SENIOR BUYER

Salary : $93,912.00 - $125,923.20 Annually
Location : Torrance, CA
Job Type: Permanent Full-time
Job Number: 26071263
Department: FINANCE
Opening Date: 07/22/2026


DESCRIPTION
WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE APPLICANTS TO READ THE JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

IN ITS ENTIRETY BEFORE SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION FOR THIS POSITION.

The City of Torrance recognizes the principles of diversity and inclusion, and strives to ensure equal opportunities for its workforce,applicantsand community members. If you are a person who wants to make a difference, give back to your community, and be a voice for change, apply to the City of Torrance today.

The City of Torrance is recruiting for a Senior Buyer to be part of the Finance Department Team!
The Department
The Finance Department is a dynamic organization whose mission is to protect the City's assets while providing and supporting the Torrance community with sound financial advice in a timely, cost effective and professional manner. Managing the department's $6.5 million General Fund budget, $26.8 million Self-Insurance budget and day- to-day operations are skillfully executed by 39 staff members. The Finance Director assists the City Manager with the Operating and Capital Improvement Plan budgets, serves as advisor to the Land Management Team and Investment Committee, and presents to the City Council an annual audited statement of the City's financial condition prepared in accordance with governmental reporting standards promulgated by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB).
Responsibilities of the Finance Department includes:

• Accounting
• Accounts Payable
• Audit-External/Internal
• Billing/Collection
• Budget-Operating/Capital
• Business License
• Central Cashiering
• Debt Financing
• Financial Reporting
• Payroll
• Purchasing
• Revenue
• Risk Management
• Worker's Compensation

The Position

The City of Torrance Finance Department is seeking a highly skilled professional to provide effective oversight of the Purchasing Unit. Under direction, the Senior Buyer supervises and coordinates purchasing unit activities and operations; assists City departments with procurement needs; and ensures purchasing practices are in compliance with legal, professional standard and the Torrance Municipal Code.

The Senior Buyer also trains, develops, and supervises staff and monitors workflow; participates in the development and implementation of goals, policies, and priorities for purchasing activities and operations; partakes in vendor selection with departments; and monitors vendor/supplier performance, maintaining applicable records as required.


For more information about the duties of the position, click here
QUALIFICATION GUIDELINES
Education and Experience
Any combination of education and experience that would provide the required knowledge and skills would be acceptable. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills and abilities would be:

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Business or Public Administration or a related field.
• Four years of increasingly responsible purchasing experience including one year of supervisory and/or lead supervisory experience in a municipal and/or high-volume setting

License and/or Certificate

• A valid California motor vehicle operator's license of the appropriate class.
• To possess and maintain a certification as a Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) certificate from the Institute of Supply Management is desirable.

Ideal Candidate
Successful candidates will possess the following:

• Considerable knowledge and experience in purchasing processes and contract negotiations and management;
• Knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques of administration, organization, budget preparation, personnel management, supervision, training and development, and financial administration;
• Ability to develop, coordinate, and manage complex procurement activities;
• Comprehensive skill in researching and preparing highly complex specifications, solicitations and contract documents;
• Experience interpreting local laws, ordinances, and state and federal procurement regulations concerning contractual agreements between government agencies and private contractors; and
• Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing, including the ability to convey complex and technical subjects in a clear, concise and positive manner.
• Knowledge and utilization of an online e-bidding platform to manage public solicitations.

HOW TO APPLY & EXAM PROCESS


Interested candidates must submit an online application, supplemental questionnaire, and required attachments at The application filing period is open until filled, however first review of applications is those received byFriday August 7, 2026 at 11:59 p.mIf a sufficient number of qualified applicants are received after the first review date, the position could close at any time.


Only those candidates who best meet the City and Department's needs will be invited to participate in the examination process, which will consist of the following components:


Panel Interview: 100%(Tentatively Scheduled on Thursday, August 27, 2026)

SPECIAL NOTES


Visit to find out more information about our community.

Applicants with disabilities who require special testing arrangements must contact Human Resources prior to the examination date(s).


As a condition of employment, candidates must pass a background check and a pre-employment medical examination.


The provisions of this announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract, and any provisions contained in this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice.

City of Torrance Inclusion Statement

The City of Torrance is a welcoming and culturally rich community. As a pillar of public service, we strive to be an employer of choice by attracting and retaining a talented workforce where people of diverse backgrounds, cultures, religions, and lifestyles are valued. Our mission is to create an inclusive environment where our staff are empowered to perform at their highest level and contribute towards making a positive impact.

The city is an equal opportunity employer and works towards building collaborative teams from all walks of life without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, ancestry, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state and/or local law. Come join us to help cultivate a workplace that welcomes and celebrates the diversity of our employees!
The City of Torrance offers a range of benefit programs for employees and their eligible dependents. Benefits may include health, dental, vision, and life insurance, as well as a variety of voluntary benefits. Programs and benefits amounts vary and are based on bargaining unit, family size, hire date, plan selection, and number of hours worked.

To view the current benefits for Torrance Professional and Supervisory Association bargaining unit, visit:


For additional information about the City's benefits, visit:


RETIREMENT BENEFITS - The City contracts with the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) to provide retirement benefits. Retirement formula is based on appointment date and membership status with CalPERS.
01


The following supplemental questions will be used to evaluate your qualifications for the position for which you are applying. Resumes are encouraged but will NOT be used in lieu of the application or supplemental questions. Please read each question carefully and provide a thorough and complete response. Do NOT state "see resume" or "see application" to respond to any of the following questions. Failure to respond to all questions will be considered an incomplete application and may not be considered for further processing. Do you understand the foregoing?

• Yes
• No

02


I UNDERSTAND that I am required to describe IN DETAIL my qualifying experience in the Work Experience Section of my application. In addition to including my qualifying experience, I UNDERSTAND that I should list ALL JOBS, regardless of duration, including part-time jobs, military service and any volunteer experience during my entire work history.I UNDERSTAND that when providing my work history, ALL DATES should be UPDATED, starting with my most recent job.I UNDERSTAND that answers that I provide to the supplemental questions should be reflected in the Work Experience Section of my application.I UNDERSTAND that if I am currently employed by the City of Torrance, I MUST provide my appropriate job classification/title and provide a description of my duties in the Work Experience Section of my application.I have read these statements in their entirety and understand them completely and to their fullest.

• Yes
• No

03


Do you possess a degree in Business, Public Administration or a related field?

• Yes
• No

04


If yes, indicate degree and field (i.e., Bachelor's degree in Business):
05


Do you have experience in purchasing materials, equipment, supplies and services in a high volume setting?

• Yes
• No

06


If yes, indicate your years of experience in purchasing materials, equipment, supplies and services in a high volume setting.

• Less than 2 years
• More than 2 years but less than 4 years
• More than 4 years but less than 6 years
• More than 6 years

07


Do you have experience in purchasing materials, equipment, supplies and services in a municipal setting?

• Yes
• No

08


If yes, indicate your years of experience in purchasing materials, equipment, supplies and services in a municipal setting.

• Less than 2 years
• More than 2 years but less than 4 years
• More than 4 years but less than 6 years
• More than 6 years

09


Do you possess and maintain a certification as a Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) from the Institute of Supply Management?

• Yes
• No

10


Do you possess other Purchasing related Certifications?

• Yes
• No

11


If yes, indicate the name of the certification and the certifying agency:
12


Do you have supervisory experience? (Supervisory is defined as independently organizing, planning and overseeing day to day operations, including supervising staff and evaluating staff work performance).

• Yes
• No

13


How many years of supervisory experience do you have?

• Less than 1 year
• More than 1 year but less than 3 years
• More than 3 years but less than 4 years
• More than 5 years

14


Describe your experience working in a centralized purchasing environment. Include a description of the essential duties, the approximate value you were allocated and the degree of independent judgment you exercised in this process.
15


Describe your experience working with a computerized purchasing system and your ability to utilize word processing and spreadsheet applications for processing bids, documents and reports.
16


Describe your experience in vendor selection, evaluation and order follow-up. Include steps taken for non-performance. Additionally, please describe how you monitor supplier performance by ensuring that product is delivered as scheduled and meets specifications; maintaining appropriate files and records of meetings with suppliers to ensure company requirements are met and that supplier is aware of their performance.
17


Describe your experience working with Purchasing Cards.
18


Can you describe your experience handling correspondence concerning over-shipments, delivery shortages, changes in quantity, delivery dates, and prices and report such changes to the interested parties in a timely manner as required?
Required Question