Senior Buyer Job Description:
- Establish and maintain effective working relations with co-workers, departments, vendors and governmental agencies.
- Coordinate and assist departments with the county’s centralized, competitive bid and procurement program in accordance with Federal guidelines, Wisconsin State Statutes, county ordinances and administrative procedures.
- Applies a thorough understanding of pertinent sections of the Wisconsin State Statutes, County Ordinances, policy and procedures; provides accurate interpretations to the Purchasing Manager, user departments and vendors. Seeks legal opinions from the Corporation Counsel and the Risk Manager on bidding, contractual and liability questions.
- Purchase a wide variety of supplies, equipment, materials and services. Determine the appropriate procurement method and coordinate the procurement process.
- Conduct comprehensive research on products, vendors and market conditions to determine the most effective purchasing strategies.
- Researches technical aspects of goods, services and construction; consults with industry specialists to secure information regarding new products, improvements and cost cutting alternatives.
- Monitors the changes in industry, relevant federal, state and local statutes, relevant policy of Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, the field of procurement and technology and matches them against current and changing departmental needs. Monitors the impact of technology changes and public policy changes in the County and advises the Purchasing Manager.
- Conduct multi-department and cooperative solicitations that meet the needs of the participants. Conduct multi-department cost analysis and make the appropriate recommendations.
- Coordinate and assist departments with developing specifications, scope of services and developing the evaluation criteria for formal solicitation.
- Develop and revise performance based product specifications.
- Coordinate the distribution of solicitation documents, internal and external communications and solicitation opening.
- Creates unique procurement documents and/or methodologies to address special procurement requests.
- Evaluates responses, tabulating bids, analyzing costs and recommending awards.
- Attend and conduct pre-bid/proposal conferences.
- Maintain project files for projects that are assigned including the ongoing acquisition of required documentation (insurance certificates, W9 forms, etc.) and completion of suspension/debarment searches, when necessary prior to awarding a contract to a potential vendor.
- Assist department heads with the appropriate documentation to process waiver of bids and/or sole source requests.
- Verify compliance of insurance coverage and performance and payment bonds as required.
- Conduct contract negotiations, when appropriate.
- Prepare various detailed contract documents and notices to vendors. Coordinate and manage contract renewals, amendments and issuing notices for assigned contracts.
- Monitor vendor performance with the collaboration with the department to ensure contract compliance regarding service levels, quality of goods and services, and cost. Investigate and resolve any and all complaints and report to purchasing manager when appropriate.
- Provide input in the development, implementation and revision of county ordinances and administrative procedures related to procurement and submit to the Purchasing Manager for approval.
- Perform detailed inspection, reading, editing and verifying of documents. Prioritize and analyze data.
- Prepare oral and written reports and represent the division at various meetings and committees, as required.
- Assist the other senior buyer as a backup.
- Perform a managerial role as needed based on the availability of the Purchasing Manager.
- Assist in the development of training materials and subject matter and assists in the training of purchasing staff and personnel from other departments.
- As needed, the Purchasing Manager may periodically authorize the Senior Buyer to provide direction or project assignments to the other Senior Buyer.
- Review the work of assigned Buyers for accuracy, proper work methods, techniques and compliance with applicable standards and specifications.
- Demonstrate a commitment to county safety and risk management efforts.
- Senior Buyer Position Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in business, public administration, business law, finance, purchasing, or a closely related field; or formal preparation equivalent to a four-year program and two to three years of relevant prior experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Knowledge of all principles involved in purchasing, contract management and the environment in which it functions, including the procurement of public work construction projects.
- Knowledge of market research methods and available tools.
- Knowledge of the principles and practices of the solicitation process.
- Independently perform complex solicitation functions.
- Ability to interpret and evaluate technical documents and drawings.
- Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, proportions and percentages as well as the ability to apply basic algebra and geometry concepts to calculate area, circumference, volume and/or land measure.
- Ability to communicate and implement internally and externally focused policies and procedures within the public sector environment.
- Knowledge of contracts, contract law, contract and supply management and public works construction projects.
- Ability to analyze data, make the appropriate recommendations, and resolve problems.
- Ability to devise, test and compute mathematical formulas for the evaluation of bids and proposals.
- Ability to plan, organize and effectively present ideas, concepts and recommendations, both orally and written formats.
- Ability to utilize spreadsheets, word processing and automated procurement applications.
- Ability to locate and interpret internal and external policies and procedures.