Purchasing Coordinator

Purchasing Coordinator

ResourceTek, in partnership with our client, a local municipal utility is seeking an experienced Purchasing/Procurement Coordinator in Columbus, Georgia. The right candidate will have preferred certifications as a Certified Public Procurement Officer, Certified Professional Public Buyer, Georgia Certified Purchasing Associate, and/or Certified Local Government Financial Officer. This is a direct hire opportunity.

Responsibilities

• Supervise, direct, and evaluate assigned purchasing personnel.
• Interview, hire, train, and mentor staff; coordinate cross-training and professional development.
• Plan, administer, and oversee procurement activities for goods, services, materials, supplies, and equipment in compliance with Columbus Water Works policies and applicable federal, state, and local laws.
• Order all organizational supplies, ensuring timely delivery and cost-effective purchasing to support operational needs.
• Utilize the appropriate General Ledger (GL) numbers, including specific departmental GL accounts, to ensure accurate financial coding of all purchase orders and procurement transactions.
• Monitor and maintain budgets for purchased items, tracking expenditures to ensure alignment with approved departmental budgets and identifying potential variances.
• Collaborate with department managers to verify funding availability and proper GL account usage prior to processing purchases.
• Manage formal and informal competitive bid processes, including Invitations to Bid (ITBs), Requests for Proposals (RFPs), and Requests for Qualifications (RFQs). Collaborate with the Supervisor of Accounting/Director to ensure purchasing activities align with financial policies and budgetary controls.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for financial and procurement systems such as the Lawson General Ledger/Purchasing System and other enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms.
• Assist with audit preparation by providing procurement documentation and ensuring compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and applicable audit standards.
• Manage the purchasing card (P-Card) program, including policy development, monitoring of transactions, and compliance reporting.
• Proven experience in procurement management within manufacturing or federal sectors with a strong understanding of procurement regulations such as Federal Acquisition Regulations.
• Extensive knowledge of ERP systems including SAP, Oracle EBS, and other e-procurement tools.
• Demonstrated expertise in contract negotiation, vendor contract management, and supplier relationship management.
• Strong background in strategic sourcing, category management, and supply chain operations.
• Familiarity with MRP (Material Requirements Planning), logistics coordination, pricing strategies, and quality assurance processes.
• Excellent negotiation skills coupled with the ability to perform root cause analysis for supply issues.
• Project management experience with the ability to lead cross-functional teams effectively.
• Knowledge of procurement regulatory frameworks combined with proficiency in procurement contract negotiation techniques.
• Effective communication skills essential for collaboration across diverse teams and stakeholders.

Licenses and Certifications

• Certified Public Procurement Officer, Certified Professional Public Buyer, Georgia Certified Purchasing Associate, and/or Certified Local Government Financial Officer desirable.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, or a related field from an accredited college or university is highly preferred.
• Three-plus (3+) years of purchasing and/or procurement experience is required.
• Minimum of three (3) years of supervisory experience is required.

Benefits

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance