BUYER II 05300

(Competitive)

 

 

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS

 

 

The work involves responsibility for purchasing materials, supplies and equipment on a large scale for the County of Onondaga, the City of Syracuse, a large school district or partner organizations. The Buyer II is usually responsible for the purchase of more complex commodities. Finalization of purchasing orders is done in consultation with the Purchasing Agent, but the employee may be authorized to approve purchase requisitions up to an approved dollar figure for certain designated commodities. This class differs from that of Buyer I because of the greater amount of independent action allowed, and that the more complex purchases are assigned to the Buyer II. Frequent communication with consumer departments regarding the purchase of goods is typically associated with an employee in this class. Depending on assignment, the Buyer II may be responsible to supervise a small unit of subordinate employees involved in the purchasing function. General supervision is received from the Purchasing Agent of the municipality. Does related work as required.

 

 

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES

 

 

Corresponds frequently by phone and electronically with dealers, firms and suppliers to gain information and solve problems concerning materials, invoices and contacts, deliveries, substitutions, inquiries, price quotations, discrepancies in billing, misinterpretations or purchase orders and complaints.

Places verbal and written orders with vendors for supplies, materials and equipment after receiving requisitions from operating departments. Verbal orders entail phone or personal contact with supplier outlining verbally the type and quantity of commodity needed. Written orders entail completing a purchase order with aforementioned information.

Obtains through phone, mail electronic requests and personal visits, price quotations and studies comparative price quotations to insure greater economy in purchases.

Studies price trends and market conditions for their effect on particular commodities.

May be assigned to supervise a small unit of professional, paraprofessional and/or clerical staff involved in the purchasing function, including the review and approval of purchasing requisitions relative to the assigned areas of commodity buying.

May train personnel in other operating departments to order goods, complete purchase orders, deal with vendors and to accurately maintain a record of their purchasing accounts.

May develop, subject to the approval of the Purchasing Agent, new purchasing procedures.

Keeps lists and files such as price lists, quarterly lists of vendors used and amount of money spent on purchases, files of processed purchase orders, claims outstanding, uncompleted orders and delayed materials.

May write annual narrative reports for the Purchasing Agent identifying commodities ordered, amount of money spent, vendors used, problems encountered such as delayed delivery and substitutions made.

Performs difficult arithmetic computations on purchase requisition forms from operating departments ordering supplies and on bids from vendors.

 

 

-2- 05300

 

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

 

 

Thorough knowledge of modern purchasing principles and practices and of business conditions.

Good knowledge of office routines, methods, practices and terminology.

Good knowledge of the laws and rules relating to public purchasing.

Working knowledge of the principles and practices of supervision.

Ability to analyze and compare price quotations against the quality of the product.

Ability to make arithmetic computations.

Ability to keep records and write narrative reports

Ability to analyze and compare price quotations against the quality of the product.

Ability to develop effective working relationships with both users and vendors.

Ability to express oneself effectively both orally and in writing.

 

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

 

Promotion:

 

One (1) year of permanent competitive class status in the title of Buyer I or Materials Management Coordinator.

 

Open Competitive:

 

A) Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a baccalaureate degree in retail sales management, marketing, purchasing, materials management, business administration, or economics; or,

 

B) Four (4) years of work experience, or its part time equivalent in the purchase or ordering of a variety of commodities on a moderately large scale or in retail sales involving item pricing or cost analysis of items or goods; or,

 

C) An equivalent combination of training and experience as defined by the limits of (A) and (B).

 

 

 

01/18 Revised