Purchaser

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:

Plans, directs, and facilitates public agency purchasing activities to assure timely availability of commodities proper quantity and quality at a competitive cost; Guides and develops the relationships between the central purchasing function and the organizational operating units, focusing on prompt response time, and assisting with special needs; Analyzes bid responses for compliance with specifications and established requirements; Monitors purchasing policy and selects all single-source suppliers; Conducts pre-bid conferences; Establishes and implements operational policies and procedures for the warehouse division of RHA; Supervises and coordinates activities of subordinates engaged in stock keeping and stock distribution activities, as well as purchasing support functions; Performs supervisory activities such as assigning work, evaluating performance and providing performance counseling, interpreting rules and policies, assigning overtime, enforcing disciplinary activities, etc.; Collaborates with information systems personnel to identify functional needs for the use of computerized records management systems in the stockroom and purchasing activities; Establishes and implements the policies and procedures for the purchasing and procurement functions of RHA in conformance with established laws, policies, and ethical principles; Works with department heads to establish a calendar of purchasing activities to assure the timely availability of necessary resources; Develops goals and objectives of purchasing and supply function to align with Authority goals and objectives; Researches product/service quality requirements; Assembles data and writes specifications for one-time purchase contracts and for perpetual-use purchase contracts; Solicits written and verbal price quotations from vendors; Communicates with vendors verbally and in writing; Plans and facilitates product demonstrations conducted by vendors for agency users; May dispose of surplus property by auction or by direct sale; Organizes and supervises annual warehouse inventory audit; Prepares or reviews a variety of narrative and/or statistical reports for accuracy and follows through in areas of responsibility.