Procurement Buyer - Orange County

THE OPPORTUNITY
The Procurement Buyer will be responsible for procurement assignments for County departments. Within their role, the Procurement Buyer must follow County policies for all procurement activities, including but not limited to, conducting solicitations, negotiating contracts, contract award and managing contracts. This position will work with all levels of staff, including County Counsel, Risk Management, and the Orange County Board of Supervisors, as required. This position performs procurement and contracting assignments, selects and manages the appropriate solicitation process, and prepares documents for i.e., Invitation for Bid (IFB), Request for Qualifications (RFQ), Request for Information (RFI), or Request for Proposal (RFP).
 
Click here for more information about the County of Orange.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & CORE COMPETENCIES
The ideal candidate will possess two (2) or more years of experience in public or private contract and/or procurement administration and practices. In addition to the minimum qualifications, the successful candidate will possess the following core competencies, knowledge, and/or job experience.

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE

• Demonstrating knowledge and direct experience in the principles, ethics, and practices of procurement and/or contracts. 
• Demonstrating general knowledge or ability to comprehend applicable law and Government Codes. 
• Reviewing bids to ensure compliance with specifications, assessing pricing appropriateness, and evaluating acceptability based on specified quality standards. Understanding and the ability to apply principles of business and/or public administration. 
• Preparing and analyzing of contract and/or solicitation specifications and/or scopes of work.
• Negotiating and executing contracts for which competitive bidding is not required/appropriate.
• Determining the appropriate methods of solicitations and contract type based on the various customer and/or stakeholder's needs.
• Conducting solicitations, negotiating contracts, administering contracts, and obtaining the appropriate levels of approval.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

• Communicating and interacting with the public and County personnel of all levels, and the ability to perform in stressful situations requiring negotiations.
• Establishing positive working relationships with vendors, customers, and stakeholders.
• Handling conflict with verbal and nonverbal communication.
• Collaborating in a team environment with, empathy, listening, and a positive attitude.

ANALYTICAL SKILLS | PROBLEM-SOLVING

• Collecting, analyzing, and utilizing data appropriately.  
• Researching various topics as needed (i.e existing contracts, the scope of work samples, etc). 
• Interpreting policy, local laws, ordinances, and state and federal procurement regulations. 
• Taking initiative, working autonomously, applying creative solutions, and using good judgment when making decisions.

PLEASE NOTE: The competencies listed above will be used to select the ideal candidate. Your application and answers to the supplemental questions should be descriptive, and concise and highlight the areas you have developed expertise, matching your professional experience with the specific competencies listed above.

License and Certification
A valid California Class C Driver's License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT 
Please note Deputy Purchasing Agent certification must be obtained within 12 months of employment.
 
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Please clickhereto view the minimum qualifications as well as the physical, mental, environmental & working conditions for the classification. NOTE: Foreign degrees require an evaluation of U.S. equivalency by an agency that is a member of theNational Association of Credential Services (N.A.C.E.S.).

RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Human Resource Services (HRS) will screen all application materials to identify qualified applicants. After the screening, qualified applicants will be referred to the next step and notified of all further procedures applicable to their status in the recruitment.
   
Application Screening 
Applications and supplemental responses will be screened for qualifications that are highly desirable and most needed to successfully perform the duties of this job. Only those applicants that meet the qualifications as listed in the job bulletin will be referred to the next step.

Application Appraisal Panel | AAP (Weighted 100%)
An Application Appraisal Panel (AAP) of job knowledge experts will thoroughly screen and evaluate the application, supplemental questionnaire, and resumes for job knowledge, competencies, and related experience described above. Only the most qualified applicants will move forward to the next step in the recruitment.
 
Based on the Department's needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedure. Completion of a background investigation to the satisfaction of the County may be required for some assignments.
 
Eligible List 
Once the assessment has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.

Veterans Employment Preference
The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please clickhereto review the policy.