BUYER III 05430

(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, or a large school district. The Buyer III is usually responsible for the purchase of certain types of commodities, various sundry and diverse items; writing and revising purchasing specifications, and substituting different commodities for originally requested merchandise. Frequent communication with consumer departments regarding the purchase of goods is typically associated with an employee in this class. Finalization of purchasing orders is done in consultation with the Purchasing Director, but the employee may be authorized to approve purchase requisitions up to an approved dollar figure for certain designated commodities. The Buyer III will supervise the Buyer I’s and Buyer II’s. This class differs from that of Buyer II because of the supervision of the Buyers, and the more complex customer service issues that are handled by an employee in this class. General supervision is received from the Purchasing Director and the Deputy Director. Does related work as required.

 

 

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES

 

Supervises procurement staff by performing necessary tasks included, but not limited to, assigning commodities to be purchased and evaluating said performance; providing instruction to solve problems related to purchase of goods and services; assisting in the procurement of universal goods and services; works with Purchasing Director and Deputy Director in making final decisions on extraordinary purchases and overseeing planning orders for goods and services on emergency basis.

Corresponds frequently by phone and by letter 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 and mail 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 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 Director, 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 Director 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.

 

 

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FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

 

 

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

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

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

Good 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 II, Specification Writer, 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, and two (2) 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,

 

B) Six (6) 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).

 

 

 

03/2018 Revised