Purchasing Agent

Under the supervision of the County Mayor, the Purchasing Agent provides a variety of supervisory responsibilities. Under general direction, the Purchasing Agent serves as supervisor of the Purchasing function on behalf of Blount County. The Purchasing Agent creates, implements, and interprets the County’s Purchasing Policy and Procedures; as well as, interprets the applicable Purchasing Law. The Purchasing Agent supervises the competitive bidding process, develops and maintains exemplary customer relations with the County’s staff, vendors, and contractors. Additional responsibilities include but are not limited to:           

• Establish and develop acceptable Purchasing methods and records in accordance with prescribed law, rules, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures;
• Supervise Purchasing Department staff;
• Supervise the County’s Surplus Property Program;
• Supervise the County’s Fleet Leasing & Management Program;
• Supervise the County’s Wireless Communications Devices Program;
• Supervise the County’s Commercial Card Services Program;
• Supervise the County’s Fuel Purchasing Program;
• Supervise Federally Funded Highway Projects;
• Review requisitions for operating and maintenance equipment, materials and supplies;
• Issue purchase orders based upon properly submitted requisitions to authorize purchases for the County;
• Prepare and review bid and proposal documents according to requesting department specifications when purchase to exceed the bid threshold limit;
• Review submitted bids and proposals for content, after analysis compose recommendations for acceptance or rejection of bids and proposals;
• Develop and implement a centralized purchasing system including all necessary procedures, forms, and files;
• Prepare reports for department heads and the County Commission;
• Maintain a bidder's lists;
• Prepare and/or review purchase contracts;
• Solicits professional consulting and other services on a contractual basis;
• Pre-audit invoices matched to correlating purchase orders;
• Maintain records as required by local, state, and federal statutes;
• Share responsibility for the competitive bidding process;
• Supervise the contract management processes;
• Collaborate with contractors and County departments to solve contract performance, and other related problems as they arise (change orders, etcetera);
• Evaluate professional service proposals, construction bids, and general bids to determine the “best value” for the County;
• Interact with consultants, contractors, vendors, and County departments on procurement procedures, contract preparation, and contract monitoring;
• Review insurance, bid bonds, performance, and payment bonds to ensure bonds and insurance requirements are updated to coincide with contract requirements and amendments;
• Interface with County department heads and with vendors concerning specifications, products, services, and their bid or proposal;
• Attend pre-bid meetings and documents discussions in a bid file;
• Evaluate bids and proposals after opening and ensure specifications are met accordingly;
• Ensure all requirements are met for doing business with the County (insurance, licenses, bonds, etcetera);
• Monitor work during the course of the contract for compliance with the specifications and schedules, vendor appointments, and interviews;
• Remain aware of current events, trends, and information for developments in the Purchasing field by maintaining memberships in professional organizations, such as ETPA, TAPP, NIGP, attending meetings, seminars, and workshops;
• Review  journals and periodicals, serves on in-house committees and teams;
• Possess knowledge of grants, federal funded highway projects, and DBE programming is preferred; and
• Other duties as assigned by the County Mayor and/or County Commission.

It is mandatory for Case Manager to:

• Possess knowledge of government contracting which is seasoned and well versed;
• Propensity to work in a dynamic environment that requires adaptation to changing goals, priorities, and needs;
• Routinely maintain tactful and professional conversations with others; including, while being confronted with controversial situations while interacting with and influencing people through strong interpersonal skills; and
• Bolster and sustain a professional demeanor with the staff, colleagues, department heads, elected officials, vendors, and other agencies.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM WORK

• Bachelor’s Degree in finance, law, business administration, public administration, or a related field;
• Five (5) years of procurement, contract management, or financial experience;
• Possession of procurement or contract management related certifications such as the Certified Professional Public Buyer, Certified Public Procurement Officer, Certified Professional Contract Manager, or the Certified Federal/Commercial Contract Manager Certification, NIGP-CPP is preferred;
• Or equivalent training, education, and/or experience; and  
• Valid driver’s license.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is frequently required to sit, communicate, reach and manipulate objects, tools and/or controls. The position requires mobility. Duties may involve moving materials weighing up to 20 pounds on a regular basis. Manual dexterity and coordination are required over 50% of the work period while operating equipment, such as computer keyboard, mouse, calculator and similar machines.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Most work is performed in a well-lighted, modern office setting with centrally controlled heating and air conditioning; and some work is outside in all weather conditions while on site at an outdoor construction site, County school, and etcetera.

BENEFITS

Exceptional full time benefits include medical, prescription, dental, vision, FSA, HSA, optional USAble, paid holidays, paid sick days, paid vacation, EAP, retirement planning, pension, employee clinic, employee discounts, and more.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.