Under general direction, performs supervisory, administrative, and professional public purchasing work within the centralized Purchasing and Support Services Division; performs highly-advanced professional procurement work of considerable difficulty; and does related or other work as required in accordance with Rule 3, Section 3 of the Civil Service Rules.
CLASS CHARACTERISTICS
This Agent is the supervisory level in the Deputy Purchasing Agent series. An employee in this class is responsible for planning, organizing, supervising, and directing the work of professional and support staff of multiple areas within the Purchasing and Support Services Division. Incumbents may also perform work related to the most complex procurements, multi-departmental procurements, and contracts. As assigned, may serve as a liaison and subject matter expert (SME) for operational, policy, and/or information systems programs and projects.
Supervising Deputy Purchasing Agent differs from Deputy Purchasing Agent II in that incumbents of the latter class may perform lead duties as a secondary responsibility but do not have full administrative and functional responsibility over a major area of assignment.
TYPICAL DUTIES
Plans, organizes, and directs staff engaged in purchasing and contracting services to County agencies and departments; assigns, trains, supervises, and evaluates staff; participates in the selection and discipline of assigned staff as appropriate.
Designs, develops, and implements effective county-wide procurement and contracts management procedures in accordance with policy pertaining to purchasing products, public works, and services for the County; conducts research and studies regarding industry best practices.
Reviews and approves contracts and agreements for services that support County operations for accuracy and compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and procedures; ensures contracts protect County’s interest and are in compliance with established policies and procedures; recommends solutions that affect the County’s ability to conform to contracts; assists Division management with research, analysis, investigation, and other duties in support of contract dispute proceedings.
Directs the negotiation and execution of service contracts and lease purchase agreements for County property; confers with representatives of manufacturing and commercial firms regarding suitability, availability, and pricing of commodities; reviews surveys and statistical data on annual consumption of certain products; develops reports accordingly.
Provides leadership, direction, and assistance to County departments related to procurement activities and conducts highly complex contract negotiations with outside vendors.
Performs the more complex or difficult procurement work including but not limited to acquisitions of commodities, consultant services, public works construction, and other external goods/services; assists the Director and/or Deputy Director with special projects as needed.
Assists with the preparation and monitoring of the Division budget as it pertains to areas of assignment.
Responds to a variety of information requests from both inside and outside the Division; oversees and/or compiles the collection and reporting of data requested through California Public Records Act (CPRA) requests and internal and external procurement audits.
Represents the Division on committees responsible for the development of procurement and contracting policies and procedures, including programs to increase participation by small and disadvantaged businesses.
Prepares and presents a variety of procurement documents, including reports, charts, tables, and other visual tools; prepares and answers correspondence and questionnaires; prepares and delivers graphic and oral presentations to individuals/groups including county-wide end users.
Confers with representatives of other agencies and departments; serves as a liaison between departments.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in public or business administration, political science, economics, or a related field.
Experience: Five years of progressively responsible professional-level experience in centralized procurement for a county or municipality providing a broad range of services with an emphasis on Requests for Proposals, bid processes, California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act compliance, negotiation of price and contractual terms/conditions, and vendor management.
Substitution: Possession of a valid certificate as a Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) issued by the Institute for Supply Management, or a Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) or Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO) issued by the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council (UPPCC), may be substituted for the above-required education OR additional experience in a public procurement setting may be substituted for the above-required education on a year-for-year basis.
Special Requirements: Depending on assignment, may require that some or all the qualifying experience was obtained while working in an area or program that is directly related to departmental business operations.
KNOWLEDGE
Federal and California procurement statutes, regulations, and legislative and regulatory processes; contract law; principles and practices of human resource management and supervision; principles, practices, rules, regulations, and procedures of public purchasing and contracting; methods of purchasing by specification and competitive bidding; public liability, property damage, and professional liability insurance; contract negotiation techniques; government contract administration; computer software, tools used for the storage, management and analysis/reporting of large quantities of data; typical spreadsheet and relational database programs and analysis tools; basic principles of information technology; principles and methods of communicating information through written and oral reports/presentations.
ABILITY
Plan, assign, train, supervise, organize, direct, and monitor the day-to-day activities of purchasing and contracting programs; establish and maintain effective working relationships and high-levels of customer service; communicate effectively both orally and in writing; follow oral and written instructions; read, understand, interpret and administrative policies;; develop goals, objectives, and standards for one or more work units; compile data for purposes of bidding and awarding contracts; develop and recommend effective courses of action on procurement issues; perform complex analytical and legal research work and legislative analysis; assist in preparation and monitoring of budgets; communicate effectively both orally and in writing to establish cooperative relationships with those contacted in the course of work; exercise appropriate initiative and judgment to resolve problems that are highly complex and sensitive in nature; use modern office equipment and enterprise resource planning software.
PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS
Mobility-frequent operation of a computer, sitting for long periods; occasional standing, walking, pushing, pulling, bending, squatting, driving; Lifting-frequently 5 pounds or less; occasionally 5 to 30 pounds; Visual-constant good overall vision and reading/close-up work; frequent color perception and eye/hand coordination; occasional depth perception and peripheral vision; Dexterity-occasional holding, reaching, grasping, repetitive motion; frequent writing; Hearing/Talking-frequent hearing normal speech, hearing/talking on the telephone, talking in person; occasional hearing faint sounds and talking over an amplified system; Emotional/Psychological-frequent decision making, concentration, and public contact; occasional working weekends/nights/overtime; Environment-occasional noise.
San Joaquin County complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and, upon request, will consider reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
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