Assistant Director of Purchasing- Open Competitive Exam

This key administrative role involves coordinating purchasing policies and procedures for the City of Rochester or overseeing staff in these tasks. Responsibilities entail frequent interaction with vendors, bureau, and department heads or their delegates. The incumbent must ensure compliance with relevant state and local laws. General supervision is received from the Purchasing Director with leeway allowed for the use of independent judgement in the performance of the duties. In the absence of the Purchasing Director, this employee will assume the role of Purchasing Director with complete authority to implement policies and operational decisions. Supervision extends to both professional and clerical staff. Additional tasks are performed as necessary.

• Engages in high-level administrative decision making regarding Public Work, MWBE and Compliance; 
• Oversees the daily operations of the MWBE Officer, MWBE Analyst, Compliance Director and Purchasing Control Clerk to ensure organizational efficacy in the management of MWBE, Public Work and Compliance related work;
• Assists in coordinating the City's purchasing activities to ensure equity in administration of vendor soliciting and selection;
• Assists in reviewing purchasing procedures and standards for departments;
• Coordinates and/or conducts feasibility studies and market research to ensure meeting all procurement goals and objectives;
• Reviews and ensures the integrity of MWBE Analyst, Compliance Analyst and Business Analyst reporting; 
• Reviews and creates changes in legislation applicable to City purchasing operations and advises the Purchasing Director of the impact on policy and procedure; 
• Assists in preparation of annual budget and periodic reporting.

High school diploma* or Equivalent*, PLUS:

 

A. Master’s Degree* in Business or closely related field, AND three (3) years of responsible professional experience in business or public administration, including experience in purchasing, contract administration, budget administration or finance, and supervisory experience. This should include demonstrated knowledge of MWBE; Supplier Diversity and Public Works Contracting and Compliance.

OR

 B. Bachelor’s degree* PLUS five (5) years of experience as stated in A.

 

*Candidates who expect to receive this degree or diploma by August 1, 2025, may participate in the examination.  If successful on the examination, you will not be certified for appointment until you have submitted proof of completion of the requirements to the City of Rochester Examination Administration Unit.  Proof must be submitted no later than 2 (two) months after the completion of your degree or diploma; failure to do so will result in the removal of your name from this list.

Scopes/Subjects of Examination:  A test designed to evaluate knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in the following areas.

 Preparing Written Material:  These questions test the ability to present information clearly and accurately and organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly.  For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information.  You must then choose the best version.  For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order.  You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences.

Understanding and Interpreting Written Material:  These questions test for the ability to understand and interpret written material.  You will be presented with brief reading passages and will be asked questions about the passages.  You should base your answers to the questions only on what is presented in the passages and not on what you may happen to know about the topic.

 Principles and Practices of Purchasing:  These questions test candidates' knowledge of the principles guiding governmental purchasing operations and the ability to put them into practice.  These questions may deal with but are not necessarily limited to such matters as the analysis of bids, the use of specifications, the award of contracts, the analysis of market factors that can affect the cost of a purchase, and the application of a set of rules to determine how to proceed with a purchase.  Some arithmetic computation may be necessary. No specific knowledge of NYS purchasing laws, rules, and regulations will be required to answer these questions.

 Supervision:  These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices employed in planning, organizing, and controlling the activities of a work unit toward predetermined objectives.  The concepts covered, usually in a situational question format, include such topics as assigning and reviewing work; evaluating performance; maintaining work standards; motivating and developing subordinates; implementing procedural change; increasing efficiency; and dealing with problems of absenteeism, morale, and discipline.

Test Guide:  

The New York State Department of Civil Service has not prepared a test guide for this examination.  However, candidates may find information in the publication 'General Guide to Written Tests' helpful in preparing for this test.  This publication is available online at:  https://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/testguides.cfm. 

The Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County MAY have exam-related material, as well as, other branches. (i.e., CSEA Exam Preparation booklets)

Salary : $82,412 - $108,663