Senior Buyer

Chicago Transit Authority; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 68,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

Chicago Transit Authority seeks a Senior Buyer to manage purchasing activities within Commodity Buying, ensuring timely procurement of goods and services for daily CTA operations including rolling stock and facilities. The role requires evaluating requisitions, issuing RFQs, reviewing bids, and issuing compliant purchase orders.

Strong knowledge of procurement regulations, informal bidding, and vendor management is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or related field.
• Three years of experience in office administration or equivalent.
• Equivalent education and experience accepted.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and issue RFQs, review contractor responses, and issue purchase orders per CTA rules.
• Review specifications, assess bidder responsiveness, and coordinate with departments.
• Analyze requisitions for accuracy and quality of goods/services.
• Research marketplace for new products and services for CTA projects.
• Meet with vendors and user groups as needed.

Skills

Procurement regs

Informal bidding

Materials knowledge

Communication skills

MS Office

Education

Bachelor's in Business

Job description

Senior Buyer (2600007I)

SALARY

$80,142.52

POSITION SUMMARY

Performs and is responsible for purchasing activities within Commodity Buying, procuring the goods and services necessary for the daily operations of the Authority including maintenance of its rolling stock, facilities and other services.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for complicated and urgent informal solicitations. Prepares Request for Quotations, email blast lists, reviews contractor responses and prepares purchase orders in accordance with CTA regulations.
• Reviews purchase specifications as necessary, determines responsiveness and responsibility of bidders and coordinates with responsible departments.
• Analyzes purchase requisitions to determine the accuracy and quality of the description of goods and services.
• Researches the marketplace to identify new products, technologies and services required by the Authority to support new and ongoing projects.Reports to Management and user departments new developments that are applicable to Authority use.
• Meets with vendors and user groups as necessary.
• Places emergency orders via telephone and follows up with written confirmation orders.
• Responsible for all correspondence concerning over shipments, delivery shortages, changes in descriptions, substitutions and expedites the delivery of materials or services.
• Secures necessary insurance requirements to expedite purchases.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting to this position are the following jobs:

Job Title

CHALLENGES

• Marketing conditions, consulting, and coordinating with departments to ensure that all regulations are met in the purchasing process.
• Prioritizing work to meet contract deadlines.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or a related field, plus three (3) years of experience in office administration, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Requires remaining in a stationary position for extended periods of time and constantly operating a computer and other office productivity machinery.
• Service Area Requirement: Exempt (Non-Union) employees must live within the boundaries of the CTA Statutory Service Area either at the time of employment or within 6 months of beginning employment at CTA.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• General knowledge of Federal, State, and regional procurement regulations and guidelines.
• General knowledge and understanding of informal bidding procedures and the legal implications.
• General knowledge of the materials, supplies, equipment and services required by the Authority.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Good computer skills with knowledge of Microsoft Office suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.).
• Basic judgment and decision-making skills.
• Basic service orientation skills.
• Ability to listen to and understand key information and ideas presented verbally and written.
• Ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific set of rules.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• General office environment.
• Occasionally required to visit operating locations including Bus Garages, Rail Shops, and Warehouse.
• This position is considered a "C-List" position under the “Revolving Door” prohibition within the State Officials and Employees Act (5 ILCS 430/5-45), which contains a number of post-employment restrictions CTA employees in C-list designated positions must follow. Among other requirements listed in this statute, CTA employees in C-list designated positions are required to follow State notification procedures to the Office of the Executive Inspector General prior to acceptance of any applicable non-State employment or may be fined significant penalties.

EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, AND MATERIALS UTILIZED

• Standard office equipment.

Additional Details Employees and/or union members will be given priority consideration in the hiring process, per the applicable labor contracts.

Final salary will be determined in part by the qualifications of the selected candidate and may be higher or lower than target.

Applicants, if hired, must comply with CTA's residency ordinance.

CTA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

No employee or applicant for employment will be discriminated against because of race, color, creed, religion, sex, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, ancestry, age, unfavorable military discharge, disability or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws; except where a bona fide occupational qualification exists We are committed to providing an inclusive environment for our workforce and supporting the communities we serve.

CTA will make reasonable accommodations for the known disabilities of otherwise qualified applicants for employment as well as its employees, unless undue hardship would result.

If you require an accommodation in the application or hiring process, please contact [e-mail] prior to the submission of your application or upon notification of your actual test date. CTA will work with you to determine if an accommodation can be provided.

During the hiring process, CTA's Human Resources department will contact candidates with next steps. Failure to respond to these correspondences in a timely fashion may result in your application being closed out for non-responsiveness.