Buyer-Procurement

This position will procure goods and services, as needed, for the effective operation of all County departments.  Responsibilities include routine-to-moderately complex purchasing activities such as end-user sourcing, bid solicitation, purchase order requisitions, purchasing card (P-Card) compliance, inventory controls, and disposition of surplus items.  The Buyer role will assist in the preparation and issuance of requests for proposals (RFP), invitation for bids (IFB), requests for qualifications (RFQ), and quotation solicitations, as required.  This position will act as a purchasing agent for Lancaster County and will ensure the procurement of all goods and services complies with applicable S.C. state and County Procurement ordinances, departmental guidelines, and grant funding requirements.   This position supplies functions and services up to value as assigned by supervisor and is to perform work, as necessary, in support of effective and efficient departmental operations.  This class is given a general outline of work to be performed, however, is free to develop individual work methods and practices; work is reviewed by supervisor periodically. Position reports to the Procurement Director.   

The tasks listed below are those that represent the majority of the time spent working in this class, however, supervisor may assign additional tasks related to the type of work within this class as necessary:
Assists in the verification of purchasing requisitions and propriety of end-user purchase requests.
Assists in the development of specifications and/or scope of work for any goods and services procured for, or by, any end-using County department.
Collects information pertaining to sourcing, i.e. timelines, target costs, budget approvals, etc.
Assists in the preparation of requests for proposals (RFP), invitation to bid (IFB), requests for qualifications (RFQ), as well as issuance of associated solicitations and purchase orders.
Solicits qualified vendors to obtain product/service price quotations, as necessary, in accordance with County Procurement policies.
Receives and analyzes quotations, bids, and proposals for potentially negotiated cost savings; evaluates quotations to determine best value, e.g. total cost of ownership
Researches new products, services, vendors, and market innovations; meets with vendors, as needed; updates/maintains an Approved Vendor List of qualified vendors for approved sourcing.
Verifies available funding for various County department purchase requests.
Issues purchase orders; monitors purchase orders throughout completion of transaction.
Assists with management of P-Card program; program compliance, recordkeeping, auditing, and credit card issuance/exchange.
Monitors/maintains indirect inventory controls, i.e. maintenance supplies, paper, etc.
Coordinates sale or disposition of County surplus items.
Submits invoices with matching vendor info correlating to purchase orders for payment claims.
Liquidates financial encumbrances, as needed.
Communicates with vendors, as necessary, to expedite deliverables and resolve discrepancies with regards to schedules and product/service quality.
Maintains accurate purchasing records and reporting manuals.
Prepares a variety of required records, reports and correspondence.
Receives and responds to inquiries, concerns, protests, and requests for assistance from County personnel, elected officials, and citizens regarding Procurement Code and Department procedures.
Performs a variety of administrative work as required, including, but not limited to, typing reports and correspondence, copying and filing documentation, entering and retrieving computer data/emails, scanning documents, sending and receiving faxes, answering the telephone, etc.

REASONING REQUIREMENTS:
Requires performing skilled work involving rules/systems with almost constant problem-solving.
MATHEMATICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Requires using basic algebra involving variables and formulas, and/or computing discounts and interest rates.
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS:
Requires reading technical instructions, procedures, manuals and charts to solve practical problems; composing routine reports and specialized reports, forms and business letters with proper format; speaking compound sentences using normal grammar and word form.
MENTAL REQUIREMENTS:
Requires doing specialized technical or professional work requiring a general understanding of operating policies and procedures and their application to problems not previously encountered; application of specialized technical or professional principles and practices or the use of a wide range of administrative methods in the solution of problems; requires normal attention with short periods of concentration for accurate results and occasional exposure to unusual pressure.

Equal Opportunity Employer