Purchasing Specialist

Job Summary

We’re looking for a self-motivated, relationship-driven procurement professional to support the work that keeps our city running. In this role, you’ll deliver procurement support to departments across the organization.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead sourcing and develop bidding specifications for equipment, supplies, services, and construction, ensuring compliance of laws and regulations and timelines are achieved.
• Review, tabulate, and evaluate price quotes, bids and proposals, and availability of items or services; compile, communicate, and document bid results and prepare internal reports.
• Source and procure needed operational and capital supplies, services, and equipment as needed to meet the operational needs across multiple City operations/locations as specifically assigned.
• Ensure supplies and services are available to support maintenance, repair, and operational activities of the departments.
• Verify availability of funds and corresponding budgets and appropriate approvals are obtained.
• Effectively communicate and meet with departments to ensure correct products are ordered, delivered on time, purchasing policies are followed, appropriate approvals are obtained, available budget, and transactions are accurately entered into software applications.
• Process agreements and contracts and ensure they are properly executed and input into the Financial Management System.
• Acquire and capture data from various sources and maintain electronic records within multiple software platforms to foster procurement planning and decision making.
• Identify and interpret operational trends and communicate findings to leadership to assist in the development, implementation, and/or modification of work procedures.
• Aid in coordinating the City’s compliance with federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) requirements by reviewing contracts and documenting compliance.
• Update the City’s WBE/DBE plan as necessary and calculate annual percentage goals.
• Provide departmental and vendor support for utilization of the City’s purchasing card procurement, and financial software applications, including end-user training, troubleshooting user technical issues, and assisting with data entry or account setups.
• Oversee fulfillment of the procurement process including tracking product or service fulfillment, monitoring vendor or supplier performance, following up on warranties and service agreements, completing pricing revisions and order cancellations, and resolving product or invoice discrepancies.
• Assist in the resolution of problems and issues arising from the purchase of equipment, supplies, or services or construction services.
• Provide centralized support for the disposal of the City’s surplus property and the annual surplus property auction.
• Cover special projects as assigned.
• Represent the Purchasing Division of Finance at various meetings to provide purchasing information as necessary.

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance, economics, or other specialized discipline.
• A minimum of one (1) years' experience in purchasing, contract, and bid activities; or any combination of education, experience, and training as may be acceptable to the hiring authority.

Supplemental Information

• Knowledge of purchasing processes and methodologies.
• Knowledge of business practices related to contract law and applicable rules and regulations that govern competitive public bidding processes.
• Knowledge of purchasing software systems and personal computer business software applications.
• Knowledge of business practices related to contract law and applicable rules and regulations that govern competitive public bidding processes.
• Knowledge of purchasing laws and regulations.
• Ability to prepare procurement reports and detailed bid specifications.
• Ability to make accurate mathematical and statistical calculations.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers and vendors.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to analyze bids and proposals.

Competitive Salary

The City of Sioux Falls offers a competitive salary with step advancements. The City participates in the South Dakota Retirement System, providing a 6% match. Additionally, employees may choose to enroll in a Deferred Compensation Plan.

Benefits

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance: Competitive rates for single, 2-party, and family.
• 11 paid holidays and 2 personal leave days each calendar year.
• New employees are granted 40 hours of vacation at time of hire and accrue an additional 2 weeks in their first year.
• Sick leave accrues over 96 hours per year.
• The City of Sioux Falls is an eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.