Salary: Buyer I (#1389)
$17.19-$20.99 hourly / $2,990-$3,651 monthly / Range: 5036
Buyer II (#1390)
$20.37-$24.87 hourly / $3,543-$4,325 monthly / Range: 5376
DEFINITION: Under direction of the Purchasing Manager, solicits
bids and negotiates for the purchase of supplies, equipment, and
services for County departments and other public agencies; and
performs related duties as required.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: Buyer I is distinguished from Buyer
II in that the latter prepares and analyzes more complex and higher
profile contracts, and works with relative independence within
established guidelines.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:
Level I:
1. Analyzes market conditions; keeps abreast of trends; explores
sources of supply; studies new products; and researches departments’
requests for all products and commodities.
2. Confers with departmental representatives to determine specific
needs, arranges for demonstrations, and distributes literature and
samples.
3. Processes requisitions; groups purchases to secure price
advantages of quantity buying; composes and edits specifications;
solicits formal bids in accordance with standard procedures and
solicits informal bids by telephone, FAX, or personal contact; and
compares and analyzes price quotations.
4. Studies quality of products; determines vendor from whom
purchases will be made; places orders; negotiates and renews
contracts; investigates complaints and secures adjustments; follows
up on deliveries.
5. Maintains data and prepares reports using office automation
software.
Level II: All duties listed above and:
6. Processes and analyzes complicated, higher profile contracts, and
researches and writes more complex specifications.
EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS:
Level I:
1. One year of experience in the field of quantity buying, for a
public agency or large private concern, of end items such as
services, supplies, and equipment; or,
2. one year of experience performing duties equivalent to the class
of Buyer’s Assistant with Santa Barbara County; or,
3. a combination of training, education, and experience that is
equivalent to one of the employment standards listed above and that
provides the required knowledge and abilities.
Level II:
1. Two years of responsible experience in quantity buying for a
public agency or large private concern that purchased end items such
as services, supplies, and equipment; or,
2. one year of experience performing duties equivalent to the class
of Buyer I with Santa Barbara County; or,
3. a combination of training, education, and experience that is
equivalent to one of the employment standards listed above and that
provides the required knowledge and abilities.
Additional Qualifications: Possession of a valid California Class C
Driver’s License may be required.Level I:
Knowledge of: standard business English; principles and practices of
purchasing, including ethics, Internet research, standards, bid
preparation and evaluation, competitive bidding procedures, quality
control, inventory standards and control; data collection techniques
for establishing sources of supply, product, and vendor information;
market research techniques; general law of contracts; office
procedures and office automation software (word processing, database
management).
Ability to: conduct studies, analyze and evaluate data, and make
recommendations and decisions; prepare and present written or oral
reports; reproduce established bids; learn to prepare and evaluate
new bids; learn practices and principles of government contracting;
perform arithmetic calculations, such as calculating interest,
discounts, and shipping charges; use common units of measure;
maintain an effective liaison with vendors, management, staff, and
co-workers; use personal computer.
Level II:
Knowledge of: standard business English; principles and practices of
purchasing, including ethics, Internet research, standards, bid
preparation and evaluation, competitive bidding procedures, quality
control, inventory standards and control; data collection techniques
for establishing sources of supply, product, and vendor information;
market research techniques; general law of contracts; principles and
practices of government contracting; office procedures and office
automation software (word processing, database management).
Ability to: work with relative independence; conduct studies,
analyze and evaluate data, and make recommendations and decisions on
complicated or high-profile projects; prepare and present written or
oral reports; prepare new bids; perform arithmetic calculations such
as calculating interest, discounts, and shipping charges; use common
units of measure; negotiate within established parameters; maintain
an effective liaison with vendors, management staff, and co-workers;
use personal computer.
