Purchasing Manager

City of Fontana; Fontana (CA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Fontana seeks a Purchasing Manager to lead Fontana’s centralized procurement operations, helping departments obtain goods and services efficiently while ensuring compliance with City policies and public-contracting requirements.

The role oversees purchasing staff, solicitations, contracts, purchase orders, vendor relations, staff training, and process improvements, with a commitment to protecting public funds and delivering high‑quality service to City departments.

Qualifications

• Five (5) years of increasingly responsible procurement experience, including a minimum of three (3) years in the public sector, and two (2) years of supervisory or lead level experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement departmental goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and priorities.
• Supervise, coordinate, prioritize, and direct the activities of staff.
• Participate in employee selection, performance evaluation, development, disciplinary action and complaint resolution.
• Assist City staff with procurement needs; ensure compliance with codes, policies, and regulations and professional ethics.
• Conduct pre-bid specification review conferences with bidders to resolve conflicts; supervise bid-spec development; analyze bids for compliance.

Skills

Public procurement

Vendor management

Supervisory experience

Policy enforcement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Public Administration/Business Administration or related field

Job description

Under general direction, supervises, plans, and coordinates the activities and operations of the City’s centralized purchasing operations. Coordinates assigned activities with other departments, outside agencies, and the general public, supervises staff, and provides highly responsible and complex assistance to the Chief Financial Officer.

Position Snapshot/A Day in the Life:

The Purchasing Manager leads Fontana’s centralized procurement operations, helping departments obtain goods and services efficiently while ensuring compliance with City policies and public-contracting requirements. The role oversees purchasing staff, solicitations, contracts, purchase orders, vendor relations, staff training, and process improvements. The ideal candidate combines strong public procurement expertise with responsive customer service, sound judgment, effective collaboration, and a commitment to protecting public funds.

The following functions are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed functions and/or may be required to perform additional or different functions from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Participates in the development and implementation of departmental goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and priorities.
• Supervises, coordinates, prioritizes, and directs the activities of staff.
• Participate in employee selection, performance evaluation, employee development, disciplinary action and complaint resolution.
• Assists City staff with procurement needs; ensures that procurement activities meet legal and professional standards by enforcing pertinent codes, policies, and regulations and professional ethics regarding purchasing operations.
• Conducts pre-bid specification review conferences with bidders and City officials to resolve any conflicts or misunderstandings regarding bids; supervises and participates in the development of bid specifications; analyzes bids for compliance and makes recommendations on major purchases.
• Establishes and maintains contact and negotiations with vendors; remains informed of new products; develops new sources of supply and evaluates vendor performance.
• Establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing, with a variety of audiences.
• Maintains prompt and regular attendance.
• Sound judgement and attention to detail.
• Perform any other tasks or functions deemed necessary to the daily operations of the employer or as the situation requires.
• This position is always evolving. Therefore, employer reserves the right to modify this job description as necessary.

THE ABOVE LIST OF ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS IS NOT EXHAUSTIVE AND MAY BE SUPPLEMENTED AS NECESSARY BY THE EMPLOYER.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Position requires prolonged sitting, standing, walking, reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, squatting and stooping in the performance of daily activities. The position also requires grasping, repetitive hand movement and fine coordination in preparing documents and reports and data using a computer keyboard. Additionally, the position requires near vision in reading correspondence, statistical data and using a computer, and acute hearing is required when providing phone service and communicating in person.

Knowledge of:

• Federal, state, county, and city regulations regarding purchasing methods and practices.
• Governmental purchasing practices, principles, and terminology related to a wide variety of products and services.
• Materials, supplies, and equipment used in municipal services and the sources of such products.
• Principles and procedures of financial record keeping and reporting.
• General laws and regulations applicable to the formal bidding process.
• Operational characteristics, services and activities of a comprehensive municipal purchasing program.
• Budgeting methodologies.
• Familiarity with purchasing standards, practices, and regulatory requirements.
• Relevant tools, software, and/or technology used within the role.
• Understanding of organizational policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Principles and practices of excellent customer service.
• Safe work practices, OSHA regulations, and workplace health and safety procedures to ensure a safe working environment.

Ability to:

• Supervise, motivate, and train team members effectively.
• Make sound decisions in a timely manner.
• Manage and resolve conflicts or disagreements constructively.
• Use a personal computer, telephone, and other electronic devices, to access information, complete documentation, and communicate effectively.
• Understand and follow both oral and written instructions accurately.
• Identify issues, evaluate data, and implement effective solutions (problem solving).
• Manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Work collaboratively with others in a team environment.
• Perform tasks accurately and thoroughly, with a focus on quality.

A typical way to obtain this knowledge and ability would be:

EXPERIENCE:

Five (5) years of increasingly responsible procurement experience, which included a minimum of three (3) years in the public sector, and two (2) years of supervisory or lead level experience.

EDUCATION:

Bachelors’ degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Accounting, Public Administration, Business Administration or a closely related field.

LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS:

Professional purchasing certification of Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM), Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB), Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO) or purchasing certificate from an accredited college or university is highly desirable.

Incumbents are required to complete a Statement of Economic Interest Form (700 Form) annually and ethics training bi-annually, pursuant to AB 1234.