Principal Buyer - Jefferson County

03/14/2025 Grade 23 Full time Jefferson County is seeking qualified Principal Buyers to manage bid activities for materials, supplies, equipment, and services. This role involves planning, preparing, analyzing, and coordinating procurement for the county and purchasing association member agencies. Principal Buyers assist Buyers and Senior Buyers with large, complex purchases to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. They are also responsible for approving invoice payments, supporting administrative tasks, and maintaining vendor communication and records. Additionally, they assist in preparing the department budget and supervise administrative personnel, including assigning work, monitoring performance, and providing training. This position is distinguished from the Senior Buyer role by the complexity of work and level of signature authority. Agencies provide competitive pay and comprehensive benefits packages to include medical and dental insurance, employer-sponsored retirement plan (pension), generous paid holidays, sick and vacation leave, and more.

Applications for this position will be considered for the following Merit System employing agencies. The pay range for this job varies depending upon the Merit System employing agency.

Jefferson County $56,347 - $87,401

• Experience conducting negotiations with vendors to achieve the best value for commodities and/or services with regard to terms, conditions, and price.
• Experience with contract administration to include resolving disputes and/or performance issues.
• Experience analyzing departmental requests for commodities and/or services and preparing invitations to bid and/or request for proposals.
• Experience analyzing and evaluating product specifications and price variables on requested commodities and/or services and making recommendations to award.

• Associate’s degree or higher in Business Administration, Public Administration, Procurement or a related degree.
• Experience conducting negotiations with vendors to achieve the best value for commodities and/or services with regard to terms, conditions, and price.
• Experience analyzing departmental requests for commodities and/or services and preparing invitations to bid and/or request for proposals.

• Assesses bid proposals and bids, negotiates and awards contracts to appropriate vendor and/or submits bid award contract to appropriate authority.
• Performs administrative duties including maintaining records, producing documentation and responding to inquiries about purchasing policies and procedures in order to complete daily tasks.
• Purchases materials, supplies, equipment, and professional services by preparing product specifications and processing requests for a wide range of products and commodities via quotes, bids and contracts.
• Researches information on potential bidders, product costs, and vendors in order to obtain needed items and/or services from the most appropriate and responsible vendor.
• Reviews invoices to ensure accurate pricing, quantity and items that have been received, resolve discrepancies, and forwards invoices to end users and Accounts Payable.
• Supervises staff by assigning and distributing work, directing staff in their job duties, monitoring progress of work, providing feedback and/or training.

Job is primarily sedentary involving sitting for long periods of time, but may involve occasional walking or standing for brief periods. Work is conducted almost exclusively indoors in an office setting. Work involves use of standard office equipment, such as computer, phone, copier, etc.