Purchasing Agent

Commonwealth-of-Pennsylvania; Lehighton (Carbon County); On-site; USD 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is seeking a Purchasing Agent for the Department of Transportation, Carbon County Maintenance Organization to secure materials and coordinate vendor services for daily transportation operations. The role emphasizes accuracy, organization, and timely recordkeeping; duties include purchasing, inventory monitoring, bid coordination, vendor communication, and storeroom oversight.

Typical schedule is 7:00 AM–3:00 PM, Monday–Friday, with potential overtime; starting salary

Qualifications

• Three years of experience in purchasing work involving contact with vendors in the procurement of a variety of supplies, materials, equipment, or services.
• Three years of experience in requisitioning, receiving, storing, distributing, and maintaining inventory of goods.
• An equivalent combination of experience and training. Post-high school education may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for purchasing or stores experience to a maximum of two years.

Responsibilities

• Purchasing activities: Process purchasing requests in accordance with statewide contracts and policies.
• Bid coordination: Prepare bid documents, review submissions, check vendor compliance, and recommend award decisions.
• Inventory monitoring: Verify inventory levels, track stock usage, and maintain records for tools, supplies, and consumables.
• Vendor communication: Work with vendors to resolve performance issues, confirm service details, and initiate timely payments.
• Record maintenance: Maintain purchasing records, inventory data, and compliance documentation using SAP and related systems.
• Storeroom oversight: Receive, organize, and distribute parts and supplies while keeping storage areas clean and orderly.

Skills

Purchasing

Vendor communication

Inventory management

Record maintenance

Tools

SAP

Microsoft 365

Job description

NOTE: This posting will close on SEPTEMBER 10, 2026 or after a total of 25 applications are received, whichever occurs first.

Join the Department of Transportation, Carbon County Maintenance Organization as a Purchasing Agent and help keep essential operations running smoothly. This role allows you to support daily maintenance activities by securing needed materials and coordinating vendor services. Your efforts will ensure that the county has the supplies required for safe and effective transportation work. Take pride in a position where accuracy and organization help strengthen the community.

This position focuses on purchasing materials, managing inventory, and supporting the daily needs of county maintenance operations. The role ensures that supplies, tools, and equipment are available, organized, and properly documented. As a Purchasing Agent, you will perform the following duties:

• Purchasing Activities: Process purchasing requests for materials, tools, services, and equipment in accordance with statewide contracts and policies
• Bid Coordination: Prepare bid documents, review submissions, check vendor compliance, and recommend award decisions
• Inventory Monitoring: Verify inventory levels, track stock usage, and maintain accurate records for tools, supplies, and consumables
• Vendor Communication: Work with vendors to resolve performance issues, confirm service details, and initiate timely payments
• Record Maintenance: Maintain purchasing records, inventory data, and compliance documentation using SAP and related systems
• Storeroom Oversight: Receive, organize, and distribute parts and supplies while keeping storage areas clean and orderly

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment
• Work hours are 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 30-minute lunch.
• Overtime and shift work required. Work hours subject to change based on seasonal requirements and operational needs.
• Telework: You will not have the option to telework in this position.
• Salary: Selected candidates who are new to employment with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will begin employment at the starting annual salary of $46,827 (before taxes).
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• Three years of experience in purchasing work involving contact with vendors in the procurement of a variety of supplies, materials, equipment, or services; or
• Three years of experience in requisitioning, receiving, storing, distributing, and maintaining inventory of goods; or
• An equivalent combination of experience and training. Post-high school education may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for purchasing or stores experience to a maximum of two years.

Additional Requirements:

• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Preferred Qualifications (not required):

• Experience working with SAP (Systems, Applications & Products) for purchasing
• One year of moderately complex clerical experience with Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, Outlook, TEAMS)
• One year of experience sorting, filing, and retrieving documents using a specific system to keep them organized and to be able to retrieve documents/files as needed
• Two years of experience requisitioning, storing, and retrieving materials or supplies using a specific system to keep them organized and to be able to order or disperse unique items as needed
• Two years of customer service dealing with inquiries from the general public
• Two years of contract or bid preparation and execution for goods and/ or services

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.