Senior Buyer

City of Georgetown, TX; United States; On-site; USD 62,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Georgetown, Texas is seeking a qualified procurement professional to lead complex purchasing activities for City departments. The role covers bid development, evaluation, and contract negotiation, while ensuring compliance with state and federal requirements.

The position requires a Bachelor's degree in a related field and several years of purchasing experience, plus strong negotiation and analytical skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance or related field.
• Three years of full-time purchasing/procurement/contract administration experience.
• Experience may substitute for education up to four years.
• Knowledge of purchasing practices, statutes, ordinances and codes; automated purchasing systems.

Responsibilities

• Researches, prepares, evaluates and awards solicitations for all City departments.
• Interprets purchasing procedures to assist departments and vendors in meeting guidelines.
• Processes complex purchasing transactions per state/federal statutes and guidelines.
• Identifies suppliers and educates them on procurement policies.
• Manages bids and solicitations, including bid openings and best-value analysis.
• Oversees RFP evaluations and contract negotiations.
• Ensures contract compliance and conducts periodic audits of contracts.
• Supervises staff and trains personnel on procurement policies and credit card usage.

Skills

Negotiation and mediation

Contract development

Cost/price analysis

Communicating effectively

Preparing and analyzing specifications

Reading product specs

Writing specifications and memos

Mathematical calculations (invoices/PO

Evaluating alternatives by quality/and

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance or related field

Tools

Automated purchasing systems

Job description

It's fun to work in a company where people truly BELIEVE in what they're doing! We're committed to bringing passion and customer focus to the business. Performs specialized purchasing work in the acquisition of materials, equipment, supplies and services on behalf of the City in accordance with prescribed guidelines, regulations and procedures.

Reviews and analyzes purchase requisitions, investigates and develops sources of supplies, prepares bid specifications, issues bid requests and reviews quotations. Interprets purchasing procedures to departments and vendors, as a specialist in assigned categories, which require a degree of technical knowledge. Applicants are required to attach a resume and cover letter.

Anticipated Start Date: On or after October 5, 2026.

Essential Functions

• Researches, prepares, evaluates and awards solicitations, both formal and informal, for all City departments.
• Interprets purchasing procedures to departments and vendors in order to assist them with meeting all guidelines and policies during procurement activities.
• Processes complex and/or unique purchasing transactions in accordance with state and federal statutes, and within prescribed guidelines, regulations and procedures.
• Participates in the identification of suppliers by researching product availability; educates and familiarizes new suppliers with the City's procurement policies and regulations.
• Manages complex bids and solicitations by exercising final authority on determining formal solicitation type, reviewing and writing bid specifications, conducting bid openings, and reviewing and analyzing bids submitted by vendors for best value and responsiveness to the City.
• Manages RFP evaluation process, and coordinates among evaluation team members, vendors and final contract negotiation team.
• Reviews and evaluates cooperative and group contracts to ensure that all guidelines are observed, and the best value is obtained.
• Works extensively online with the City's financial system and Purchasing bidding website to process procurements, register vendors, post and award solicitations, research historical information, and perform other purchasing activities.
• Conducts periodic audits of contracts to ensure compliance with contract requirements, terms, conditions, and billing; prepares audit reports when necessary to document any contract deficiencies; submits written notification of deficiencies to vendors; resolves any discrepancies between contracted parties, and monitors timely renewals, accurate insurance documentation, escalations, etc.
• Supervises assigned staff.
• Trains and assists City personnel on procurement policies, procedures and processes; training Purchasing department employees on all aspects of purchasing, credit card administration and telecommunications; provides training to warehouse staff as appropriate.
• Administers the Credit Card Program to include but not limited to, advising cardholders on policy and credit card usage, processing new applications, adjusting limits, providing for cancellations and renewals, and maintaining accurate records; serves as part of the evaluation team in selecting the issuing bank.
• Manages the City's Telecommunications program to include but not limited to, procurement of communication devices, maintaining records of devices to include contact number and communication stipend records, both personal and City-owned for staff, and acting as liaison with wireless provider for services and equipment; audits invoices in conjunction with Accounts Payable; reviews contracts for compliance and best value.
• Reviews and processes requisitions in the City's financial system; audits requisitions for compliance with State statutes and City policies; ensures compliance with Vet HUB statutory requirements; ensures approval by authorized signer(s).
• Provides information and assistance in budget preparation.
• Makes recommendations for annual contract awards.
• May monitor legal and regulatory requirements pertaining to purchasing.
• May initiate and approve local and emergency purchases.
• Serves as backup to the Purchasing Manager.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education, training and Experience Guidelines

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or University Business Administration, Finance or a related field.
• Three (3) years of full-time experience in purchasing, procurement or contract administration.
• Experience may substitute for education up to four (4) years.

Knowledge of:

• Purchasing practices and procedures.
• Applicable statutes, ordinances and codes.
• Automated purchasing systems.
• Accounting and budgeting processes as they relate to purchasing transactions.
• Tabulating evaluating, awarding and tracking procurement activities.
• Specification development and writing.
• Contract law, terms and conditions.

Skill in:

• Resolving and enforcing contractual obligation.
• Contract development.
• Cost/price analysis.
• Negotiation and mediation.
• Resolving contractual issues.
• Communicating effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Preparing and analyzing complex technical specifications and bids.
• Reading product specifications, catalogs.
• Writing specifications, reports, letters and memos.
• Performing mathematical calculations to review and compile information on invoices, and purchase orders, and bids.
• Evaluating alternative selections for products according to quality and price.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

• Valid Class "C" Texas driver's license required.
• Out-of-state license holders must have a valid license and provide a three-year driving history.
• Certified Texas Purchaser (CTP) certification or related Purchasing or Contract certification is preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Standing, sitting, walking, lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, reaching, handling, fine dexterity, crouching, bending, vision, hearing, talking, and use of foot controls.

Hiring Range

$62,211.76 - $77,937.60, annually. Regular-Full time

If you like wild growth and working with happy, enthusiastic over-achievers, you'll enjoy your career with us!

The City of Georgetown, Texas is a municipality of 106,000 (census estimate for 2024) located 30 miles north of Austin along I-35. The City can be best characterized by its educated, engaged citizens, its award-winning parks and trails, and its ability to maintain a cohesive, smaller-town feel despite its amazing growth.

Our organization's culture is driven by its 5 core values of: Trust, Communication, Teamwork, Professionalism, and Work-Life Balance.

The City of Georgetown is an equal opportunity employer.

Offers of employment with the City of Georgetown is contingent upon: Proof of education, certification(s) and experience as listed on the employment application based on the job posting requirements. Satisfactory results from a pre-employment drug screening, criminal history background and driving record check. Legal authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship. * *The City of Georgetown confirms verification of employment using E-Verify. E-Verify checks the information against records held by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to confirm whether the employee is legally eligible to work in the U.S.

For more information about the City of Georgetown, visit our website at https://www.georgetowntexas.gov