The City of Redmond is a thriving, culturally diverse community and home to over 80,000 residents. Redmond is the hub of an array of commerce and industry ranging from technology, aerospace, and gaming to biomedical and innovation start-ups. In this role, you will represent the city, and our values of service, integrity, accountability, belonging and stewardship.
The Purchasing Agent procures goods and services for the City while ensuring compliance with statutes, regulations and policies in the acquisition process. Work includes administering the City's routine purchase programs/contracts and performing necessary verifications and checks to ensure requisitions are legitimate and information furnished is complete. Duties include managing bids for purchases, sourcing and contacting suppliers, conducting bid comparisons, drafting bid summaries and creating purchase orders or purchase agreements. The incumbent works under the general supervision of the Purchasing Supervisor. The incumbent has frequent contact with internal customers, suppliers and the public.
Note: As part of your application, we request that you submit a resume and cover letter.
- Responsible for the preparation, review and implementation of routine purchase contracts in compliance with applicable policies, rules, statutes and regulations.
- Responsible for setting up new vendors, maintaining vendor records.
- Verifies incoming requisitions for completeness: products/services, descriptions, amounts, approvals and compliance with policies. Identify appropriate suppliers (may require sourcing potential new suppliers, as well as creation of a supplier profile in the City's financial system). Train internal users on ERP system purchasing functions.
- Assesses whether dollar value of each requisition is above or below City bid threshold. If above the City's bidding threshold, competitive bids are required. Possible actions may include source/solicit competitive bids, review staff-provided bids and/or source potential access to other agencies' competitive bidding processes via piggybacking opportunities. Analyze bids and draft bid summaries.
- Generates purchase orders using the City's financial system and expedite shipments as necessary.
- Works with City departments, City suppliers and Accounts Payable to resolve billing issues and ensure work is delivered according to contractual terms.
- May assist in administering the City's credit card program; train users, trouble-shoot cardholder inquires and software system issues regarding monthly import of data from card provider.
- Assists with City’s commodity surplus program; coordinates with departments to post items for public auction, arrange pickup, and completion of sale
- Administers the City's commodity replacement programs in compliance with established rules and policies, e.g. copiers (multi-function units), and uniforms for selected staff.
- Assists in complex competitive bids; takes on responsibility for certain phases of the bid process.
- Advocates for proper contracting processes and software system use; trains and guides City staff through the process as required.
- Coordinates with suppliers to ensure proper documentation is provided or maintained, e.g. insurance, bonding and prevailing wages, as identified under the terms and conditions of the purchase order. Serves as purchasing liaison with the Department of Labor and Industries to ensure approved changes are implemented, current labor rates are used, and company/contractor debarment status is up to date.
- Participates and assists in complex commodity review projects.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Knowledge of and Skills in:
- State and City policies, regulations, protocols and practices/methods governing contracting/procurement practices
- Information sourcing of revisions and updates affecting RCWs, WACs, OSHA rules, Labor & Industries Prevailing Wage laws, & debarred contractors
- Bid comparison analysis
- Contract language and interpretation
- Supplier sourcing techniques
- Mathematical calculations
- General working knowledge of the products/services to be procured
- Computerized purchasing systems and supplier management software
- Basic accounting
Abilities to:
- Negotiate and compare products, prices, terms, response time and supplier performance
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with diverse individuals both internally and externally
- Apply sound judgment and flexibility in critical thinking and problem-solving approaches
- Bring a collaborative and team-oriented approach in performing the purchasing processes
- Communicate effectively to a variety of audiences both orally and in writing
- Utilize purchasing and common office software e.g. financial systems, spreadsheets and word processor
Education and Experience
- Associate degree in a related field and/or
- Three (3) years of direct purchasing experience, or any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities
- Basic knowledge of and experience with governmental purchasing policies and practices is preferred
- Proficient in Excel and Word and working knowledge of basic governmental accounting software
Licenses and Certificates
- Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) preferred
Other
This class description describes the general nature of the work performed, representative duties as well as the typical qualifications needed for acceptable performance. It is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of the job.
Please review the Purchasing Agent job description for more information about the knowledge, skills, abilities, working conditions, and physical requirements.
Our employees earn competitive wages and enjoy an exceptional benefits package that includes:
- MEDICAL INSURANCE - Choice of two plans for employees and their eligible dependents: Premera or Kaiser Permanente. All employee healthcare premiums paid for by the City of Redmond.
- PRESCRIPTION DRUG INSURANCE - Included with each medical plan
- DENTAL INSURANCE - For employees and their eligible dependents
- VISION INSURANCE - For employees and their eligible dependents
- OTHER INSURANCE - Life, accidental death & dismemberment insurance, short and long-term disability, optional employee-paid voluntary life insurance
- FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS - For tax savings on healthcare and dependent care expenses
- PAID VACATION & HOLIDAYS – with (13) paid holidays per year
- EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP)
- RETIREMENT PLANS - Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) plus additional options that include: Municipal Employees Benefit Trust (Social Security replacement plan) and MetLife 457 Plan
- Annual COLA adjustments
- Annual merit increases of up to 5%
To learn about benefits at the City of Redmond, please visit C2MB (ajg.com)
