Buyer - Senior

Job Description:

Buyer - Senior

Description

Introduction

Living in Placer County from Placer County Video Portal

Placer County is comprised of over 1,400 square miles of beautiful and diverse geography, ranging from the residential and commercial areas of South Placer, through the historic foothill areas of Auburn, Foresthill, and Colfax, and to the County's jewel of the North Lake Tahoe basin. Placer is a great place to live, work, play, and learn! For more information about Placer County, please visit www.placer.ca.gov

POSITION INFORMATION

Placer County is accepting applications for a Senior Buyer vacancy in the Procurement Services Division of the County Executive Office. Procurement Services provides centralized, value based, efficient sourcing solutions to all County departments for the procurement of materials, equipment, and services of the best quality and price, from the right source and at the right time.

The Senior Buyer is the advanced-journey level in the Division and ensures purchasing policies and procedures are followed to maintain consistency in procurement practices and in compliance with Federal, State, and Local laws. This position provides direct supervision to entry and journey level Buyer staff. The ideal candidate possesses excellent customer services skills, keen attention to detail, advanced analytical skill and the ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.

Please note that the eligible list established from this recruitment may be utilized to fill future vacancies as they occur in the Procurement Services Division.

BENEFITS

Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees. The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change. Applicants should inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.

Click here to view Placer Public Employees Organization (PPEO) benefits.

For more information regarding the benefits Placer County has to offer, please visit Placer County's Human Resources website.

DEFINITION

To supervise and direct the daily work of assigned staff within the Procurement Services Division; to perform purchasing services in the most difficult, complex, and specialized commodity areas; and to perform a variety of technical tasks and special assignments relative to assigned area of responsibility.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is the advanced journey level class within the Buyer series. Positions at this level are distinguished from other classes within the series by the level of responsibility assumed, complexity of duties assigned, independence of action taken, and the amount of time spent performing the more complex duties. Employees perform the most difficult and responsible types of duties assigned to classes within this series, including exercising direct supervision over technical and clerical staff and planning, assigning, and evaluating the work of subordinates.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general direction from higher-level professional staff.

Exercises direct supervision over assigned technical and clerical staff.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Recommend and assist in the implementation of unit goals and objectives; establish schedules and methods for the Procurement Services Division; assist with the development and implementation of policies and procedures.
• Represent the Purchasing Manager as directed; in the absence of the Purchasing Manager, assume responsibility of the division as needed.
• Plan, prioritize, assign, supervise, and review the work of assigned technical and clerical staff.
• Train subordinate staff in pertinent local, state, and federal laws, ordinances, and rules applicable to public procurement.
• Perform the most difficult purchasing tasks requiring extensive knowledge of technical and specialized commodities and services; conduct formal and informal solicitations and prepare specifications; analyze, evaluate, and recommend awards.
• Conduct product research; evaluate markets and trends for procurement; develop and prepare commodity specifications.
• Mediate and resolve problems encountered by subordinate staff.
• Prepare and maintain appropriate records, reports, and correspondence.
• Confer with departmental officials to determine purchasing needs.
• Assist in the development and monitoring of the division budget.
• Evaluate operations and activities of assigned responsibilities; recommend improvements and modifications; prepare various reports on operations and activities.
• Participate in the selection of staff; provide or coordinate staff training; conduct performance evaluations; recommend discipline; implement discipline procedures as directed.
• Answer questions and provide information to the public; investigate complaints; recommend corrective action as necessary.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with coworkers, other County employees, and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Ensure compliance with pertinent local, state, and federal laws, ordinances, and rules applicable to public procurement.
• Perform and conduct competitive contract negotiations and administration with outside vendors and consultants.
• Conduct and review analytical studies and surveys in difficult or complex situations which require a high level of skill, judgment, and expertise; make recommendations on a broad spectrum of administrative and program-related topics; maintain records and statistics; prepare productivity and other reports.
• Administer and oversee the County procurement card program, County surplus program, specialized financial, procurement, and data management software, and other special programs and processes.
• Develop, implement, and conduct procurement training sessions.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is typically performed in an indoor office and/or warehouse environment with controlled temperature conditions. Position may require travel to and from other locations in a variety of outdoor weather conditions and lifting various materials and supplies.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS


It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.

Experience and Training

Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: Three years of increasingly responsible journey-level experience in purchasing, including two years with a governmental agency performing duties similar to a Buyer II in Placer County. Prior supervisory experience is desirable.

Training: Equivalent to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in business administration, public administration, economics, or a related field.

Required License or Certificate:

• May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position. Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.
• Possession of or ability to obtain the Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB), Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO), or equivalent certification is desirable.

Note: Relevant, equivalent experience (performing the same or similar job requiring similar knowledge, skills, and abilities) may be substituted for the required education as determined by the Human Resources Department.

Note: Applicants receiving their degree outside the United States must submit proof of accreditation by a recognized evaluation agency.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of public purchasing and County administration, organization, programs, and functions.
• Materials, supplies, equipment, and contracted services used by a large public agency.
• Basic accounting and data processing principles.
• Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluations.
• Principles of budget monitoring.
• Principles and practices of work safety.
• Pertinent local, state, and federal laws, ordinances, and rules applicable to public procurement.
• Computer systems and software, including word processing and spreadsheet applications and financial accounting systems.
• Statistical methods and analysis and the use of statistics in reports.

Ability to:

• Organize, implement, and direct purchasing operations and activities.
• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; intermittently analyze work papers, reports, and special projects; identify and interpret technical and numerical information; observe and problem-solve operational and technical policy and procedures.
• On a continuous basis, sit at a desk for long periods of time; intermittently twist to reach equipment surrounding desk; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; use a telephone and write or use a keyboard to communicate through written means; lift heavy weight.
• Supervise, train, and evaluate assigned staff.
• Interpret and explain pertinent local, state, and federal laws, ordinances, and rules applicable to public procurement.
• Negotiate and administer contracts to ensure that goods and services are delivered consistent with contract and bid specifications.
• Assist in the development and monitoring of an assigned program budget.
• Develop and recommend policies and procedures related to assigned operations.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Prepare detailed and complex written reports.
• Prepare and conduct effective presentations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

Training & Experience Rating (100%)

Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training, and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula. Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination (which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation), sign a constitutional oath, and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S. For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation (which may include a voice stress analysis and/or a polygraph), and/or be bonded. Additionally, positions in law enforcement classifications and those supporting law enforcement functions will be required to complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process. Applicants for positions with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification. Failure to clear these requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.

SUBSTITUTE LISTS

The eligible list resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification. For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey level) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

EMPLOYEES OF OTHER PUBLIC AGENCIES

Placer County offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information on the Public Agency Eligible List, to download forms, or to apply, please click here.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that unlawful harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer, and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of the following characteristics: gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race (including traits associated with race, which include, but are not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, ancestry, religion (including creed and belief), national origin, citizenship, primary language, immigration status, physical disability (Including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over), marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including parental status, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), reproductive health decision making, the person’s use of cannabis off the job and away from the workplace, political orientation, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law or any combination of two or more characteristics stated herein. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.

Conclusion

For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Andrea Marthaler, Administrative Technician, at amarthaler@placer.ca.gov or (530) 886-4664.

Closing Date/Time: 7/17/2025 5:00:00 PM

Salary:

$38.43 - $47.99/hour; $6,661.20 - $8,318.27/month; $79,934.40 - $99,819.20/year