumbent may be promoted to Senior Buyer without further examination after meeting minimum requirements, demonstrating satisfactory performance, and subject to departmental business needs.

Requirements

Buyer: Some professional purchasing experience and knowledge, skills, and abilities training in business administration, marketing, or procurement theory; alternatively, one year of professional purchasing experience involving vendor contact and bid or value analysis.
Senior Buyer: Considerable professional purchasing experience and knowledge, skills, and abilities in business administration, marketing, or procurement theory; alternatively, two years of professional purchasing experience involving vendor contact and bid or value analysis, or one year as a Buyer with the County of Ventura or a comparable organization.
Possess and maintain a current, valid California driver's license.
Demonstrate effective written communication through the employment application and supplemental questionnaire.
Working knowledge at the Buyer level to considerable knowledge at the Senior Buyer level of marketing principles, theory, and procedures as applied to procurement in a governmental or nonprofit setting; business mathematics; office procedures; and data collection techniques.
Senior Buyers must have thorough knowledge of purchasing practices and products as applied to procurement in a governmental or nonprofit setting.
Knowledge of specific products, commodities, or services may be required for particular assignments.
Ability to communicate and establish effective relationships with commercial vendors, officials, and employees.
Ability to collect and evaluate data and conduct studies and surveys.
Ability to make decisions based on both judgmental and factual criteria.
Ability to develop technical knowledge of specific products or services.
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a public-sector or government setting preparing proposals and bids, performing bid analysis, making oral presentations, and reviewing and processing requisitions.
Experience with purchasing software and forecasting techniques used to estimate purchasing demands.
Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
Experience with city, county, state, or federal government procurement practices.
Familiarity with procurement-related software.
Excellent customer service skills, ability to make oral presentations, work well with coworkers, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced procurement environment.

Responsibilities

Examine and process complex departmental requisitions at the Senior Buyer level.
Prepare complex bid specifications and related purchasing documents at the Senior Buyer level.
Resolve customer service problems and complaints at the Senior Buyer level.
Compare costs and evaluate the quality and suitability of supplies, materials, and equipment.
Consult with officials and employees to determine purchasing needs and specifications.
Locate sources of supply and place orders.
Interview and correspond with vendors and other product representatives.
Prepare written reports and correspondence at the Senior Buyer level.
Keep informed about new products, market conditions, and trends.
Make oral presentations to vendors and agency representatives at the Buyer level.
Perform other related duties as assigned or required.

Benefits

Merit increases, including a potential initial 5% increase within the pay range after at least 1,040 hours, subject to satisfactory performance; subsequent increases may follow each additional 2,080 hours, subject to applicable terms.
Educational incentive of 2.5% for an associate degree, 3.5% for a bachelor's degree, or 5% for a graduate degree.
Vacation accrual, with increased accrual rates based on service and a maximum stated accrual rate of 26 days per year.
Annual leave redemption option, subject to County service and usage requirements.
Sick leave accrual and an advance of 40.04 hours at hire for eligible full-time regular employees, subject to balancing terms.
Eligibility to participate in the County's 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or Section 457 Plan; up to a 3.00% match on 401(k) contributions.
Flexible credit allowance for full-time employees to offset medical, dental, and/or vision insurance for the employee and dependents.
Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible medical, dental, vision, and dependent-care expenses.
Participation in the County's defined-benefit pension plan, with reciprocity with CalPERS.
13 paid holidays per year, including a scheduled floating holiday.
Tuition reimbursement.
Disability plans.
Employee Assistance Program.
Life insurance.
Wellness Program.
Overtime compensation eligibility.