Senior Buyer

About the role

The County of Santa Cruz is seeking an experienced procurement professional to join the General Services Department (GSD) and provide dedicated procurement support to the County’s Central Purchasing Team, with a focus on facilitating solicitations for Capital Projects and construction. This position will serve as a key procurement resource for developing scopes, running walkthroughs, and facilitating an equitable public procurement process for large-scale solicitations (Informal Quotes, RFP, IFB, RFQ, Construction Solicitations). A successful candidate will have public-sector procurement experience and expertise in coordinating and supporting competitive solicitations for construction projects, architectural and engineering services, design professionals or consultants, and other procurement-focused project-related services. The ideal candidate will be an experienced, ethical procurement professional who is a team player and focused on excellent customer service, who can bridge the gap between procurement requirements and the practical needs of subject matter experts for large scale procurements with a focus on construction procurement, and who enjoys working closely with a wide variety of subject matter experts, both internal and external, as well as County leadership to move complex procurement of projects from scoping through contract award, all while providing vendor outreach and support, and excellent customer service.

Responsibilities

• Develop scopes for procurements
• Run walkthroughs
• Facilitate an equitable public procurement process for large-scale solicitations (Informal Quotes, RFP, IFB, RFQ, Construction Solicitations)
• Coordinate and support competitive solicitations for construction projects, architectural and engineering services, design professionals or consultants, and other procurement-focused project-related services
• Bridge the gap between procurement requirements and the practical needs of subject matter experts for large scale procurements with a focus on construction procurement
• Work closely with a wide variety of subject matter experts (internal and external) and County leadership to move complex procurement from scoping through contract award
• Provide vendor outreach and support
• Provide excellent customer service

Requirements

Knowledge: Working knowledge of the principles and practices of centralized purchasing including purchasing ethics and standards, contract development and negotiations and competitive bidding; the laws, regulations and procedures applicable to public agency purchasing; office operations and accounting and budgetary controls; and current market conditions, pricing and sources of supply and senders.

Ability to: Analyze requisitions and prepare product specifications, bids and agreements; evaluate bids and make awards; establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; maintain accurate records and prepare reports; communicate effectively orally and in writing; and read and interpret technical specifications and drawings.

Qualifications

Any combination of education and experience, which would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying, unless otherwise specified. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be: Two years of experience performing duties comparable to a Buyer at Santa Cruz County. Special Requirements: Possession of a valid California Class C Driver’s License.

Benefits

The County of Santa Cruz offers a generous benefits package which includes annual leave, paid holidays, medical, dental, vision and CalPERS retirement benefits.

Pay

Salary: $7,656 – 9,883 / Month