Senior Buyer

Peoria Unified School District•Glendale, AZ

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Buyer performs advanced professional purchasing and procurement activities for the school district, acquiring supplies, equipment, materials, and services in accordance with district policies and applicable Arizona procurement requirements. The position develops and administers solicitations, evaluates purchasing options, assists schools and departments with procurement requirements and requisitions, negotiates with vendors, maintains procurement documentation, and supports fair, competitive, transparent, and cost-effective purchasing practices. The Senior Buyer may provide technical guidance and training to buyers, purchasing staff, school personnel, and district departments, and may serve as a lead resource on complex procurements. The role works primarily in a standard office environment, with extensive computer and electronic procurement-system use. It requires regular communication with district employees, vendors, contractors, and members of the public, and may occasionally involve travel to district sites, vendor locations, conferences, or meetings. Duties generally involve prolonged sitting, computer use, verbal and written communication, and occasional lifting or moving files, supplies, or materials consistent with an office environment. Essential functions must be performed with or without reasonable accommodation.

Requirements

Associate's degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Purchasing, or a closely related field, plus three years of relevant, progressively responsible purchasing, procurement, or closely related experience, including one year in a senior or lead role; or an equivalent combination of experience and/or education.
Knowledge of applicable federal, state, county, and city statutes, rules, regulations, ordinances, and codes, and Peoria Unified School District policies and procedures.
Knowledge of procurement and purchasing principles.
Knowledge of management, supervision, and leadership principles.
Knowledge of bookkeeping and/or accounting principles.
Knowledge of bidding, RFP development, advertisement, and selection procedures.
Ability to read, interpret, understand, and apply relevant laws, regulations, ordinances, codes, and district policies and procedures.
Skill in drafting, circulating, evaluating, procuring, and preparing purchasing-related processes and documents.
Skill in conducting public bid openings, analysis, and selections.
Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with coworkers, vendors, the general public, and others doing business with the district.
Skill in operating a personal computer and a variety of software applications.
Must pass a background check.
Must hold or obtain an IVP fingerprint clearance card.

Nice To Haves

May be required to possess and maintain a valid Arizona driver's license.
May be required to travel to perform work functions.
May be required to work outside normal working hours.

Responsibilities

Plan, coordinate, and conduct complex purchases of supplies, equipment, services, and other goods required by district schools and departments.
Prepare and administer formal and informal solicitations, including IFBs, RFPs, RFQs, and requests for quotations.
Develop specifications, scopes of work, evaluation criteria, pricing schedules, and other solicitation documents with requesting departments.
Review requisitions, purchase requests, specifications, and supporting documentation for completeness, accuracy, appropriate funding information, and procurement compliance.
Conduct market research and identify appropriate procurement methods and potential sources of supply.
Facilitate pre-bid and pre-proposal conferences, solicitation openings, evaluation processes, vendor communications, negotiations, and contract awards.
Analyze bids, proposals, quotations, pricing, terms, and vendor qualifications and prepare award recommendations.
Negotiate pricing, delivery schedules, terms, renewals, and other contractual provisions within delegated authority.
Prepare and process purchase order requisitions, contracts, amendments, renewals, change orders, and related procurement documents.
Administer assigned contracts and monitor vendor performance, pricing, expiration dates, renewals, and contractual compliance.
Assist schools and departments with purchasing, receiving, invoicing, delivery, and vendor-performance issues.
Ensure procurement complies with applicable Arizona laws and regulations, district policies and procedures, governing-board requirements, and grant or funding requirements.
Maintain complete and accurate procurement records documenting competition, evaluations, approvals, awards, and purchasing decisions.
Provide procurement guidance and customer service to administrators, school personnel, and district departments.
Provide technical guidance and training to purchasing staff and district employees on procurement procedures and purchasing systems.
May assign, review, or coordinate the work of buyers, purchasing assistants, or other procurement staff without full supervisory authority.
Identify opportunities for cooperative purchasing, strategic sourcing, standardization, and cost savings.
Develop and maintain professional relationships with vendors, contractors, governmental entities, cooperative purchasing organizations, and district personnel.
Assist with vendor protests, contract disputes, public-record requests, audits, and procurement-related inquiries as assigned.
Use district financial and purchasing systems to process transactions, research purchasing information, and prepare reports.
Perform other duties as assigned or required.