Purchasing Agent - DOC Central Office

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Lemoyne (Cumberland County); Hybrid; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is seeking a Purchasing Agent for the Central Office to support essential procurement operations across the Department of Corrections. You will handle purchasing requests, process orders, and maintain accurate records while ensuring compliance with procurement standards.

Responsibilities include staff guidance, P-Card usage, bid preparation, vendor coordination, contract monitoring, and system support in SAP, SRM, and APR.

Qualifications

• Three years of purchasing experience with vendors or equivalent
• Experience in requisitioning, receiving, storing, and distributing inventory
• CJIS compliance knowledge or willingness to obtain

Responsibilities

• Provide guidance on proper purchasing methods and maintain procurement records
• Make purchases with the Commonwealth purchasing card and prepare documents for monthly reconciliation
• Evaluate purchase requests, research suppliers, and prepare bids and purchase orders
• Collaborate with staff, vendors, and agencies to resolve purchasing questions and discrepancies
• Track contract status, initiate renewals, and prepare amendments and liquidations
• Assist staff by entering tickets and resolving issues in SAP, SRM, and APR systems

Skills

Vendor interaction

Procurement processes

Inventory management

Bid analysis

Tools

SAP

SRM

APR

Job description

Are you ready to help keep essential purchasing operations running smoothly across the Department of Corrections (DOC)? Become a Purchasing Agent for the Central Office and play a key part in supporting agency-wide operations and procurement needs. This role gives you the chance to work with purchasing systems, review requests, and help secure important supplies and services. Your attention to detail will help ensure smooth operations across the agency.

This position supports purchasing functions by reviewing requests, processing orders, and maintaining accurate procurement records. As a Purchasing Agent, you will perform the following duties:

• Staff Guidance:Provide instruction on proper purchasing methods and maintain accurate procurement documentation
• P-Card Management:Make purchases with the Commonwealth purchasing card and prepare documents for monthly reconciliation
• Request Review:Evaluate purchase requests, research suppliers, and prepare required bids and purchase orders
• Issue Resolution:Work with staff, vendors, and supporting agencies to resolve purchasing questions and discrepancies
• Contract Monitoring:Track contract status, initiate renewals when needed, and prepare amendments and liquidations
• System Support:Assist field staff by entering tickets and helping resolve issues in SAP, Supplier Relationship Management (SRM), and agency purchase request (APR) systems

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

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment, 37.5 hours/week
• Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 30-minute lunch.
• Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) part-time, up to 3 days per week. In order to telework, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania. If you are unable to telework, you will have the option to report to the headquarters office in Mechanicsburg. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time. Additional details may be provided during the interview
• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
• 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.

Legal Requirements:

• You must pass a background investigation and meet Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) compliance requirements.

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.