SENIOR BUYER (2318)

Job Type: Location Type: On-site

 

About the Employer

In Glendale Unified schools, we focus on maximizing student achievement, fostering students’ social and emotional growth, and creating a vibrant, inclusive environment where all children can learn and thrive. Glendale Unified is the third largest school district in Los Angeles County. We proudly serve 25,000 students in preschool through 12th grade and beyond.

We proudly offer dual immersion programs in seven languages; Armenian, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish. Glendale Unified also offers six magnet schools focused on technology, world languages, and visual and performing arts, and a wide variety of Career and Technical Education pathways beginning in middle school. Through a collaborative partnership with Glendale Community College, Glendale Unified offers students multiple opportunities to earn college credit before they graduate from high school, including our Hoover Early College Academy and Glendale High Cloud Computing and Computer Science Academy. We are excelling together to provide our students with endless pathways for success! Several of our schools are recipients of prestigious awards such as: National Blue Ribbon Schools, California Distinguished Schools, California Gold Ribbon Schools, and Title I Academic Achieving Schools.

Glendale Unified is a diverse school district that welcomes students and families from all over the world. Our students come from a wide range of ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds and speak 35 different languages.

Job Summary

Under the direction of the Director, Procurement and Contract Services, plans, organizes and directs the daily operations of the purchasing function; prepares and develops specification for bids; performs specialized and technical duties in the ordering of materials, supplies, equipment and services; assures that District purchases are made in accordance with applicable laws, codes and policies; trains, assigns and supervises the work of assigned personnel; performs a variety of related special projects.

Job Description / Essential Elements:

GLENDALE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT CLASS DESCRIPTION

SENIOR BUYER

DEFINITION

Under the direction of the Director, Procurement and Contract Services, plans, organizes and directs the daily operations of the purchasing function; prepares and develops specification for bids; performs specialized and technical duties in the ordering of materials, supplies, equipment and services; assures that District purchases are made in accordance with applicable laws, codes and policies; trains, assigns and supervises the work of assigned personnel; performs a variety of related special projects.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS BETWEEN CLASSES

A Senior Buyer performs the more complex buying and purchasing of school supplies, materials, services and equipment, including the preparation of complete bid packages. The position assists with the supervision of other purchasing activities and trains new staff members.

The Director, Procurement and Contract Services performs supervisory duties and administers the work of the Purchasing Department.

A Purchasing Agent performs lead supervisory duties and administers the work of the

Purchasing and Duplicating operations.

A Buyer purchases a variety of standard school supplies, materials, services, and equipment.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

General supervision is provided by the Director, Procurement and Contract Services.

Indirect supervision is provided to assigned personnel.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Assists in establishing purchasing policies and procedures in accordance with laws, regulations and district policies.

Performs the more complex purchasing operations of the District following

established laws, policies, and procedures.

Develops and processes, purchase orders, and requisitions involved in obtaining a

variety of school supplies, materials, services, and equipment.

Develops and maintains records, files, and catalogs.

Prepares and receives formal bids in assigned categories utilizing a computer;

tabulates and recommends award of bids; prepares and distributes addendums when

specifications are changed.

Purchases items based on knowledge of standard current prices, discounts, and

merchandise qualities; advertises and/or conducts inquiries to establish the best

source of supplies.

Analyzes bids received for conformance and compliance with established standards

and for the completeness of data and makes recommendations to the Director on

awarding contracts.

Contacts vendors and sales representative regarding orders, undelivered material,

and shipment discrepancies; coordinates with warehouse.

Provides direction to purchasing department buyers and clerical staff; distributes

work to appropriate staff members.

Issues purchase orders; secures prices by telephone, fax, and correspondence;

determines the best source, including availability and shipping/delivery information.

Reviews requisitions for the purchase of materials, supplies and equipment, as

assigned.

Meets with vendors to view product demonstrations; evaluates products and advises

companies of District’s acceptance or rejection; observes equipment demonstrations

in the field, as needed.

Maintains standard lists of supplies for assigned categories using computer

spreadsheets; calculates totals and submits figures for budget purposes.

Works with Accounts Payable Department, contacts vendors by mail or telephone

regarding discrepancies in invoices, statements, or deliveries.

Reviews purchasing procedures and specifications with responsible District personnel

and committees.

Researches and writes a variety of reports, memoranda and letters.

Performs related duties, as assigned.

CLASS QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

Governmental purchasing principles and practices.

Public Procurement and the Public Contracts Code.

Education Code provisions regarding school district purchasing policies and

procedures.

Purchasing procedures, terminology, inventory control, and warehousing methods

and practices.

Types and sources of supplies, materials, and equipment commonly used in a

school district.

Policies and objectives of purchasing programs and activities.

Methods of preparing and interpreting standard lists and organizing computer

generated reports.

Methods of preparing maintenance and lease agreements.

Market practices and specific commodity trends related to school districts.

Modern office practices, procedures, and equipment including the operation of a

computer terminal and data entry techniques.

Technical aspects of field of specialty.

Basic research methods.

Principles and practices of supervision and training.

Ability to:

Prepare and write complex formal bid specifications.

Interpret general laws, rules, policy and regulations affecting district purchases.

Exercise sound judgment in the purchase of a variety of materials, supplies, and

equipment.

Perform difficult or complex clerical work, which includes auditing, checking, and

correcting purchasing records; develop computerized spreadsheets.

Prepare clear and concise specifications and reports delineating critical differences in

requirements.

Operate a variety of equipment including a computer terminal and printer, typewriter,

calculator, copier, and fax machine.

Maintain records and generate reports.

Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with the public, vendors,

and District employees.

Exercise tact, patience and courtesy, discretion and confidentiality during the course

of work.

Communicate clearly in writing, on the telephone, and in person.

Supervise and train the work direction of assigned staff.

Develop and maintain accurate records and reports.

Make arithmetic calculations quickly and accurately.

Work independently with little direction.

Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action.

Plan and organize work; meet schedules and time lines.

Drive a personal or District vehicle to conduct work, as needed.

Be insured at standard vehicle liability and property damage insurance rates, and

maintain insurability.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

Minimum requirements:

Three years of increasingly responsible experience in public procurement, preferably

in a school district or other public institution, including some experience in a lead or

supervisory capacity.

Desirable Qualifications:

Certification as a Certified Purchasing Manager or specialized coursework in

purchasing, accounting or other related fields.

Written and oral proficiency in a second language.

LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE

Possession of a valid State of California Class C driver’s license. Also, ability to be insured at standard vehicle liability and property damage insurance rates and maintain insurability.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Physical Demands:

Employees in this classification must be physically and mentally able to perform the

essential duties of the position without hazard to themselves or others. These include

but are not limited to:

Sitting, standing, walking for extended periods of time. Kneeling, stooping, and

bending at the waist.

Lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling objects generally weighing up to twenty-five

(25) pounds.

Agility to move arms in all directions; dexterity of hands and fingers to operate office

equipment, computer keyboard, and other assigned tools as needed.

Seeing to read a variety of materials, hearing, and speaking to exchange information.

Walking over rough and uneven surfaces in construction areas and outdoors.

Driving a personal vehicle between work sites, within, or outside the district to

conduct work, attend meetings, seminars, or training.

Working Environment:

Employees in this classification primarily work indoors. Work environment is generally

clean and the noise level can be moderate to high. When outdoors, may be exposed

to weather conditions and temperature variations, sharp objects, dust, chemicals,

odors, machinery with moving parts, and moving vehicles.

Contact will be required with District staff and the public.

11/13/2001 – Establishment of New Classification

06/14/2005 – Revisions to Class Description

12/2013 – Minor Revision

06/13/2017 – Minor Revision to Employment Standards

02/12/2019 – Revisions to Class Description and Working Conditions

Requirements / Qualifications

Comments and Other Information

Statement of Non-discrimination (Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973): The Board of Education is committed to equal opportunity for all individuals in education. District programs, activities and services shall be free from unlawful discrimination, harassment (including sexual harassment), intimidation, and/or bullying based on actual or perceived sex, race or ethnicity, color, national origin, nationality, religion, age, sexual orientation, sexual preference, ancestry, ethnic group identification, gender, gender expression, gender identity, physical or mental disability, marital or parental status, or on the basis of a person’s association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics, or sexual harassment in any district service, program and/or activity that receives or benefits from state financial assistance. The Board shall promote programs which ensure that unlawful discriminatory practices are eliminated in all district activities. The District will take steps to assure that the lack of English will not be a barrier to admission and participation in district programs. A copy of the District’s Uniform Complaint Policy is available by calling (818) 241-3111, Ext. 1457. Complaints alleging noncompliance with this policy of nondiscrimination should be directed to the following personnel:
Title IX Coordinator: Dr. Kelly King, 223 N. Jackson St., (818) 241-3111, Ext. 1209, titleix@gusd.net
Section 504 Coordinator: Dr. Narineh Khemichian, 223 North Jackson, (818) 241-3111, Ext. 1500, nkhemichian@gusd.net
Title II/ADA: Dr. Kelly King, 223 N. Jackson St., (818) 241-3111, Ext. 1209, kking@gusd.net