What are the responsibilities and job description for the Buyer position at SMCCCD?
Posting Details
Position Information Posting Number S Position Title Buyer Location District Office Department General Services DIST (DEPT) Position Number 1C Percentage of Full Time % FLSA Non-Exempt (accrues overtime) Months per Year 12 If other, please specify Min Salary $85, (annual) Max Salary $, (annual) Position Type Classified Positions Posting Text Who We Are The San Mateo County Community College District is committed to achieving educational equity for all students. As outlined in the District’s Strategic Plan, “success, equity, and social justice for our students are longstanding goals.” The District’s is focused on "Student Success, Equity and Social Justice.” We provide students with a rich and dynamic learning experience that embraces our commitment to provide quality education and promote life-long learning — emphasizing collaboration and engaging students in and out of the classroom, encouraging them to realize their goals, and to become global citizens and socially responsible leaders. When you join our San Mateo County Community College District team, you can expect to be part of an inclusive, innovative and equity-focused community that approaches higher education as a matter of social justice. We achieve this through broad collaboration among faculty and classified staff, administration, students and community partners.
The College and the District The San Mateo County Community College District is home to Cañada College, College of San Mateo, and Skyline College. All three of our colleges are designated as Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) enrolling approximately 32, students each academic year. San Mateo County Community College District has a diverse student population that is a reflection of the communities that it serves. Detailed information about the student population, including data related to student success, can be found on the
Who We Want We value the ability to serve students from a broad range of academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, racial and ethnic backgrounds. We prioritize applicants who demonstrate an understanding of the benefits that diversity brings to a professional educational community. The successful candidate will be an equity-minded individual who is committed to collaborating with faculty, classified staff, administration, students and community partners in strengthening the culture of equity and antiracism throughout the District. The San Mateo County Community District seeks employees who value mentorship and working in a collegial, collaborative environment, guided by a commitment to helping students achieve their educational goals.
The Position This is complex clerical work involved in central District processes related to the procurement of goods and services, including selection of vendors, volume buying, implementation of bid procedures, scheduling and coordinating deliveries, inventory, assessing availability and quality of goods and services, administering under direction district-wide procurement related tools, such as procurement and gasoline cards, creation of purchase orders, creating and archiving documentation, and assisting the Senior Buyer as needed. Under general direction, the employee provides technical buyer information and facilitates purchasing of both goods and services to all District units. Public contact is extensive, primarily involving District and College staff at all levels and outside vendors for the purpose of exchanging product, procedural, timeline and workflow information. A moderate to high degree of independent judgment and creativity are required to select and apply appropriate policies and procedures to the resolution of frequent minor and occasional major problems that arise. Consequences of errors in judgment can be costly in terms of District resources, employee time, and in public relations; however, supervisory controls limit the risk of serious errors. This position can direct the work of other staff and student assistants as assigned.
Duties and Responsibilities The duties below are representative of the duties of the classification and are not intended to cover all of the duties performed by the incumbent(s) of any particular position. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the scope of work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to this classification.
- Exchanges information with District and College staff, vendors, contractors, businesses and community organizations, as well as educational and government institutions regarding purchasing policies and procedures, assistance with vendor selections, pricing, shipping, returns, invoicing, bid timelines, and item specifications
- Serves as a liaison between the Colleges and District Office relative to purchasing procedures and policies
- Attends professional development related meetings, workshops, and other events to stay current on public procurement code and District policies and procedures. Occasional mandatory participation in select professional development conferences requiring travel outside the Bay Area. Willingness to pursue professional certifications in the procurement field
- Assists with presentations to College and District staff regarding purchasing policies, processes, and timelines and confers with supervisor and co-workers to improve customer service to the colleges
- Uses a variety of computer software to produce and archive documents created by the purchasing process and to perform administrative tasks, such as scheduling meetings and arranging meeting logistics
- Under direction, may administer district-wide procurement related tools, such as procurement cards, gasoline cards, contract management software
- Research and document vendor information
- Compose or review a variety of correspondence, memoranda, announcements, reports, and other written materials as assigned
- Reviews requisitions for accurate item description, quantity, tax, vendor, and compliance with purchasing policies
- Confers with College and District Office staff to correct missing or inadequate information
- Assists Senior Buyer with day-to-day purchasing functions as needed
- Obtains competitive quotes, receives, checks and tabulates results of quotes; interviews, confers, and corresponds with vendors and contractors regarding goods and services in conjunction with management and other staff; assists with planning timelines, staffing needs, procedures, and materials for bidding and other projects
- Establishes and maintains an online and manual library of vendor resources and information
- Performs other related duties as assigned
Minimum Qualifications
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Physical Requirements This classification requires visual comparison and acuity; attention to details; multi-tasking and work under deadline pressure; analysis and interpretation of data; tact, patience and sensitivity; possession of a valid California Driver’s License and the ability to drive a motor vehicle to off-site locations in order to perform the essential functions, flexibility and adaptability to change; use of keyboard for extended periods of time, pushing, pulling, reaching, moving objects of moderate weight.
Preferred Qualifications Benefits Benefits include paid holidays, vacation and sick leave. The District pays all or a portion of monthly medical plan premiums (depending on the coverage) and pays all of the monthly dental and vision plan premiums for employees and eligible dependents. Additional paid benefits include life insurance, salary continuance insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program. Classified employees participate in the Public Employees’ Retirement System, a defined-benefit retirement plan through the State of California. Optional tax-deferred (b) and retirement plans are also available.
Posting Detail Information Open Date 03 / 07 / First Review Date 03 / 28 / Close Date Open Until Filled Yes Special Instructions Summary Required Application Materials All applicants are required to submit :
1. A completed online District application form (go to to complete the application and to apply for this position).
2. A resume that details all relevant education, training, and other work experience.
3. A cover letter of no more than 3 pages that addresses the applicant’s cultural competence, sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, ethnic, neurodivergent, and LGBTQIA backgrounds of community college students, faculty and staff as well as the applicant’s qualifications as they relate to the requirements, knowledge, skills, and abilities listed in this announcement.
Candidates for interview will be selected from among those who most closely meet the requirements and knowledge, skills and abilities. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an interview. As part of the interview process, candidates may be asked to demonstrate job-related knowledge and skills.
For questions related to this posting, please contact :
SMCCCD Office of Human Resources
CSM Drive
San Mateo, CA
Tel. : -
Fax : -
Email : Web Page :
Conditions of Employment Prior to employment, the selected candidate will be required to complete the following :
1. Submit official transcripts (applies to all faculty or educational administrative positions)
2. Submit verifications of prior employment
3. Satisfactory references
4. Successfully being cleared for employment through the background checking process
In addition to background checks, the District may review publicly available information about a candidate on the Internet. If a candidate is aware of incorrect or inaccurate information that is available on the Internet, the candidate is welcome to address such an issue with the Office of Human Resources.
5. Present original documents for proof of eligibility to work in the United States
6. Approval of your employment by the SMCCCD Board of Trustees
7. Provide a certificate of Tuberculosis exam for initial employment.
8. Have fingerprints taken by a Live Scan computer (Clearance must be received prior to first day of employment). Please note that the California Education Code requires, in part, that community college districts shall not employ or retain in employment persons in public school service who have been convicted of certain felonies, a misdemeanor drug charge (including alcohol offenses) or misdemeanor moral turpitude (sexual offense) crime. However, consideration may be given to those whose drug convictions occurred more than five years ago. A conviction for other crimes may not necessarily disqualify you from the job for which you may be applying.
Salary : $85