Purchasing Agent

**INTRODUCTION**:
The Purchasing Department is the division of the City of Racine that's responsible for acquiring the goods and services required to operate.

**POSITION PURPOSE**:
Under supervision of the Assistant Finance Director, performs professional work of advanced difficulty in the technical and administrative functions of the purchasing activities of the government, including purchasing and contract administration. This position is responsible for the procurement of equipment, supplies, professional services and construction that are to be conducted in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws, ordinances, rules and regulations.

**Essential Duties**:
**ESSENTIAL DUTIES**:

- This position is responsible for procuring or coordinating the procurement of services, professional services, equipment, goods, materials and supplies as required by various departments in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local laws, policies and procedures
- Prepare highly technical and complex specifications, contracts and solicitation documents, including all related research and value analysis.
- Prepare and analyze competitive sealed bids, competitive sealed proposals, requests for quotations and requests for statements of qualifications.
- Identify and notify potential sources for procurement.
- Conduct pre-bid and pre-proposal conferences, as requested.
- Coordinate and supervise activities of evaluation committees.
- Recommend lowest responsive, responsible bidder on IFB's, most advantageous offer on RFP's and most qualified for professional services.
- Edit requisitions and confer with departments regarding requirements, specifications, quantity, quality and delivery. Recommend alternatives that would result in greater value.
- Confer with consultants, contractors and suppliers in order to acquaint them with procurement policies and procedures and to obtain information on required products and services.
- Negotiate with consultants and contractors regarding specifications, scope of work, prices, terms and conditions.
- Perform contract administration, including liaison between suppliers and departments, compliance with contract terms and conditions, compliance with grant requirements, negotiation of contract amendments, extensions and change orders. Analyze cost and price data from vendors. Perform contract audits when required.
- Review and execute contracts, purchase orders, change orders and other documents within delegated authority.
- Maintain the integrity of the public procurement process.
- Analyze current procurement activities and recommend improvements through more efficient procurement methods, e-procurement, privatization, quantity discounts, standardization, value analysis or cooperative purchasing.
- Provide guidance and assistance to other employees, as required.
- Research market sources and suppliers to locate and ensure most cost effective and competitive pricing for the purchase of supplies and services.
- Provide accurate, complete and up-to-date information to departments in a courteous, efficient and timely manner.
- Effectively communicate purchasing policies and procedures to all personnel and interpret said policies and procedures as necessary.
- Administer procurement card program along with other hierarchy type accounts to serve user departments.
- Prepare and maintain accurate records and documentation on all solicitations, responses, purchases, contracts, correspondence and related follow-up.
- Provide administrative oversight of the Racine Works Program, including education, contract performance review, and managing the contractual relationship with designated certification agency.
- Perform other related duties as required.

**ENVIRONMENTAL**/**WORKING CONDITIONS OF THE POSITION**:
Normal office environment with some exposure to outdoor environmental conditions.

**Qualifications**:
**MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS**:
**Education and Training**:Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Business or Public Administration, Business Law, Finance, Purchasing, or closely related field.

**Work Related Experience**:Preferably three (3) years progressively responsible experience in purchasing.

**Desired Certifications**:Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) or equivalent certifications, or the ability to obtain the CPPB within three (3) years of hire.

**KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES**:

- Considerable knowledge of business practices related to purchasing.
- Considerable knowledge of contract documents, solicitation methods and contract administration related to procurement
- Good knowledge of laws, policies and procedures governing public procurement.
- Good knowledge of contract law.
- Good knowledge of mathematics to perform computations and collect statistics for basic cost and price analysis.
- Good knowledge of infrastructure project delivery methods, including design-bid-build, design
- build, construction manager-at-risk, and job ord