The City of Colton invites your interest for the position of Purchasing Manager.

The closing date for this position is March 12, 2026. We look forward to your application!

DEFINITION:
Under the direction of the Finance Director, supervise and participate in the purchasing of commonly used materials, supplies, equipment and services required by the various departments and divisions throughout the City; ensure that proper purchasing methods are practiced; maintain appropriate work records which include proposals, purchase orders, inventories and other documents; and serves as a technical resource for City management and employees.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
The Purchasing Manager is the management level responsible for supervising and coordinating the City’s Purchasing Division and Central Stores operation.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:
Exercises direct supervision over assigned technical and clerical staff.EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

Plan, coordinate, prioritize, monitor and participate in the purchasing of commonly used materials, supplies, equipment and services by the City.
Administer applicable contracts; review and approve purchase orders for completeness, accuracy and compliance with purchasing and budgetary policies and procedures; ensure effective inventory control and issuance of materials, equipment and supplies.
Develop schedules and methods for performing assigned duties; maintain appropriate work records and documents which may include purchase orders, purchase reports, proposals and other documentation; prepare statistical and/or analytical reports on operations as necessary.
Develop the annual budget for the Purchasing Division; monitor monthly expenditures for purchasing and make or recommend adjustments to the budget as necessary.
Make recommendations to the City budget regarding the purchase of materials, supplies and equipment.
Develop, recommend and implement ordinances, procedures, objectives, policies and procedures for the Purchasing and Central Stores Division.
Assist in the development of City policies and procedures involving the acquisition of supplies or services.
Serve as a technical resource for other departments; assist with information for the purchase of materials and equipment.
Research, analyze and develop diversified and reliable sources of supplies and equipment to ensure standard and economical ordering quantities for materials and supplies.
Stay compliant with current and long-range trends in the field of purchasing and supply; attend seminars and professional meetings as necessary.
Solicit and compare information regarding price, quality, delivery time, and related data for all materials, supplies, equipment and services.
Interview, investigate and negotiate with vendors concerning the availability, price and terms of purchase of materials, supplies, equipment and services.
Be the liaison between vendors and City departments relative to purchasing activities.
Draft and write specifications, contracts, bonding requirements, purchase orders and other documents as necessary.
Develop and implement formal and informal bidding policies; develop bid documents and specifications; conduct public bid openings; analyze bids against specifications and prepare bid analysis; compose and prepare agenda reports; and recommend and/or award contracts or purchases in accordance with City code, laws and policy.
Assume responsibility for management of special projects as directed by higher-level personnel that will require the expertise of the Purchasing division.
Select, train and supervise Purchasing and Central Stores personnel; assume responsibility for motivating and evaluating assigned personnel; initiate discipline procedures as appropriate.
Assume responsibility for transferring or disposing of City’s surplus property.
Maintain prompt and regular attendance.
Perform other related duties as required.

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:
A typical way to obtain this knowledge and abilities would be:

Education: A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Business Administration, Marketing, Accounting or closely related field is required.

AND

Experience: Four (4) years of professional purchasing experience, preferably in a municipal setting, with two (2) years of experience in a supervisory level.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Possession of a valid California Class “C” Driver’s License is required.
A Certified Purchasing Manager certification is highly desirable.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Knowledge of:
Principles and practices of purchasing administration and inventory control for a government agency. Methods and techniques of statistics. Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, codes and regulations. Modern office equipment including a computer and applicable software. Methods and techniques for basic report preparation and writing. Market conditions, current prices, trade names and brands relating to purchasing for a municipality. Sources and types of materials, equipment and supplies used by a municipality. Sources of supply and methods of securing competitive bids. Principles of supervision and training. Methods and techniques for record keeping.

Ability to:
Deal with a variety of diverse personalities. Select, train, supervise and evaluate staff. Effectively handle a variety of assignments simultaneously. Analyze and evaluate data and prepare comprehensive reports and studies. Communicate clearly and concisely. Plan, organize and coordinate the City’s purchasing operations. Analyze and evaluate new and existing service delivery methods and standard operating procedures. Advise management on procedural processes and the administration of contracts and purchasing projects. Establish adequate inventory control and stock replacement procedures. Operate office equipment. Prepare oral presentations and written reports. Collect, compile and analyze information and data. Courteously respond to organizational and applicant issues, concerns and needs. Work independently. Understand and follow instructions. Establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Skill to:
Operate computer and applicable software. Effectively operate a motor vehicle on City Streets.

PHYSICAL TASKS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

Position requires prolonged sitting, standing, walking, reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, squatting, and stooping in the performance of daily activities. Occasional lifting up to twenty-five pounds such as files, stacks of papers and reference books. The position also requires grasping, repetitive hand movement, and fine coordination in preparing reports using a computer keyboard. Additionally, the position requires near and far vision in reading written reports and work-related documents. Acute hearing is required when providing phone and counter service.

This job specification should not be interpreted as all-inclusive. It is intended to identify essential functions and requirements of the job. Not all incumbents may perform all duties at all times. However, incumbents must be able to perform the essential duties, with or without accommodation for disability at any time while holding this position.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Please review the timeline below of tentative interviews:

Open between February 19 - March 12, 2026
Review applications March 13- 19, 2026
Tentative date for interviews April 2, 2026 - candidates will be contacted via email to schedule for an in-person interview.
Second interview tentative week of April 6, 2026
Once a selection is made the candidate will go through the background process

The candidates with the most desired qualifications and that best meet the department's needs will be invited to participate in the Oral Board Interview. Candidates successful in this process will have their names certified to an eligibility list. This list is valid for one (1) year.

Disaster Service Worker Government Code Section 3100

City of Colton

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Purchasing Manager