Buyer III

CapMetro; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

CapMetro in Austin, TX is seeking a Buyer III to manage high-volume procurement of supplies, equipment, services and construction, using formal and informal solicitation methods and leveraging state/federal cooperative contracts. You will assist in managing the P-Card program and ensure compliance with purchasing policies.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree in purchasing or related field, 3+ years public procurement experience, CPM/CPPO preferred, and strong MS Office skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in purchasing, business, or related field; experience substituted year-for-year up to four years.
• Public procurement experience including formal and informal methods; three years in contract administration.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, Teams).

Responsibilities

• Provide advisory and technical support across procurement activities including purchase orders, RFQ/RFP and cooperative contracts.
• Train project managers and staff on policies, ensuring compliance and best practices.
• Receive, examine, and process requisitions; draft informal and formal solicitations and manage contracts.
• Oversee Purchase Card program, reporting, and vendor management; ensure proper documentation.

Skills

Procurement knowledge

Analytical abilities

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in purchasing, business or related field

CPM / CPPO certification preferred or ability to obtain within 1 year

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR

The Buyer III reports directly to the Manager, Small Purchasing & Investment Recovery. This position is responsible for the purchase of supplies, equipment, services and construction through formal and informal solicitation methods in accordance with public purchasing policy and procedures. Purchases are high-volume, low to high-dollar and low to high risk. This position is also responsible for utilizing state and federal cooperative contracts and assist in the management of the Authority’s Purchase Card (P-Card) program.

Job Description

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR

The Buyer III reports directly to the Manager, Small Purchasing & Investment Recovery. This position is responsible for the purchase of supplies, equipment, services and construction through formal and informal solicitation methods in accordance with public purchasing policy and procedures. Purchases are high-volume, low to high-dollar and low to high risk. This position is also responsible for utilizing state and federal cooperative contracts and assist in the management of the Authority’s Purchase Card (P-Card) program.

Responsibilities

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

Note: The duties and primary responsibilities below are intended to describe the general content of and requirements of this job and are not intended to be an exhaustive statement of duties.

Department Liaison & Support

• Perform advisory and technical support services to department customers on variety of procurement activities including delivery orders; purchase orders; informal source selection processes; all formal source selection processes; construction and construction-related professional services; master agreements; order monitoring; participating under and leading cooperative contracts; parts and inventory management; and category management.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for all departments by addressing inquiries, researching issues, and offering guidance to ensure departmental needs are met efficiently.

Training & Compliance

• Train Project Managers, and Requestors on policies, procedures, and compliance requirements. Provide mentoring and guidance to procurement staff to maintain best practices.

Procurement & Solicitation Management

• Receive, examine, and process requisitions for routine and priority goods, services, and construction. Prepare informal solicitations (Micro and RFQ) and formal solicitations (IFB, RFP, SOQ) in compliance with applicable rules and regulations. Utilize cooperative contracts such as DIR, TXMAS, BuyBoard, H-GAC, and GSA to purchase goods, services, and construction

Contract Development & Administration

• Draft contractual terms for various contract types (fixed price, variable quantity, cost-reimbursable). Create purchase agreements, purchase orders, blanket agreements, and variable quantity contracts. Administer contracts and purchase orders ensuring requirements are being met. Complete modifications when required and perform close-out activities, ensuring compliance and proper documentation.

Vendor & Pricing Analysis

• Analyze bids for responsiveness, conduct oral discussions, responsibility surveys, and perform price and cost analysis to determine award suitability. Assist requisitioners and buyers with purchase descriptions and justification memos. Resolve vendor disputes, evaluate vendor performance, and maintain awareness of market conditions and pricing trends.

Program Oversight & Documentation

• Assist in managing the Purchase Card (P-Card) program, including training, transaction review, compliance checks, reporting, and misuse documentation. Update departmental desktop procedures and vendor guides regularly.

Community Engagement

• Represent the procurement department at local community outreach activities and events to foster relationships and promote organizational initiatives.
• Support Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Safety Management Systems (SMS) process by following safety and security policies, considering safety in every action and reporting safety and security concerns.
• Performs other duties as required and/or assigned.

Qualifications

WHAT YOU BRING

• Bachelor’s degree in purchasing, business or related field. Related experience will be substituted on a year-for-year basis up to four (4) years.
• CPM, CPPO or similar certification preferred or ability to obtain within 1 year.
• Six (6) years’ experience in the procurement field including three (3) years using formal and informal methods and contract administration, two (2) of which must be in a public setting.
• Proficiency using Microsoft Officer Suite including Word, Power Point, Excel, Outlook and Teams, or similar software.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Knowledge of public purchasing methods and procedures. Familiarity with the Federal Transit Administration’s Circular 4220.1F and Chapter 451 of the Texas Transportation Code preferred.
• Ability to compile and analyze data and make complex estimations and projections.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and to use tact and diplomacy when working with internal customers and vendors.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely in writing and orally and to produce documents using proper sentence structure, grammar and punctuation.
• Ability to maintain fiduciary obligation when handling materials and information of a confidential nature.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Work is generally performed in an office environment in which there is only minimal exposure to unpleasant and/or hazardous working conditions. This position works with multiple project timelines and is responsible for managing employees performing work of a complex nature.

Incumbent must have the ability to stand and sit frequently throughout an eight-hour period, reach vertically for overhead use as well as horizontally. Must be able to use a telephone or headset equipment.

Incumbents must be able to lift and move material weighing up to 20 lbs., perform work at a computer terminal for 6-8 hours a day, and function in an environment with constant interruptions.

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disability to perform the essential functions as previously described.

WORK AUTHORIZATION

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. All applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States.

Mobility Status

As a Remote position, your primary workplace is your home or another location in the state of Texas. The incumbent is expected to work in the office as needed and must have the ability to respond to a CapMetro facility within 24 hours if business needs require. Must be in-office for socialization, strategic collaboration, supervision, oversight, and accountability as needed. Mobility status is subject to change at any time based on business needs or organizational decisions.

COMMITMENT TO EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

CapMetro is an equal employment opportunity employer and committed to creating a welcoming environment for all employees. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, pregnancy, age, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. CapMetro makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and organization needs at the time.

SECURITY SENSITIVE POSITION

This position has been identified as a “Security Sensitive” position. CapMetro will conduct annual background checks on incumbents in this position. A position is “Security Sensitive” if the incumbent handles currency, has access to sensitive computerized databases, has access to master keys, or works in an area of the CapMetro that has been designated as a security-sensitive area.