PURCHASING AGENT

DEFINITION:

Under general direction of the Director of Business Services, co-ordinates the district purchasing functions; performs the most responsible or complex purchasing transactions; and does other related work as assigned.

DUTIES:

Plans, organizes, and supervises purchasing operations assuring that all transactions and procedures are in compliance with state law and district policy; trains and supervises purchasing personnel; prepares specifications for equipment, supplies, and services; prepares documents for advertising and competitive bidding, and tabulates and evaluates bids or quotations for determination of award; prepares contracts for Board approval; maintains current bidders' mailing lists and bid expiration log; maintains current price lists and catalogs for supplies; receives and processes requisitions for equipment, supplies, and services; prepares and follows-up on purchase orders; records and follows-up on partial deliveries or damaged merchandise; handles vendor negotiations and develops new sources of supply; works with accounting personnel to resolve discrepancies in purchase orders and/or invoices; co-ordinates receiving, storage and delivery of orders and other warehouse activities as required; interacts with warehouse as needed; provides information and assistance to management, staff, vendor and public inquiry relating to purchasing, delivery, vendor performance, item availability, etc; prepares managerial reports; performs clerical work including computer input, typing, record keeping, and other related duties as required.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS:

Knowledge of:

• Purchasing methods and procedures; financial record keeping and basic accounting procedures; correct English usage and effective communicative skills; computerized office systems

Ability to

• Interpret and implement requirements of the Education Code and complicated governmental regulations and the methods and procedures used in purchasing school district equipment;
• establish and maintain cooperative working relations with staff and vendors;
• make arithmetical calculations with accuracy and speed;
• prepare and maintain accurate records and reports;
• operate a computer terminal and/or micro computer;
• type at least 45 words per minute;
• ability to work independently

Experience:

• Three years of increasingly responsible experience in a district or similar environment working with purchasing or fiscal record keeping

Education:

• An Associates level or equivalent with an emphasis in Business or closely associated major;
• related work experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis;
• course work in purchasing, accounting or closely related field is highly desirable.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Range: 15.0 8/4/94