Senior Buyer

Description

SENIOR BUYER
Regular Full-Time Employment Opportunity

Work for the City of Sunnyvale: The Heart of the Silicon Valley

Visitors and residents enjoy Sunnyvale's beautiful, clean suburban setting, efficient, high-quality city services, low crime rate, quality schools, and 18 prize-winning parks.

We are looking for an experienced Senior Buyer to join our purchasing division. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a high level of proficiency with competitive bidding using a financial Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, and experience leveraging cooperative procurements. This is an excellent opportunity to work in a dynamic team environment that emphasizes collaboration and innovation.
Working for Sunnyvale as a Senior Buyer is both challenging and rewarding as the City continues to increase the number of capital projects implemented throughout the city. The centralized procurement division leads competitive bidding efforts for all goods and services, while the Senior Buyer will play a central role in leading complex public works construction and professional consultant procurements. Under the general direction of the Purchasing Officer, the Senior Buyer engages in professional purchasing services including, but not limited to, purchasing supplies, materials, and equipment, and contracting for trade and professional/temporary personnel services and public works projects while performing related work as required.

All of this, plus a generous benefits package that includes a competitive salary, career development, and training opportunities make the City of Sunnyvale a great place to work.

Under general direction of the Purchasing Officer, engages in professional purchasing services including, but not limited to, purchasing supplies, materials and equipment and contracting for trade and professional/personal services and public works projects; and performs related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Senior Buyer is an advanced journey level in the Buyer series. Positions at this level are distinguished from other classes within the series by the level of responsibility assumed, complexity of duties assigned and independence of action taken. Employees perform the more difficult and responsible types of duties than those assigned to classes within the Buyer I/II series. Senior Buyer is distinguished from the higher-level classification of Principal Buyer in that the Principal Buyer independently conducts the most complex procurements.

Essential Job Functions

(May include, but are not limited to, the following):

• Develops schedules and methods to accomplish assignments ensuring work is completed in a timely and efficient manner.
• Processes complex purchasing transactions in compliance with established laws, ordinances, policies and ethical principles.
• Determines appropriate methods of procurement.
• Assists end users with the development of specifications; develops terms and conditions.
• Prepares and solicits competitive bids; including Public Works construction projects; identifies and selects suppliers and monitors supplier performance; evaluates and analyzes bids and proposals; negotiates and develops contracts.
• Conducts public bid openings.
• Assists City staff in resolving contractual disputes.
• Prepares detailed and complex written reports and makes recommendations to upper management and City Council.
• Arranges and conducts job walks, pre-bid or proposal conferences, vendor demonstrations and/or interviews for products or services offered to the City.
• Participates in the development of Citywide purchasing policies and procedures; provides professional procurement consultation, assistance and training to City employees at all organizational levels.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Position requires prolonged sitting, standing, walking, reaching, twisting, turning kneeling, bending, squatting and stooping in the performance of daily activities. The position also requires grasping, repetitive hand movement and fine coordination in using a computer keyboard. Additionally, the position requires near and far vision in reading reports and work related documents and using a computer. Acute hearing is required when providing phone and personal customer service. The need to lift, drag and push files, paper, and documents weighing up to 10 pounds is also required. Some of these requirements may be accommodated for otherwise qualified individuals requiring and requesting such accommodation.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Experience:

The minimum qualifications for education and experience can be met in the following ways:

A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in purchasing, marketing, public administration, business administration or related field;

AND

Two years of journey-level buying experience using formal and informal competitive bidding processes and developing contracts, service agreements, leases or other written legal agreements.

OR

An Associate's degree or have completed 60 semester or 90 semester or 90 quarter units at an accredited college or university in purchasing, marketing, public administration, business administration or related field;

AND

Four years of journey-level buying experience using formal and informal competitive bidding processes and developing contracts, service agreements, leases or other written legal agreements.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of technical and functional supervision and training.
• Accounts payable procedures and practices.
• Principles and practices of customer service.
• Formal and informal bidding processes and procedures.
• Methods of developing contracts and/or service agreements, leases or other written legal agreements.
• Market and economic trends and conditions that affect procurements.
• Industry standards and practices for delivering products and services.
• Contract development and administration practices.
• English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Business letter writing and report preparation.
• Record keeping practices.
• Office methods, procedures, software and equipment.
• Contract and purchasing regulations.
• Purchasing methods and procedures, contract development, and sources of supply.
• Principles and practices of bid review.
• City policies and procedures related to the procurement of supplies, materials and professional services.

Ability to:

• Effectively train staff.
• Write complex bid documents, specifications, contract and reports including those related to qualifications based on public works construction procurements.
• Analyze and compare complex or detailed quotations, bids and proposals.
• Identify applicable contract elements based on product/service being purchased.
• Negotiate contracts for the acquisition of supplies, materials, equipment and services.
• Develop objectives and measures to evaluate supplier performance.
• Understand and comply with all legal requirements for the advertisement of bids.
• Prepare draft reports to Council recommending contract awards.
• Apply good judgment and make sound purchasing decisions.
• Understand and comply with all Federal, State and local laws, policies, procedures and regulations relevant to each purchase.
• Maintain records, logs and databases.
• Operate a computer using word processing and business software and other office equipment.
• Establish and maintain and promote positive and effective working relationships with employees, other agencies and the public.
• Communicate effectively, orally and in writing.
• Work independently and as a team member; recognize and set priorities and meet deadlines.
• Observe safety principles and work in a safe manner.

Willingness to:

Work irregular hours as necessary in order to meet deadlines and achieve objectives.

License/Certificates:

Possession and continued maintenance of a valid California class C driver's license and a safe driving record, or the ability to provide alternate transportation which is approved by the appointing authority.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Certification as a Public Purchasing Buyer (CPPB), Certified Professional Purchaser (CPP) or equivalent certification.

Application and Selection Process

If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit a City of Sunnyvale employment application and responses to the supplemental questions to the Department of Human Resources no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 (postmarks or faxes are not accepted). Candidates are asked to fully describe any training, education, experience or skills relevant to this position. Electronic applications may be submitted on-line through the City's employment page at Sunnyvale.ca.gov and click Jobs. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

EXAM PROCESS
Applications will be competitively screened based on the minimum qualifications of this position. Based upon a review of the application materials, the most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in the examination process scheduled for Tuesday, May 14, 2024 . (Note: The examination process may be changed as deemed necessary by the Director of Human Resources).

SELECTION PROCESS
Those candidates that receive a passing score on the examination will be placed on an eligibility list for up to one year, in accordance with the City's Civil Service Rules and Administrative Policies. Top candidates on the eligibility list will be invited to participate in a selection interview with the department tentatively scheduled on the week of May 20, 2024 . Any candidate that is selected by the hiring department will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment process, which may consist of a background history check, as well as a medical exam(s) administered by a City selected physician(s) before hire. Prior to starting work, all newly-hired employees will be fingerprinted to check conviction history. A conviction history will not necessarily disqualify an applicant from appointment; however, failure to disclose conviction history will result in refusal of employment or termination. Positions which are covered by the Department of Transportation regulations are required to submit to a pre-employment drug test and to random drug and alcohol testing.

INFORMATION ABOUT PROOF OF EDUCATION
Please note: Any successful candidate, selected by the hiring department will be required to submit proof of education (i.e. original copy of the diploma or college/university transcripts).

Positions in this job classification are represented by the Sunnyvale Employees' Association (SEA).
The information contained within this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.
The City of Sunnyvale is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the City of Sunnyvale not to discriminate against all qualified applicants or employees on the basis of actual or perceived race, religion (including religious dress or grooming practice), color, sex (includes gender, pregnancy, childbirth, medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, breastfeeding or medical conditions related to breastfeeding), gender identity and/or gender expression, sexual orientation (including heterosexuality, homosexuality and bisexuality), ethnic or national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, uniformed service member status, marital status, family relationship, age, cancer or HIV/AIDS related medical condition, genetic characteristics and/or genetic information, and physical or mental disability. Applicants needing special accommodations for testing should submit a request to the Department of Human Resources at time of application.

Summary of Sunnyvale's Employees Association SEA

Notice of CFRA (California Family Rights Act) Rights and Obligations

Closing Date/Time: 4/30/2024 5:00 PM Pacific

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