Buyer - FT - Day Shift

HOURLY RANGE: $33.41 - $45.18

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: The work involves purchasing a variety of assigned commodities and services. The incumbent is involved with the competitive bidding process (sourcing, negotiating, issuing purchase orders, and following through on confirmations) in the purchasing of a diversified group of products and/or services. Supervision is received from a higher level administrative employee. Supervision may be exercised over lower level technical and clerical staff. Does related work as
required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:
Initiates and prepares bids and specifications which lead to purchase contracts for goods and services;
Selects vendors and places purchase contracts for materials and/or services and confirms orders and
communicates to requisitioners if needed;
Edits requisitions and confers with departments regarding requirement, specifications, quantity, and quality of merchandise and deliver requirements;
Recommends substitutes where a savings in costs or improved delivery will result;
Interviews vendors and their representatives personally and maintains a close contact by correspondence, telephone, and email;
Serves in an advisory capacity to assist departments in purchasing;
Solicits and reviews bids from vendors for a wide variety of commodities and/or services;
Keeps abreast of current price trends, market conditions and new or improved items of supply;
May plan and oversee advertising for articles to be purchased;
Summarizes bids submitted by suppliers;
Expedites delivery on orders by phone, email or letter;
Check requisitions and purchase orders with departments for clarification;
Checks requisitions and purchase orders against specifications and catalogs, reacts to changes in demand and logistics and works in conjunction with Receiving and Accounts Payable departments for completion of process.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: Thorough knowledge of competitive purchasing procedures; thorough knowledge of markets, trade conditions, business methods and purchasing practices; good knowledge of the laws related to public purchasing; good knowledge of purchase order software platforms in addition to Word and Excel; ability to meet and deal effectively with salespeople and County departmental representatives; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a diverse constituency; strong interpersonal skills; attention to detail; initiative; thoroughness; accuracy; honesty; tact; sound judgment; physical condition commensurate with the demands of the position.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
A) Graduation form a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a Bachelor’s degree and four (4) years of purchasing experience; or:
B) Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma and eight (8) years of business experience which included four (4) years of purchasing experience; or:
C) An equivalent combination of training and experience as defined by the limits of (A) and (B).

NOTE: Verifiable part-time and/or volunteer experience will be pro-rated toward meeting full-time
experience requirements.

Rev. 7/2022
Erie County/ECMCC
F-006
Comp.
CSEA JG XI
ML/mmc

Equal Opportunity Employer
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