BUYER

Knox County; Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Knox County Government seeks a Procurement professional to manage the process of acquiring goods and services. You will handle requisitions, RFIs, RFQs, and bid evaluations to ensure best value and regulatory compliance.

The role involves vendor negotiations, contract awards, and maintaining documents for extensions and renewals. You will also perform market research, forecast spending trends, and provide strong customer service to internal stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Requires High School diploma or GED; associates in business preferred.
• Minimum 2 years buying experience.
• CPPB certification required per procurement guidelines.
• Equivalent combinations of education, training and experience may be considered.]
• Excellent organizational, negotiation and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Process purchase requisitions and ensure compliance with laws and policies.
• Identify opportunities to use the electronic procurement card to reduce costs.
• Prepare and issue Invitations for Bid and Requests for Proposals.
• Negotiate pricing and bid renewals, evaluate bids and select Best Value.
• Award contracts and verify insurer solvency and bond requirements.
• Maintain contract docs per regulations and manage extensions/renewals.
• Conduct market/product research and meet with vendors/end-users for insights.
• Create spreadsheets from historical data to forecast spending trends.
• Provide customer service and direct inquiries to appropriate divisions.
• Participate in emergency response reporting as needed.
• Maintain regular attendance and perform other duties as required.

Skills

Microsoft Office

Organizational skills

Negotiation skills

Analytical and problem solving

Active listening

Teamwork

Education

High School diploma or GED

Associates degree in business (preferred)

CPPB certification

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

The purpose of this classification is to perform professional and administrative duties in the process of acquiring goods and services for Knox County.

Essential Functions

• Processes purchase requisitions and ensures compliance with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures
• Identifies opportunities to utilize the electronic commerce card for purchases to reduce processing expenses and reconciles charges to the card on a monthly basis
• Formulates and prepares and Invitations for Bid and Requests for Proposals for all types of contracts
• Negotiates contract pricing and term bid renewals
• Evaluates bids and proposals to determine “Best Value”
• Evaluates proposal responses, pricing data, scope of services and contract terms
• Awards contract to successful vendors
• Negotiates contract pricing and term bid renewals.
• Reviews insurance, bid bonds, performance and payment bonds to ensure and verify financial viability and solvency of insurers and sureties
• Ensures that contact documents are maintained with County Procurement regulations, including contract extensions, renewals and modifications
• Performs market research and/or product research as needed
• Meets with vendors and end-users to gather information concerning product, price, vendor capacity, vendor performance and compliance and delivery.
• Creates spreadsheets from historical data regarding spending trends. Interprets trends to aid in forecasting.
• Provides a wide variety of customer service-related functions such as answering telephones, responding to questions regarding policies and procedures, and refers individuals to appropriate divisions of Knox County Government
• Respond to and report immediately if called upon by local, regional or central office supervisors, as part of a coordinated emergency response by the Knox County Mayor’s Office
• Ensure regular, punctual attendance during scheduled work hours
• Performs other duties as required

Minimum Training & Qualifications

• High School diploma/GED required; Associates degree with business concentration preferred.
• Minimum of two (2) years’ buying experience,
• Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) certification is required per the guidelines of the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council
• Any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered for employment into the position.

Specialized Knowledge

• N/A
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite
• Excellent organizational skills
• Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communicator and active listener
• Ability to work in a position of moderate complexity
• Proficient is use of computers, printers and other office equipment
• Ability to focus and demonstrate great attention to detail
• Ability to work cooperatively as a member of a team

Physical Requirements

• This position requires the ability to engage in occasional light physical activity.
• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time working on a computer
• N/A

Knox County Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Knox County Government may provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.