Purchasing Manager

City of Bloomington, Indiana; Bloomington (IN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Bloomington, Indiana is seeking a Purchasing Manager to lead procurement strategy and ensure compliant, transparent purchasing practices. You will develop policies, source vendors, manage contracts, and coordinate with departments to optimize costs while maintaining accountability and risk controls across municipal purchasing activities.

This role requires strong negotiation skills, attention to regulatory detail, and the ability to work with diverse stakeholders to support economic

Qualifications

• Minimum associate degree in financial management, operations, or business management or the equivalent knowledge and abilities.
• Preferred three years of experience in the public sector.
• Experience with reviewing and approving purchase orders and contracts for compliance with policies and budget requirements.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement City purchasing policies, procedures, and strategies for transparency and accountability.
• Assist departments in selecting appropriate purchasing methods for goods and services.
• Source goods and services and qualify vendors to meet City needs.
• Review purchasing activities for compliance with City policies and laws.
• Advise on contracts, cooperative purchasing, and other purchasing options.
• Negotiate purchases and establish master agreements to reduce costs.
• Review purchase orders and AP journals for accuracy and compliance.
• Maintain knowledge of procurement regulations and grant requirements.
• Prepare bids, RFPs, and solicitations in compliance with legal/ethical requirements.
• Review City contracts for compliance with purchasing requirements.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Procurement

Negotiation

Vendor management

Budgeting

Compliance

Education

Associates degree in relevant fields

Tools

E-procurement

B2B marketplaces

Job description

The City of Bloomington has an exciting job opportunity as a Purchasing Manager. We invite diverse talent to join our team and help advance our mission focusing on economic vitality, attainable housing, public safety, progress partnerships, inclusion, open government, sustainability, transportation, and quality of place. Come join us and be part of shaping the vibrant future of Bloomington, Indiana.

This job description is illustrative only and is not a comprehensive listing of all job functions performed. The following are essential duties for this position, performed with or without reasonable accommodation:

Primary

• Develop and implement City purchasing policies, procedures, and strategies to ensure compliance, transparency, fairness, and accountability.


• Assist departments in selecting the appropriate purchasing method for goods and services.


• Source goods and services and identify, evaluate, and qualify vendors to meet City needs.


• Review purchasing activities performed by City departments to ensure compliance with City policies and state, federal and local requirements.


• Advise departments on existing City contracts, cooperative purchasing agreements, quantity purchase agreements, Federal GSA Schedules, and other available purchasing options.


• Analyze pricing, total cost of ownership, and quality for goods and services to inform procurement decisions. Assess and qualify all vendors for compliance, responsiveness, responsibility, financial stability, and risk and fraud threats, ensuring that vendor selection aligns with organizational goals and risk management strategies for contract and purchase recommendations.


• Negotiate purchases and establish blanket or master purchase agreements to reduce costs, improve quality, and eliminate duplication.


• Review purchase orders and accounts payable general ledger journals to ensure accuracy and compliance with City policies and applicable laws.


• Maintain knowledge of procurement laws, ordinances, resolutions, grant requirements, and other applicable regulations.


• Prepare and administer formal and informal bids, requests for proposals, and other solicitations in compliance with legal and ethical requirements.


• Review City contracts for compliance with purchasing requirements, internal policies, insurance requirements, and completeness.


• Other related duties as assigned.

Secondary

• Manage, track, and report the City's capital assets, intangible assets, and construction in progress for the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR).


• Respond to staff and public inquiries regarding purchasing and Controller's Office policies, procedures, and requirements.


• Develop and maintain purchasing training materials and provide onboarding and training for employees on purchasing processes and procedures.


• Respond to public records requests related to purchasing, invoices, contracts, and related documentation.


• Administer purchasing systems and platforms, including e-procurement tools, B2B marketplaces, and specialized purchasing systems.


• Compile, verify, and report annual purchase order encumbrances for budgetary and year-end reporting purposes.


• Provide annual training and guidance on year-end purchasing procedures, encumbrances, capital asset reporting, and construction in progress reporting.

Minimum associates degree in relevant fields such as financial management, operations or business management or the equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential duties of the position.

Preferred three (3) years prior work experience in the public sector.

Demonstrated experience with reviewing and approving purchase order and contract requests, including verifying compliance with procurement policies and budget requirements is preferred.

Ability to utilize computer financial programs and spreadsheets.

Difficulty of Work

Incumbent performs duties in a modern office environment with no unusual physical demands. Work follows a routine daily schedule with periodic extended hours required. Position is required to meet frequent deadlines. Incumbent works under pressure and with numerous deadlines, and balances multiple tasks.

Personal Work Relationships

Incumbent maintains frequent contact with State and Local officials and with City department staff for a variety of purposes including providing complex financial information during varied situations and circumstances. Incumbent responds timely and efficiently to auditor requests. Incumbent needs to deal courteously, effectively, and tactfully with colleagues and the general public.