Job Category: Exempt

PCLS: 30090

Salary Grade: G

Summary

Incumbents in the Buyer series procure equipment, supplies, goods, and services for assigned departments and in accordance with University guidelines as well as state and federal procurement laws. Incumbents review requisitions and bid specifications and negotiate purchase agreements or supply contracts.  

Distinguishing Characteristics 

The Buyer III is distinguished from the Buyer II in that incumbents in the III level have the knowledge and experience to perform more complex duties in a larger department or across multiple departments. 

Reporting and Supervisory Responsibilities

The Buyer III reports to a Manager or Director.  This classification may train, lead, and supervise staff and/or student employees. 

Essential Functions

1. Prepares all aspects of simple bids, requests for quotes, and proposals, including precise specifications, supporting spreadsheets, comparisons, recommendations, and justifications; issues purchase orders. 
2. Seeks new sources for supplies, goods, and materials and secures terms favorable to the university. 
3. Maintains records of supplies; amounts ordered and received; and actual sales records on items and vendors. 
4. Identifies and selects suppliers; conducts procurement processes; and negotiates prices, terms and delivery methods. 
5. Meets with sales representatives to develop new vendor sources, updates records, and secures demos. 
6. Interacts with vendors regarding procurement procedures and status of orders. 
7. Reviews, approves, and processes purchasing requests. 
8. Maintains inventories. 
9. Maintains and updates product catalogs, vendor files, and price lists. 
10. May lead, guide, and train staff/student employees. 
11. Maintains relationships with vendors and University departments. 
12. Ensures the efficient flow of purchase orders, sales, marketing strategies, training, cash handling, and customer service. 
13. May attend trade shows.  
14. Ensures the overall daily operations of assigned area are in accordance with the budget, work plan, policies, and procedures.  
15. May manage the department’s e-commerce. 
16. Prepares yearly budgets, supporting work plans, reports and analysis, and coordinates physical inventories. 
17. Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Ability to resolve complaints and concerns. 
2. Records maintenance skills. 
3. Ability to analyze purchasing requests/orders for compliance with institutional procedures. 
4. Ability to evaluate procurement bids in accordance with established criteria. 
5. Ability to analyze and solve problems. 
6. Ability to prepare bids, requests for quotes, and proposals in compliance with University policies. 
7. Ability to complete administrative paperwork. 
8. Knowledge of cost analysis techniques. 
9. Knowledge of contract law. 
10. Negotiating skills. 
11. Ability to achieve sales, gross margin, and turn-over objectives. 
12. Ability to train and motivate employees for performance. 
13. Knowledge of USU policies and procedures and ability to monitor compliance. 

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree plus a minimum of four years of experience is required. 

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes.  The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.  

Disclaimer

This position description indicates the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive list of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to the position.