Buyer II - Harris County Office of Purchasing Agent (Harris Health)

About the Role

The Harris County Office of the Purchasing Agent is seeking a Buyer II to support procurement operations for Harris Health, the region’s safety-net healthcare system. Harris Health is undergoing significant growth, including new facility construction and system modernization. This role supports a fast-paced healthcare environment where procurement directly impacts clinical operations and patient care, requiring urgency, accuracy, and strong collaboration with departments and vendors.

Responsibilities

• Lead sourcing initiatives by assessing market conditions and developing procurement approaches aligned with organizational needs
• Partner with departments to define requirements and translate business needs into effective procurement solutions
• Support and participate in negotiations to achieve favorable pricing, contract terms, and service outcomes
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders, including Legal and Contract Management, to support contract execution
• Ensure compliance with Purchasing policies, regulatory requirements, and procurement best practices
• Independently manage assigned procurements from requisition through award within delegated authority for intermediate-complexity purchases, including purchases below and above threshold when applicable, ensuring complete documentation of requirements, approvals, and award rationale
• Determine the appropriate procurement method and develop solicitation documents, including specifications, scopes of work, evaluation criteria, and contractual terms, coordinating with departments to confirm requirements, delivery, and funding details
• Conduct price, cost, and market analysis to support best-value decisions, including benchmarking, historical spend review, and supplier research, and document findings to support procurement recommendations
• Evaluate vendor responses for responsiveness and responsibility, facilitate evaluation activities as required, prepare award recommendations, and maintain complete procurement files suitable for audit review and public record requirements
• Support cooperative and inter-local purchasing activities by verifying contract availability and applicability, documenting cooperative justification, and coordinating purchase execution to ensure compliance with County requirements and applicable statutes
• Administer contracts post-award, including renewals and amendments, and issue resolution, ensure compliance with Texas Local Government Code Chapter 262, County and federal policies, and provide guidance to departments on procurement requirements and process improvements

Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Public Administration, Supply Chain, or a related field required.

Experience: Minimum two (2) years of procurement, government, accounting, audit, finance, general business operations, or related public-facing work required.

Skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and standard office technology required
• Experience in healthcare or public sector procurement
• Experience with Premier GPO and cooperative procurement programs
• Professional certifications (e.g., NIGP-CPP, CPSM, CPPO)
• Knowledge of public procurement principles and practices for the acquisition of goods and services, including competitive and non-competitive methods and best-value concepts
• Knowledge of applicable procurement laws, policies, and procedures, including Texas Local Government Code Chapter 262, Texas Government Code Chapter 2269 and 2 C.F.R. 200, as applicable and County requirements
• Skill in analyzing specifications, pricing, and market conditions, including price, cost, and market analysis to support purchasing decisions
• Skill in developing solicitation documents and evaluating vendor responses, including documenting findings and preparing award recommendations
• Skill in professional communication, including written correspondence and verbal coordination with vendors, departments, and internal stakeholders regarding procurement requirements
• Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment within delegated authority, manage multiple assignments, maintain complete procurement files suitable for audit review, and support timely, compliant procurement outcomes

Preferences

• Experience supporting department relations, high-frequency activity volumes, or general procurement functions
• Experience in healthcare or public sector procurement
• Experience with Premier GPO and cooperative procurement programs
• Professional certifications (e.g., NIGP-CPP, CPSM, CPPO)

Schedule

This is a full-time position with typical work hours of Monday - Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM. Occasional weekends, holidays, and overtime may be required based on the specific needs and demands of the department. Flexible work schedule available.

Location

Harris Health Office Building - 4800 Fournace Place W516, Bellaire, TX 77401

Work Environment and Physical Demands

This position is based in an office environment, where the use of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, scanners, and filing cabinets is routine. The physical demands associated with this job are minimal, with occasional lifting and moving objects weighing up to 10 pounds. The role is predominantly sedentary, involving mainly sitting with occasional standing and walking.