Senior Buyer

York County•Yorktown, VA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

Responsible for performing advanced purchasing work for York County Government offices and the York County School Division, ensuring compliance with all applicable laws, policies, and procedures. This role involves complex and specialized procurement of supplies, materials, equipment, professional services, and capital improvement projects. The Senior Buyer ensures adherence to purchasing policies, legal provisions, ethical standards, vendor performance management, and contract interpretation. They provide guidance to departments on solicitation specifications and sourcing strategies, initiate and administer formal solicitations (including RFPs), evaluate submittals, facilitate evaluation committees, and conduct negotiations. The position involves awarding contracts based on the most qualified offeror, preparing legal contract documents, and performing post-award activities. The Senior Buyer also manages difficult contracts, participates in complex contract negotiations, evaluates bids, and facilitates contract awards. Responsibilities include conducting pre-bid conferences, preparing addenda, analyzing vendor proposals, performing financial computations, statistical analysis, and forecasting. They negotiate single-source contracts, collaborate with departments on procurement documentation for Board of Supervisor meetings, interact with vendors, resolve vendor-related issues, and serve as a mentor to procurement staff. The role requires staying updated on new products and market changes, identifying contract opportunities, monitoring renewals, and potentially serving as a Contract Administrator. The Senior Buyer prepares correspondence and reports related to purchasing activities and engages in professional development in public procurement.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Five (5) to seven (7) years of progressively responsible public procurement experience.
Valid driver’s license issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Successful completion of pre-employment checks (driving record, criminal history, background checks).
General knowledge of purchasing methods and competitive bid processes in a procurement environment.
General knowledge of purchasing procedures and guidelines.
General knowledge of financial computations, statistical analysis, and forecasting techniques.
General understanding of applicable federal, state, and local purchasing laws and regulations, including the Virginia Public Procurement Act.
Strong customer service skills.
Ability to establish and maintain professional relationships with employees, managers, and vendors.
Personal computer experience using Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
Proficient skills in Microsoft Office, Excel, and Outlook.
Ability to create and present PowerPoint presentations.
Ability to conduct research through use of the internet.
Ability to use a computer-based purchasing information system.
Ability to make sound purchasing recommendations/decisions and prepare supporting substantiation/justification.
Ability to communicate ideas effectively.
Ability to listen and understand information and ideas being presented verbally and in writing.
Ability to develop and maintain cooperative and professional relationships with employees and management.
Ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks/projects to consistently meet deadlines.
Ability to use logic and reasoning to understand, analyze, and evaluate situations and exercise good judgment to make appropriate decisions.

Nice To Haves

Completion of a professional certification such as Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM), Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM), Certified Public Procurement Buyer (CPPB), Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO), or Certified Procurement Professional (NIGP-CPP), from a recognized purchasing related organization.
Experience using Tyler Munis financial software.
Comprehensive knowledge of the various grades and qualities of a wide variety of materials, equipment, supplies, and services used by the County and School divisions.
Comprehensive knowledge of purchasing methods and competitive bid processes in a procurement environment, as well as of purchasing procedures and guidelines, financial computations, statistical analysis and forecasting techniques.
Comprehensive knowledge of laws pertaining to public purchasing, as well as knowledge of accepted purchasing principles and practices.
Ability to stay aware of changes in government procurement laws, regulations and/or policies.
Considerable knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer service with the ability to handle a variety of customer service issues with tact and diplomacy and in a confidential manner.
Thorough knowledge of modern business practices.
Ability to assist others in achieving goals.

Responsibilities

Perform advanced purchasing work for York County Government offices and the York County School Division.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws, policies, and procedures in procurement.
Procure a variety of supplies, materials, equipment, professional services, and capital improvement projects.
Ensure compliance with purchasing policies, legal provisions, ethical issues, vendor performance management, and contract interpretation/administration.
Uphold the integrity of the County’s public procurement process.
Provide guidance, review, and direction to departments/schools regarding solicitation specifications/standards/requirements.
Determine appropriate sourcing strategies.
Initiate and administer formal solicitations, including the development of Requests For Proposals.
Review and evaluate submittals to determine compliance with stated specifications and requirements.
Facilitate evaluation committee and vendor presentation meetings.
Determine negotiation strategies and conduct competitive negotiations.
Award contracts based on the most qualified offeror meeting criteria most favorable to the County and/or School division.
Prepare/review legal contract verbiage/documents.
Perform post-award activities.
Initiate and administer difficult contracts.
Participate in larger, more complex contracts.
Evaluate quotes/bids and facilitate recommendation of award of contracts to the lowest, responsive and responsible bidder.
Conduct pre-bid and pre-proposal conferences with prospective bidders and offerors.
Prepare/issue written addenda as required.
Conduct analysis of vendor cost/price proposals, best-value analysis, and lease/purchase analysis.
Perform financial computations, statistical analysis, and forecasting.
Negotiate single source contracts.
Collaborate with departments and Purchasing Agent to develop procurement documentation for Board of Supervisor meetings.
Interact with vendors to determine product availability, cost, and quality.
Respond to vendor inquiries and resolve problems and performance issues.
Serve as mentor and advisor to procurement staff for sourcing, contracting, contract administration, and contract forecasting.
Stay abreast of new products and changes to product lines; research and analyze products and services, product substitution, and price and quality differences.
Identify opportunities for contract establishment.
Monitor and maintain contract renewal schedules.
May serve as Contract Administrator for issued agreements.
Prepare and distribute correspondence and reports related to purchasing activities and policies.
Engage in professional development in public procurement through continued education and networking.