Purchasing Agent II

Commonwealth of Kentucky; Frankfort (KY); On-site; USD 45,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

The Commonwealth of Kentucky Education & Labor Cabinet, Office of the Secretary, is seeking a qualified Purchasing Agent II in Frankfort. This full-time executive branch role manages contracts, procurement planning, and vendor negotiations within the Division of Fiscal Management.

Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree and at least five years’ purchasing experience. Based in Franklin County, this position requires adherence to state regulations, coordination with OPS on master agreements, and

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree required.
• Five years of purchasing experience.
• Substitute education for experience options available per policy.

Responsibilities

• Establishes and monitors contracts, PSCs, and MOAs per KRS45A.
• Develops RFPs and issues proposals to vendors.
• Creates and manages POs/Delivery Orders for services and commodities.
• Interprets regulations and assists with procurement planning.
• Liaises with executives and other offices on procurement issues.
• Ensures compliance with federal and state procurement laws.

Skills

Purchasing experience

Excel

Communication

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Excel

Job description

Purchasing Agent II

Advertisement Closes: 9/28/2026 (11:59 PM ET)

Pay Grade: 15

Salary: $4,040.24 - $5,454.32 Monthly

Employment Type: EXECUTIVE BRANCH | FULL TIME | ELIGIBLE FOR OVERTIME PAY | 18A | 37.5 HR/WK

Click here for more details on state employment.

Hiring Agency: Education & Labor Cabinet | Office of the Secretary

Location: 500 Mero Street, 4th Floor, Frankfort, KY 40601 USA

The Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet advances education, workforce development, and economic opportunityacross the Commonwealth. The Cabinet provides education and training programs, employment and reemploymentservices, unemployment insurance, and disability determination services to help Kentuckians gain skills, findwork, and maintain economic stability. It partners with education providers, workforce boards, and employersto align training with labor market needs and oversees labor programs that promote fair and safe workplaces.

Take advantage of this opportunity to join our team and make a difference in Kentucky! We are seeking areliable, self-motivated individual to serve in a full-time role for the employers and employees across theCommonwealth.

This position is in the Office of Administrative Services, working in the Division of Fiscal Management,Procurement Branch as a Purchasing Agent II at the Education and Labor Cabinet. The position will be based inFranklin County.

Job Duties

• Establishes and monitors professional contracts, Memorandum of agreements, and personal service contracts(PSCs) in accordance with KRS45A. Uses the statewide accounting and procurement system develops and issuesrequest for proposals (RFPs) to advertise and request vendors to submit proposals, through execution ofcontract and award.
• Creates requisitions (RQS) to request proposals for complex non-professional services that exceed theagency’s small purchase authority. Interprets, implements, and enforces state purchasing regulations. Developsand leads committees to evaluate vendor solicitation responses by reviewing, analyzing, and ranking againstall other responses.
• Reviews the work of other purchasing staff and works with vendors, other agencies’ purchasing staff andoffers purchasing advice. Responsible for gathering reviewing, developing, and maintaining highly sensitiveand often technical information, records, and reports. Obtains management and legal services involvement asnecessary.
• Researches variances in contract budget versus year end spend and make recommendations for future contractamounts based on results. Serves as liaison between Executive Staff and other offices, agencies, departments,and organizations with respect to procurement issues.
• Researches, reviews, interprets and maintains an advanced knowledge of federal and state statutes and regulations,grant requirements, and procurement policies and procedures and advise management of any changes and/orimplication of proposed legislative changes, and make recommendations to remain in compliance. Providesstrategic planning for long term planning and coordinating future procurement needs.
• Works with OPS on renewing Master Agreements. Creates Purchase Orders (POs) and Delivery Orders (DOs) for non-professional services and commodities.
• Performs other duties as assigned

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities for the selected candidate

• Excellent communication, problem-solving and analytical skills
• Day to day computer skills to include projections and forecasting, fiscal analysis, and ability to see the "big picture".
• Ability to work within a team as well as independently.
• Excel experience (pivot tables, creating formulas, and charts).
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Attention to detail
• Committed to meeting deadlines
• Ability to work volume and changing priorities.

The successful candidate will be required to ensure the safeguarding and security of all confidential and sensitive information and will be required to complete trainings, sign acknowledgements, follow all policies and adhere to all statutes andrequirements pertaining to the safeguarding and security of confidential and sensitive information whileemployed and after employment ends.

The Education and Labor Cabinet (ELC) participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the United States. ELC will only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.

For more information on E-Verify, or if you believe that ELC has violated its E-Verify responsibilities, please contact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at 999-897-7781 or https://www.e-verify.gov/

Minimum Requirements

EDUCATION: Graduate of a college or university with a bachelor's degree.

EXPERIENCE, TRAINING, OR SKILLS: Five years of purchasing experience.

Substitute EDUCATION for EXPERIENCE: NONE

Substitute EXPERIENCE for EDUCATION: Additional experience in purchasing, administrative, accounting, procurement or a related field will substitute for the required education on a year-for-year basis. Certification as a Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) from the Universal Public Certification Council will substitute for one year of the required education. Certification as a NIGP Certified Procurement Professional (NIGP-CPP), or Certification as a Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO) from the Universal Public Certification Council, or Certification as a Certified Grants Management Specialist (CGMS) from the National Grants Management Association will substitute for two years of the required education.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS (AGE, LICENSURE, REGULATION, ETC.):NONE

Working Conditions

Incumbents working in this job title perform duties in an office setting.

Probationary Period

This job has an initial and promotional probationary period of 6 months, except as provided in KRS 18A.111.

If you have questions about this advertisement, please contact Allyson May at [e-mail].

An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D