Buyer I/II

Job Summary

Join our team and play a key role in keeping City operations running efficiently through strategic purchasing, contract support, and competitive procurement. This position offers the opportunity to work on meaningful projects involving bid development, budget monitoring, and collaboration across departments while ensuring compliance with purchasing policies and best practices. If you're detail-oriented, enjoy problem-solving, and want to make a direct impact in public service, we'd love to hear from you.

BUYER I Responsible for general purchases, assists with contracts; technical writing; preparing, reviewing, and evaluating bid specifications for annual supply contracts, assigned formal bids, and requests for proposals. Monitors various departmental budgets regarding annual supply contracts. Provides budget information to the Purchasing Manager. Interprets and applies City purchasing policies and procedures.

BUYER II Responsible for general purchases including single purchases and issuing purchase orders as per annual contracts, performs various functions with informal requests for quotes including certain reoccurring annual contracts; technical writing; preparing, reviewing, and evaluating bid specifications for assigned goods and services generally between $3,000 and $50,000. Analyzes department needs to determine proper/best practice procurement procedure. Serves as the procurement card administrator including reviewing and approving all activities with the oversight of the Purchasing Coordinator. Periodically participates in the Invitation for Bids and routine annual contract renewal process as assigned by the Purchasing Coordinator. Monitors various departmental budgets regarding annual supply contracts. Coordinates with Finance to ensure proper funding sources. Proactively engage with vendors, establish healthy vendor relationships and maintain up to date vendor information. Assists with special projects assigned by the Purchasing Coordinator. Interprets and applies all City purchasing policies and procedures and demonstrates a comprehensive knowledge of Texas State bid laws.

Duties

BUYER I

• Assists in preparation of bid specifications and performance conditions to elicit formal competitive bids for assigned groups of commodities and services over $50,000; reviews and evaluates supplier's proposals to determine products and services are in compliance with stated specifications and conditions; advises and confers with various departments; and recommends award of purchase contracts to suppliers proposing the best value bid encompassing the breakdown i.e., common unit bids received, and like or same commodities.
• Confers with departmental representatives to determine purchasing needs, including quantity and quality standards, delivery requirements and specifications; interprets and applies City purchasing policies and procedures. Receives, reviews, analyzes and processes departmental purchase requisitions for accuracy and validity. Processes purchase orders and change orders.
• Provides assistance and support to Purchasing Manager as requested;
• Authorizes purchase requests, identifies available sources, determines procurement methods, selects suppliers, and directs issuance of purchase orders.
• Researches, compiles, and prepares data for special projects and various reports for the Purchasing Manager. Purchases fixed assets and maintains fixed asset numbering systems. Assists Contract Administrator with contracts as necessary.
• Responsible for all City auctions. Interacts with Departments to arrange for disposition of City assets and maintains fixed asset numbering systems.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

BUYER II

• All Buyer I duties as described.
• Proactively engage with vendors, establish healthy vendor relationships and maintain up to date vendor information. Main point of contact for vendor relations.
• Oversees the City Procurement Card (P-Card) program.
• Responsible for ensuring operations and tasks continue processing in the absence of the Purchasing Coordinator and/or Contract Administrator. Includes various periods of cross-training with the Contract Administrator & Purchasing Coordinator to have knowledge and understanding of higher-level tasks and procedures.
• Performs all other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

BUYER I ($41,142.40 - $51,438.40 Annually DOQ)

Required:

• High School Diploma or equivalent (GED) plus specialized technical courses.
• Two years related experience.

Preferred:

• Municipal government experience in Purchasing or any purchasing related field.
• Certified Public Purchasing Buyer

BUYER II ($52,041.60 - $65,041.60 Annually DOQ)

Required:

• Associate's Degree from an accredited college or institution in Finance, Accounting or a related field.
• Two years direct purchasing/procurement related experience.

OR

• An equivalent combination of education, experience, certification and/or licenses sufficient to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.

Preferred:

• Purchasing/Procurement Certified: CPPB, CPPO, CPP or equivalent
• Local Government Procurement Experience

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of up-to-date governmental purchasing principles, methods, procedures, and Uniform Commercial Code. Ability to apply principles of logical thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Skills in the use of microcomputer word processing and spreadsheet software applications, technical writing, and ability to communicate effectively and efficiently on a professional level. Ability to get along appropriately with co-workers and the public.

Here at the City of Baytown, in recruiting for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that you bring. We strive to provide a workplace where differences are honored, with a workforce that reflects the diversity of the people we serve.

Attendance is an essential function of this position. The City reserves the right to require an employee in this position to work overtime. This position provides services or performs duties for the benefit of the general public during emergency situations. These may include services or duties different from those performed in the usual course and scope of your job. In the event of an evacuation, the incumbent in this position may be required to remain to perform needed services.

Overall Position Strength Demands

Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.