Buyer I/II

County of Santa Barbara•Santa Barbara, CA

22d•Onsite

About The Position

The County of Santa Barbara is accepting applications to fill one (1) full-time Buyer I/II position located in Santa Barbara for the General Services Department. Applications are also being accepted to establish an employment list to fill current and future Buyer I/II vacancies. This is a flexibly staffed series, where Buyer I is distinguished from Buyer II by the latter's preparation and analysis of more complex and higher profile contracts, and working with relative independence within established guidelines. The candidate may be appointed at either the I or II level, depending on their qualifications and the department's needs. Under the direction of the Chief Procurement Officer or designee, the Buyer solicits bids and negotiates for the purchase of supplies, equipment, and services for County departments and other public agencies.

Requirements

A bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college with major coursework in purchasing, materials management, supply chain management, business administration, public administration or another closely-related field.
Two or more years of professional experience in quantity buying for a public agency and/or large private organization.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to convey information in a clear, concise, organized and relevant manner to help others understand objectives and priorities.
Analytical skills and the ability to assess problems, secure relevant policy information, identify possible causes, develop options for solutions, and make logical recommendations.
Strong project management skills.
Ability to work well in a team environment, making positive contributions and assisting others as necessary.
Ability to develop and maintain productive working relationships with diverse people.
Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work professionally with managers, executives, operations staff, other agencies, vendors, and regulators.
Strong customer service skills and experience working with the public.
Knowledge of the basic principles of supply chain, procurement materials, best value procurement, and/or environmental green building.
Ability to work independently, prioritize work, keep records organized accordingly and meet critical deadlines.
Professional experience using Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint and Access.
Experience using numerous computerized data software management systems.
One year of experience in the field of quantity buying, for a public agency or large private company, of end items such as services, supplies, and equipment; OR , One year of experience performing duties equivalent to the class of Buyer’s Assistant with Santa Barbara County; OR , A combination of training, education, and experience that is equivalent to one of the employment standards listed above and that provides the required knowledge and abilities.
Knowledge of: standard business English; principles and practices of purchasing, including ethics, Internet research, standards, bid preparation and evaluation, competitive bidding procedures, quality control, inventory standards and control; data collection techniques for establishing sources of supply, product, and vendor information; market research techniques; general law of contracts; office procedures and office automation software (word processing, database management).
Ability to: conduct studies, analyze and evaluate data, and make recommendations and decisions; prepare and present written or oral reports; reproduce established bids; learn to prepare and evaluate new bids; learn practices and principles of government contracting; perform arithmetic calculations, such as calculating interest, discounts, and shipping charges; use common units of measure; maintain an effective liaison with vendors, management, staff, and co-workers; use personal computer.
Possession of a valid California Class C Driver’s License may be required.

Responsibilities

Solicits bids and negotiates for the purchase of supplies, equipment, and services for County departments and other public agencies.
Analyzes market conditions; keeps abreast of trends; explores sources of supply; studies new products; and researches departments’ requests for all products and commodities.
Confers with departmental representatives to determine specific needs, arranges for demonstrations, and distributes literature and samples.
Processes requisitions; groups purchases to secure price advantages of quantity buying; composes and edits specifications; solicits formal bids in accordance with standard procedures and solicits informal bids by telephone, FAX, or personal contact; and compares and analyzes price quotations.
Studies quality of products; determines vendor from whom purchases will be made; places orders; negotiates and renews contracts; investigates complaints and secures adjustments; follows up on deliveries.
Maintains data and prepares reports using office automation software.