Senior Buyer #1142 - Procurement - Finance Division

THIS IS A DEPARTMENTAL PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITY. ONLY CURRENT EMPLOYEES OF THE HAMILTON COUNTY PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION.

Under general supervision, purchases supplies and services for the County following Procurement rules. Serves as the P-card Department Coordinator for designated County officials and employees. Provides back-up support for the Procurement Specialist in the administration of the P-card and Fuel Card Programs. Provides back-up support for the Surplus/Fleet manager as needed. Assists Procurement Specialist, Procurement Consultant, Surplus/Fleet Manager, Procurement/Contract Manager and Director in other tasks as needed. 

In addition to these tasks, the Senior Buyer will have one or more of the following specialties designated as their major accountability as assigned by the Purchasing Director:

Bid/Proposal Specialist – Under general supervision manages the sealed bid/proposal process, providing guidance to user departments, and ensures adherence to established rules and procedures.

Program Administrator – Under general supervision administers the County’s P-Card and/or Fuel Card Programs, and ensures adherence to established rules and procedures.

Surplus Specialist – Under general supervision oversees the County’s surplus inventory process, providing guidance and support to user departments in the disposition of surplus assets, ensuring adherence to established rules and procedures.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: (Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following tasks, physical requirements, knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics. This list of tasks is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY, and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by incumbents of this class.) 

Purchases a wide variety of goods and services for the departments of the County. Supplies vendors with information and specifications to receive quotes.  Obtains quotes from vendors. Ensures appropriate documentation is obtained. Analyzes and responds to department and vendor questions on product specifications, purchases, and Procurement rules. Works with departments on delivery or cancellations of purchase orders. Researches new and existing products and services.  Interprets Procurement policies in response to inquiries.

Maintains current knowledge and information regarding statewide contracts and specifications. Notifies departments of appropriate statewide contracts. Maintains current Knowledge and information regarding cooperative contracts approved for use by the County.

Ensures that designated procurement cardholders’ card purchases (in Coordinator role) are processed in a timely manner, in compliance with established procurement card operating procedures and guidelines and are appropriately accounted for in the County’s general ledger system.

Bid/Proposal Specialist - Prepares for sealed bid/proposal those items that require a formal process as determined by the Purchasing Rules.  Oversees the bidding and request for proposal processes, including preparation, opening, results, and commission reports. Partners with Contract Manager regarding vendor contracts. Negotiates for return, exchange, substitution, or rejection of items not meeting contract provisions. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Program Administrator - Serves as the designated on-line administrator of the County’s procurement card and/or fuel card programs. Delivers training to all cardholder and group accountant personnel; enables procurement or fuel card administrative system to issue new cards; provides advanced counseling in the interpretation and application of County procurement card procedure guidelines; troubleshoots issues as they arise with the on-line procurement card administrative application and serves as the County’s primary liaison with the firm that provides the procurement card or fuel card administrative system. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulations and statutes governing public procurement.

Knowledge of principles, practices, procedures, and trends of public procurement.

Knowledge of Hamilton County policies and procedures.

Knowledge of Hamilton County budget, accounting, and related systems.

Knowledge of supplies, materials, and equipment used in the County.

Knowledge of customer service/public relations methods, practices, and procedures.

Skill in reading, interpreting, understanding, and applying fundamental Procurement Rules and regulations as well as Hamilton County Policies and procedures.

Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships, with people at all levels both inside (including other County Departments and Elected Officials) and outside the organization.

Skill in effectively communication in oral and written form.

Skill in working under pressure of deadlines.

Skill in working with internally and externally developed software applications.

Skill in reading and interpreting product specifications and materials.

Skill in evaluating products and purchases.

Skill utilizing customer service/public relations techniques responding to inquiries and complaints.

Skill in Microsoft Office, Work, Excel, and database management applications.

Skill in working independently with only general guidance/direction, taking initiative in delivering results.

Skill in working in working with computerized applications.

Bid/Proposal Specialist

Knowledge of applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulations and statutes governing public procurement.

Knowledge of principles, practices, procedures, and trends of public procurement.

Knowledge of Hamilton County policies and procedures.

Knowledge of Hamilton County budget, accounting, and related systems.

Knowledge of supplies, materials, and equipment used in the County.

Knowledge of customer service/public relations methods, practices, and procedures.

Skill in reading, interpreting, understanding, and applying fundamental Procurement Rules and regulations as well as Hamilton County Policies and procedures.

Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships, with people at all levels both inside (including other County Departments and Elected Officials) and outside the organization.

Skill in effectively communication in oral and written form.

Skill in working under pressure of deadlines.

Skill in working with internally and externally developed software applications.

Skill in reading and interpreting product specifications and materials.

Skill in evaluating products and purchases.

Skill utilizing customer service/public relations techniques responding to inquiries and complaints.

Skill in Microsoft Office, Work, Excel, and database management applications.

Skill in working independently with only general guidance/direction, taking initiative in delivering results.

Skill in working in working with computerized applications.

Program Administrator

Knowledge of applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulations and statutes governing public procurement.

Knowledge of principles, practices, procedures, and trends of public procurement.

Knowledge of Hamilton County policies and procedures.

Knowledge of Hamilton County budget, accounting, and related systems.

Knowledge of supplies, materials, and equipment used in the County.

Knowledge of customer service/public relations methods, practices, and procedures.

Skill in reading, interpreting, understanding, and applying fundamental Procurement Rules and regulations as well as Hamilton County Policies and procedures.

Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships, with people at all levels both inside (including other County Departments and Elected Officials) and outside the organization.

Skill in effectively communication in oral and written form.

Skill in working under pressure of deadlines.

Skill in working with internally and externally developed software applications.

Skill in reading and interpreting product specifications and materials.

Skill in evaluating products and purchases.

Skill utilizing customer service/public relations techniques responding to inquiries and complaints.

Skill in Microsoft Office, Work, Excel, and database management applications.

Skill in working independently with only general guidance/direction, taking initiative in delivering results.

Skill in working in working with computerized applications.

Surplus Specialist

Knowledge of applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulations and statutes governing public procurement.

Knowledge of principles, practices, procedures, and trends of public procurement.

Knowledge of Hamilton County policies and procedures.

Knowledge of Hamilton County budget, accounting, and related systems.

Knowledge of supplies, materials, and equipment used in the County.

Knowledge of customer service/public relations methods, practices, and procedures.

Skill in reading, interpreting, understanding, and applying fundamental Procurement Rules and regulations as well as Hamilton County Policies and procedures.

Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships, with people at all levels both inside (including other County Departments and Elected Officials) and outside the organization.

Skill in effectively communication in oral and written form.

Skill in working under pressure of deadlines.

Skill in working with internally and externally developed software applications.

Skill in reading and interpreting product specifications and materials.

Skill in evaluating products and purchases.

Skill utilizing customer service/public relations techniques responding to inquiries and complaints.

Skill in Microsoft Office, Work, Excel, and database management applications.

Skill in working independently with only general guidance/direction, taking initiative in delivering results.

Skill in working in working with computerized applications.

A Bachelor’s Degree in Procurement/Purchasing, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field plus four (4) years of direct work experience in purchasing. A valid driver’s license is required.

OR

An Associate’s Degree in Procurement/Purchasing, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field plus six (6) years of direct work experience in purchasing. A valid driver’s license is required.

OR

The equivalent of a high school diploma plus eight (8) years of direct work experience in purchasing. A valid driver’s license is required.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical demands described here are representative of but not limited to, those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.  Work requires a minimum of physical effort with intermittent sitting, standing, kneeling bending and walking. 

EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK:

This employee must be available during the “core” work hours of 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday – Friday.

This position is a full-time position requiring 40 hours of work per week. Core hours and/or days may be changed dependent on department needs.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Any overtime hours offered in this position are not guaranteed, are an estimate, and are subject to change.

All positions within Hamilton County Government are considered work in-person and require regular and punctual attendance.

All positions within Hamilton County Government may require work on Holidays or weekends. Additionally, irregular hours and shift work may be required, including possible extension of shift hours, at times with short notice.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Hamilton County does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, or disability in employment or the provision of services. A copy of Hamilton County's Equal Employment Opportunity Plan (EEOP) & Utilization Report is available on the County’s Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Office home page. 

https://www.hamiltontn.gov/Department_EqualEmploymentOpportunityOffice.aspx