Buyer 1

About the role

The work you’ll do is more than just a job. Join the talented, engaged and inclusive workforce dedicated to creating a better Minnesota. In this role, you will conduct purchasing of materials, supplies, equipment, and services for the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.

Responsibilities

• Purchasing equipment, supplies, materials, and services;
• Developing and maintaining expertise in state purchasing requirements, procedures, organizational structures, and requirements to be able to secure a wide variety of products and services to be utilized by the agency;
• Coinciding the purchase of goods and services for moves, additions, and changes with small to medium sized remodeling, space reconfigurations, and storage projects;
• Coinciding the agency travel arrangements;
• Maintain the Agency purchasing card program.

Requirements

• One (1) year of professional experience in purchasing/buying supplies, goods, services or reserving travel and utilizing and reconciling purchasing cards;
• OR Two (2) years of paraprofessional/clerical/technical experience in purchasing/buying supplies, goods, services, or reserving travel and utilizing and reconciling purchasing cards AND Ability to obtain Authority for Local Purchase (ALP) Certification at the $25,000 level within 6 months from date of hire.

Qualifications

• Working knowledge of requisition workflow systems such as EIOR;
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Products (such as Word, Excel, Outlook, or Teams);
• Experience with State of Minnesota's Statewide Integrated Financial Tool (SWIFT) accounting and procurement system, or other comparable large private or governmental accounting system with purchasing functionality, or proficiency with a purchasing system.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of state pricing contracts;
• Experience with bidding/RFB processes;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with vendors;
• Strong organizational skills with excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Human relations skills to include conflict resolution and problem-solving skills in order to work with others in a courteous and professional manner and to be an effective team member even in difficult, high stress situations;
• Previous state buying experience.

Physical Requirements

Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and or a small amount of force to occasionally to move and/or transport objects. A sedentary job is defined as one which involves being stationary (or sitting) most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if being active and moving from place to place is required only occasionally.

Additional Requirements

• This position requires successful completion of the following:
• SEMA4 Records Check (applies to current and past state employees only)
• Criminal History Check
• Employment Reference Check
• Social Security Verification