Purchasing Specialist I

Purchasing Department Job

Reporting directly to a Purchasing Manager, responsible for performing routine transactional purchasing and compliance oversight functions that support the daily operations of the Williamson County Purchasing Department. Carries fiduciary responsibility for ensuring that each purchasing transaction complies with internal control requirements, applicable procurement laws, and County policy. Serves as a primary compliance and customer service resource for County departments, providing hands-on guidance, coaching, and corrective support to end users to ensure purchasing activities are executed accurately, legally, and efficiently. Errors or omissions at this level may result in audit findings, financial loss, or noncompliance, requiring a high degree of attention to detail, judgment, and independent decision-making.

Performs front desk duties such as answering/routing telephone calls and assisting walk-in visitors

Independently reviews, validates, and enforces internal control requirements for each purchasing transaction, including authorization, funding, documentation, and statutory compliance

Performs detailed risk analysis of requisitions and purchase orders to ensure transactions are legal, properly authorized, and defensible under audit

Serves as a front-line risk resource for routine purchases, protecting the County from audit findings, financial exposure, and reputational risk

Reviews supporting documentation to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance prior to approval and agenda placement

Analyzes high volume materials and services to determine the best sourcing strategy between competitive bid and cooperative purchasing methods

Works with vendors/contractors to aid their understanding of the purchasing requirements for local governmental entities

Assists with preparation and administration of the county solicitation process

Creates, approves, audits and files purchase orders and requisitions up to $25,000

Serves as primary point of contact and daily subject matter expert for internal and external customers on routine purchasing concerns

Balances high-volume transactional workload, often resolving issues that impact departmental operations and timelines

Maintains complete and audit-ready electronic and physical purchasing records

Assists departments in navigating purchasing processes, reducing delays, rework, and compliance risks

Reviews and collects supporting documentation for requisition approval processing and prepares items for agenda placement

Collaborates with county Budget and Auditor offices to ensure expenditures are properly authorized and legal

Coordinates and schedules procurement card distribution appointments

Performs quality control of various documents to ensure they meet purchasing policies and compliance implemented by federal, state, and local laws

Preforms follow-up training for requisitioners

Maintains all electronic and physical purchasing files

Attends all meetings and trainings, as required

Performs special duties as assigned

Reports directly to Purchasing Manager

Direct Reports No

Position involves prolonged sitting at a workstation, visual examination of documents, reaching, walking, twisting, bending, standing and occasional lifting/carrying

Position involves safely operating a motor vehicle

Work is primarily indoors in an air-conditioned environment

Travel between work sites, as required

Work outside of the normal office hours (Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) may be required

May be deemed essential personnel in the event of an emergency

High school diploma or equivalent and three (3) years of purchasing related experience (i.e., finance, accounting, etc.) OR an equivalent combination of education and experience

Knowledge of local, state, and federal government finance practices

Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite

Valid Texas driver's license

Associate degree in a related field

One (1) year of public purchasing experience in a government capacity

Knowledge of Enterprise Resource Planning purchasing software (ERP) including Oracle

Proficient data entry skills with the ability to type up to 55 words per minute

National Purchasing Association Certification

Criminal background check: Yes

Motor Vehicle Record check: Yes

Drug screening: No

Physical exam: No

Psychological exam: No

Additional: N/A

Williamson County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). If you require an accommodation in order to apply for a position, please request assistance from the Human Resources Department.

Williamson County is a tobacco free workplace. The use of tobacco products (e.g., cigarettes, cigars, pipes, snuff, chew, etc.) and Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) (e.g., vapor, e-cigarettes, etc.) prohibited on all Williamson County premises. Employees who violate this policy are subject to appropriate disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.