Parts & Supply Clerk

City of Salem; Salem (OR); On-site; USD 42,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid vacation

Sick time

PERS contribution

457b plan

FSAs

Wellness program

Employee assistance program

Employee health clinic

Job summary

City of Salem's Public Works department seeks a Parts & Supply Clerk to ensure crews have the tools, parts, and supplies needed to keep Salem safe and healthy.

You will gain hands-on experience with buying supplies, following state rules, managing a busy warehouse, and using modern computer systems while contributing to safer, more efficient operations.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED required; relevant purchasing experience preferred.
• Forklift certification or ability to obtain within 6 months.
• Experience with inventory management or purchasing is preferred.
• Familiarity with city/state purchasing rules is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Help city staff at the counter by giving out tools, parts, uniforms, and equipment.
• Buy supplies following city and state rules, prepare bid requests, process orders, and check with vendors about late shipments or billing issues.
• Unload, check, and label incoming deliveries using forklifts, pallet jacks, or other equipment.
• Keep inventory accurate by counting stock and tracking items in computer systems.
• Keep the warehouse, shop, and yard clean, safe, and organized; attend safety meetings.

Skills

Inventory management

Customer service

Communication

Teamwork

Education

High School diploma or GED

Tools

Forklift certification

Inventory software

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Job description

Make an impact:

Join the City of Salem Public Works team and help the crews and departments that keep our community running! As a Parts & Supply Clerk, you will make sure that public works, emergency teams, and city operations have the tools, parts, and supplies they need to keep Salem safe and healthy.

Learn and grow:

You will get hands‑on experience with buying supplies, following state rules, managing a busy warehouse, and keeping track of inventory. You will learn to use modern computer systems, understand many different city supplies, and share ideas to make the workplace safer and more efficient.

What you will do:

• Help city staff at the counter by giving out tools, parts, uniforms, and equipment.
• Buy supplies following city and state rules, prepare bid requests, process orders, and check with vendors about late shipments or billing issues.
• Unload, check, and label incoming deliveries using forklifts, pallet jacks, or other equipment.
• Keep inventory accurate by counting stock on a regular basis, investigating differences, and tracking items in computer systems.
• Keep the warehouse, shop, and yard clean, safe, and organized, and join regular safety meetings.
• Adjust quickly to changing priorities, especially when working alone or during emergencies, to make sure important materials get where they are needed.

Additional information on job responsibilities:

This job is fast‑paced, physical, and busy, with two people working in the warehouse. You will switch often between helping customers, buying supplies, and handling deliveries. Being flexible, calm, and able to manage many tasks each day is very important.

What can we offer you for all your hard work?

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family.

• Paid vacation and sick time in accordance with City policies.

• Competitive pay.

• Employer‑paid PERS contribution of 6%.

• Opportunity for voluntary pre‑tax contributions to a 457b account.

• Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts.

• Voluntary long‑term care.

• Employee wellness program.

• Employee assistance program.

• Employee health clinic.

Position schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM In person (or standard full‑time operational hours as designated by department needs). This job is in‑person only / no remote work.

What are the minimum qualifications?

• Must pass the pre‑employment background check
• Must have an Oregon Driver's license and meet the City of Salem's driving standards
• Must pass the pre‑employment physical exam
• High School diploma or GED, and responsible automotive parts and supply clerk experience with purchasing responsibility, OR any satisfactory equivalent combination of education, training, and/or experience relevant to the position.
• Forklift certified or the ability to obtain certification within six months.
• Some college coursework in inventory management or purchasing and ASE Parts Specialist certification are preferred.

What you will bring along:

• Experience using inventory software, entering data, and Microsoft Office programs like Excel and Word.
• Good customer service, communication, and teamwork skills to work well with city staff, delivery drivers, and suppliers.
• Ability to stay calm and handle many tasks at once in a busy workplace with lots of interruptions.
• Willingness and ability to quickly learn city buying rules, state bidding laws, and common public works supplies like construction materials, cleaning products, chemicals, and safety gear.
• Skill in using equipment like forklifts, pallet jacks, hand trucks, or other yard machines.
• Strong commitment to Public Works values: Employees, Collaboration, Stewardship, Interaction, Proactivity, Innovation, and Service.

About us:

Salem is the second largest city in Oregon and the capital city. Centrally located in the Willamette Valley, Salem is 49 square miles in size and extends across to counties, Marion and Polk. The community has well‑established neighborhoods and carefully preserved historic buildings with wide diversity and a family‑friendly ambiance. The city is home to nearly 180,000 residents. For a full community profile detailing demographics and housing statistics, visit the City of Salem website.

The City of Salem organization has eight primary departments: Community Services, Finance, Fire, Enterprise Services, Legal, Police, Public Works, and Community Planning and Development. Several departments also have functional divisions within their department. The City of Salem employs roughly 1,350 talented and dedicated staff members and works collaboratively with five labor unions.

The Salem Police Department is the fourth largest agency in Oregon. We are a full‑service department with myriad special teams and career advancement opportunities. In November 2020, the department moved into a modern 104,000‑square‑foot facility with many amenities for employees, featuring purposeful efficiency design for operations and amenities that promote employee wellness.

The Public Works Department values employees and their professional development. If you are someone that takes pride in collaborating on innovative ideas, proactively responding to community needs, and being a good environmental and financial steward, we look forward to meeting you! The Public Works Department promotes a healthy work life balance, while maintaining the utmost dedication to the health, safety, and welfare of our community, including our team!

The Urban Renewal Agency and the Salem Housing Authority are separate municipal corporations. The Agency contracts with the City for services and the Authority is led by the Housing Administrator within the Urban Development department.