Purchasing Manager

General Summary

Provides overall administration, planning, management and coordination of small purchases (<$25,000) and purchase/delivery order activities for the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Procurement Department.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Supervises workgroup personnel to include planning, organizing and assigning work, monitoring work quality and progress, training, and problem resolution.
• Evaluates performance and makes recommendations for personnel actions; motivates employees to achieve peak productivity and performance.
• Oversees the sourcing of quality goods and services on the open market via RFQ and the placement of purchase orders, as well as delivery orders against pre-established schedules/contracts.
• Performs periodic audits to ensure workgroup compliance.
• Investigates and identifies potential cost savings by developing vendor relationships, researching products/markets, reducing procurement costs, analyzing customer requirements, etc.
• Ensures that purchasing practices are compatible with state and federal laws, agency wide procurement rules and regulations, and established workgroup procedures and guidelines.
• Investigates alleged unauthorized procurement actions and makes recommendations to the Contracting Officer for resolution.
• Develops and maintains cooperative working relationships with customer departments.
• Promptly investigates and appropriately remedies complaints regarding delivery, quality and/or prices paid.
• Interfaces with current and potential vendors; ensures vendors meet agency requirements and that vendor problems are quickly and effectively resolved.
• Participates in development and implementation of Division objectives, short-and long-range plans, implements projects and programs to assist in accomplishment of established workgroup goals.
• Makes recommendations on use of existing computer systems and enhancements necessary to maximize work efficiency; develops workgroup key performance indicators (KPIs) and reports that reflect workgroup progress, show significant trends (changes) and/or ferret out issues.
• Manages specific small business purchasing programs.
• Acts as workgroup liaison at various small business outreach activities.
• May also serve on agency, division, department or agency-wide task forces and/or committees.
• Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or a related field.
• Five (5) years progressively responsible experience in a small purchases environment to include three (3) years of supervisory experience.
• Comprehensive knowledge of public purchasing processes and associated local, state, federal, and other regulations.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of employees and vendors in a diverse community.
• Employee development and performance management skills.
• Ability to perform complex tasks and to prioritize multiple projects.
• Ability to develop and maintain recordkeeping systems and procedures.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and negotiation skills.
• Analytical and creative skills to find solutions to workgroup problems.
• Intermediate level experience utilizing Purchasing software (preferably Lawson) and proficient in using Microsoft Office products (Excel, Word, etc.).
• Purchasing certification (ISM, NIGP, etc.) preferred.