Purchasing Specialist

The City of Gastonia is seeking a dynamic Purchasing Specialist to join our team. In this pivotal role, you’ll be at the heart of our procurement operations, ensuring that every purchase aligns with our mission to serve the community efficiently and effectively.  Under the supervision of the Purchasing and Warehouse Manager, this position performs difficult administrative work assisting with the management of procurement activities, contract management, and qualified vendor file maintenance.  The following job functions are typical for a position of this nature. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each function satisfactorily.  Other job functions and duties may be required as assigned.  Percentages for each function are subject to fluctuations. 

Assist in the management and oversight of the city contract management system, including management of electronic and hard copy filing system	20%
Receives and handles to conclusion requisitions from departments obtaining informal quotations and issuing purchase orders.	20%
Maintain and assist in managing qualified vendor files for city procurement of goods and services, including documentation	15%
Assists and oversees disposal of obsolete and surplus property according to approved procedures	15%
Assist in the administration and documentation of the city-wide procurement card system, including documentation of all related transactions	10%
Coordinates the purchase of supplies, materials, and equipment for the City.  Assemble bid documents and specifications, conduct formal and informal bids, and maintain documentation through the completion of purchases and projects	5%
Assists in the preparation of the annual purchasing budget	5%
Prepares periodic and special reports	5%
Performs related tasks as required	5%

• Understanding of procurement principles, policies, and procedures, including knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations.
• Knowledge of contract laws, terms, and conditions, and the ability to manage and negotiate contracts effectively
• Understanding market trends, pricing, and suppliers to make informed purchasing decisions.
• Knowledge of budgeting practices and cost control measures to ensure that purchases are within budget and provide value.
• Familiarity with inventory control techniques and systems to ensure the efficient flow of goods and materials.
• Precision in reviewing contracts, purchase orders, and other procurement documents to avoid errors and ensure compliance
• Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely, especially in communications and interactions with vendors, colleagues, and other stakeholders
• Strong organizational skills to manage multiple procurement tasks and deadlines efficiently.
• Strong sense of ethics and integrity in handling procurement activities, ensuring transparency and fairness
• Ability to use procurement software, financial systems, and other relevant tools to manage purchasing activities
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with vendors, City officials, and the general public

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Associate's degree in business administration or related field 
• Minimum of 2 years experience in procurement of a variety of supplies and materials for a large organization
• Or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Local Government Purchasing Officer Certification (CLGPO) preferred 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Valid driver's license required
• NIMS IS 700, 100, 200, and 300 training within 12 months of hire.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT
 The physical activity of this position includes:

• Climbing:  Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles, and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms.   This factor is important if the amount and kind of climbing required exceeds that required for ordinary locomotion.
• Balancing:  Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing or couching on narrow, slippery or erratically moving surfaces.  This factor is important if the amount and kind of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium
• Stooping:  Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist.  This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires full use of the lower extremities and back muscles.
• Kneeling:  Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
• Crouching:  Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.
• Crawling:  Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.
• Reaching:  Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Standing:  Particularly for sustained periods of time.
• Walking:  Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.
• Pushing:   Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward.
• Pulling:  Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, drag, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.
• Lifting:  Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position to position.  This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires the substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.
• Fingering:  Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand or arm as in handling.
• Grasping:  Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
• Feeling:  Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of the fingertips.
• Talking:  Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.  Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Hearing:  Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal spoken word levels with or without correction.  Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make fine discriminations in sound, such as when making fine adjustments on machined parts.
• Repetitive Motions:  Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands and/or fingers.

The physical requirements of this position:
Office Environment Work:  Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body.  Office environment work involves sitting most of the time.  Jobs are categorized as office environment if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other Office Environment Work criteria are met. Additionally, may be required to push, pull, and lift up to 50 lbs. or operate office equipment and forklift
 
The visual acuity requirements including color, depth perception, and field of vision:
 The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform one or more of the following: 

• Preparing and analyzing data and figures
• Accounting
• Computer terminal
• Extensive reading
• The worker is required to have visual acuity to be the operator of trucks, forklifts, cranes, and other equipment.
• The worker is required to have visual acuity to determine the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned (i.e. custodial, food services, general laborer, etc.)

 The conditions the worker will be subject to in this position:

•  The worker is subject to inside environmental conditions: Protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes.
• The worker is subject to outside environmental conditions:  No effective protection from weather.
• The worker is subject to both environmental conditions: Activities occur inside and outside.

 

Salary : $51,334 - $72,329