Buyer I in Coventry

The County of Riverside's Transportation & Land Management Agency (TLMA) is seeking a Buyer I to support the Administration Division in Riverside. The Buyer I will perform a variety of purchasing and administrative functions to support the department's daily procurement operations. Responsibilities include:

• Reviewing invoices against quotes, purchase orders, contracts, and amendments to ensure accuracy.
• Identifying and resolving invoice discrepancies.
• Responding to inquiries from staff and vendors.
• Requesting informal bids, quotes, and Requests for Quotes (RFQs).
• Assisting with new vendor setup.
• Maintaining vendor and purchasing records.
• Performing general purchasing duties in accordance with County policies and procedures.

The ideal candidate will have experience with Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Requests for Quotes (RFQs), requisitions (REQs), purchase orders (POs), invoice processing, and ordering supplies. Competitive candidates will also possess:

• At least one (1) year of experience using PeopleSoft Financials.
• Two (2) years of vendor relations experience.
• Three (3) years of experience using Microsoft Excel and Word.
• Three (3) years of clerical and/or administrative experience supporting business or operational functions.

The successful candidate will demonstrate strong attention to detail, excellent communication and customer service skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining accuracy, organization, and professionalism in a fast-paced environment.

Examples Of Essential Duties:

• Research and conduct comparisons on products, services and vendors; compare availability, quality and cost factors for departmental needs.
• Review requisitions for completeness, accuracy, cost effectiveness, and adherence to standards, codes, County policies, and procedures.
• Research, develop, and maintain vendor product information lists, which includes ongoing review of product information and current prices of commodities and services.
• Perform routine market, total life cycle cost, value, price, and limited cost analysis.
• Prepare departmental requests for proposal and/or bid; obtain bids by telephone, letter, personal contact, or formal bid procedures; compare and analyze quotations in order to determine qualified low bid.
• Determine vendors from which purchases will be made and issue purchase orders; review standing purchase orders for renewal; review departmental blanket orders to ensure low-cost emergency vendor service.
• Investigate complaints by departments and resolve delivery or other problems; may supervise support staff.

Minimum Qualifications:

• One year of satisfactory performance as a Buyer Trainee with the County of Riverside or equivalent experience to the County of Riverside Buyer Trainee classification.
• Major coursework in purchasing, business administration, economics, or a related field may be substituted for up to one year of buying experience on the basis of 30 semester or 45 quarter units of education equaling one year of full-time buying experience.

Knowledge of:

• The methods, principles, and practices of purchasing/material management and of governmental purchasing.
• County purchasing policies and practices.
• Product standards of operating departments.
• Products, commodities, and services used within one or more commodity groupings.
• Methods and resources used in researching and analyzing commodities and services.
• Competitive bid practices and procedures.
• Business accounting practices.
• Methods used in evaluating vendor capability and performance.

Ability to:

• Work independently; read and interpret rules and regulations.
• Collect, organize, and evaluate product or service information, identify alternative solutions, and project consequences of decisions and recommendations.
• Compose clear and concise reports, recommendations, and correspondence.
• Compare and analyze quotations.
• Prepare fundamental purchasing specifications (RFP's) for assigned products or services or for an assigned department.
• Communicate in a clear and persuasive manner.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with department officials, company/vendor representatives, and staff members.