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Buyer - RPU

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Buyer - RPU

Salary

$82,338.00 - $121,086.00 Annually

Location

Rochester MN 55906, MN

Job Type

Regular FT

Job Number

20250039

Department

Rochester Public Utilities

Opening Date

05/01/2025

+ Description

+ Benefits

+ Questions

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Buyer

Rochester Public Utilities

www.rpu.org

RPU, a division of the City of Rochester, MN, is the largest municipal utility in the State of Minnesota. RPU serves over 57,000 electric customers and 42,000 water customers in a 60 square mile service area and has revenues nearing $161 million annually.

Vision- "We Will Set the Standard for Service"

Our vision is based on six core values which are Safety, Integrity, Service, Stewardship, Accountability, and Skill.

Nature of Work

This is a mid-level buying position for the purchase of assigned hard goods, commodities and contractual services. Work includes reviewing purchase requests; talking to suppliers and department officials; examining price, suitability, and availability of items or services; developing and comparing specifications; reviewing alternatives to requests; and performing value analysis of the purchase requests. Work is performed independently under the general supervision of the Materials Manager. Collaborates with various divisions and assists with service and labor related contracts. The position is required to develop and maintain (with the Purchasing and Warehouse Manager) a coordinated system of Purchasing and Contract Administration, so as to promote cost-effective procurement of materials, supplies and services.

Starting salary is $82,338 to $96,868, with advancement to $121,086

To have your application considered in the first round of application review, be sure to apply before May 19, 2025.

The City of Rochester is committed to a community where all members feel a sense of belonging. We commit to recognizing the diversity of our community members, listening to ALL voices and providing equitable services to create an inclusive place to live, play and work.

We believe EQUITY should be at the center of all our work. We strive to represent our community in our teammates, as we know that diverse and inclusive teams are more innovative, and have an empowering impact on the work, progress and culture of our community.

It takes us all working together

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The work below is representative of the scope of work performed within this job classification.

*Review recommendations and develop master service contracts, blanket purchase orders and/or long-term buying methods.

+ Prepare contracts for goods and services.

+ Monitor, place and process requisitions for materials that are on standing purchasing contracts with vendors, or are single purchases made for specific departments or offices.

*Collect, organize, update and retain required departmental and vendor documentation

+ Documentation will include but not be limited to: purchase approvals, product information files, purchase order records, and all purchasing related correspondence.

+ Manage documents in RPU's electronic document management system in coordination with RPU's records retention schedule.

+ Maintain, monitor and improve master data in RPU's ERP System.

*Initiate bid/quote process for services, supplies and equipment.

+ Consult with end-users and outside consultants to develop specifications.

+ Prepare bid documents, conduct pre-bid and bid opening conferences and oversee the bid process.

+ Perform bid analysis and make recommendations regarding purchases to staff and utility board.

+ Obtain oral and written price quotes from our suppliers.

+ Conduct formal and informal solicitations/quotes for goods, commodities and services.

+ Compare quotes with the specifications and availability of items and places purchase orders.

*Prepare and process requisitions and purchase orders.

+ obtain proper documentation to validate, create and assign vendor numbers.

+ verify appropriate budget codes.

+ ensure purchases and sales comply with applicable Federal and State of Minnesota statutes, City of Rochester City Charter and RPU policies

+ review and approve invoices in conjunction with project owner to ensure compliance with terms and conditions of the contract.

*Negotiate price, contract terms and conditions with vendors in collaboration with internal customers, supervisor, and legal counsel as needed; includes revenue generating contracts such as wireless antenna communications services agreements.

+ Interview vendors and suppliers to evaluate their products and capabilities for potential RPU use.

+ Conduct research, evaluate findings, and make independent decisions on procurement matters.

+ Facilitate the purchasing, tracking, and service agreements of required clothing and personally protective equipment as required by union contracts.

*Coordinate surplus property program.

+ Coordinate receipt, sale and distribution of surplus property items and maintenance of records pertaining to surplus property and the disposal process for liquidation of surplus property.

+ Identify, process, track financial and final disposal of obsolete surplus and excess RPU properties except real estate.

+ Maintain a monthly tracking system showing costs and revenue of disposal efforts.

+ Provide budget input to supervisor.

Miscellaneous Responsibilities.

+ Collaborate with internal and external customers to resolve problems arising from the purchase and sale of goods and services.

+ Recommend changes to policies, procedures, contract terms and conditions for procurement and sale of goods, services and capital improvement projects.

Perform other duties as assigned or necessary.

*ESSENTIAL DUTIES

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

A Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university in accounting, finance, economics, industrial engineering, logistics/operations, supply chain management, purchasing or business administration/management or a closely related field and three (3) years of direct experience as a Buyer, with inventory control responsibilities.

Licenses and Certifications

Valid Minnesota Driver's License

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Purchasing experience for a public agency and/or electric utility.

Designation as a:

Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO),

Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB); and/or

Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM).

Experience using enterprise systems that support warehouse and materials management modules such as SAP, CGI or JD Edwards.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of: purchasing a variety of materials, supplies and services; the preparation needed for quotes, bids, proposals and contracts; basic accounting practices; basic principles, practices and techniques of purchasing and regulations governing purchasing and supply procedures for a government agency; various products such as construction equipment, maintenance supplies, office equipment and computers.

Skill in: communicating clearly and concisely in both oral and written forms; handling multiple tasks simultaneously while being organized and detail oriented; following up proficiently as needed to complete responsibilities; negotiating price cost concessions; evaluating quality and price elements for comparisons of products and services.

Ability to: issue applications for bidder, prepare necessary bid documents for major contract amounts or capital equipment; maintain records; establish and maintain effective working relationships with vendors and requisitioning personnel, City officials, and the public; work efficiently with a computer system, word processing, spreadsheet, etc.; organize work files; effectively analyze department needs, quality, price and time elements for the purchase of goods and services.

PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the following represents the physical and environmental demands for this position. The employee must be able to perform the essential functions with or without accommodation.

Light Work : Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work.

Physical demands that may be required continuously (2/3 or more of the time), frequently (1/3 to 2/3 of the time), and occasionally (up to 1/3 of the time) are noted below:

Continuous demands: sitting, standing

Frequent demands: walking, fine dexterity, handling

Occasional demands: lifting, carrying, bending, reaching

Sensory requirements necessary in the performance of the essential functions of this position include sight, hearing and touch.

Environmental conditions that may exist in the performance of the essential functions of this job include: NONE (not substantially exposed to environmental conditions)

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT AND RETIREMENT SUMMARY (https://www.rochestermn.gov/home/showdocument?id=36371&t=637988555643816877)

01

The following supplemental information may be used as a scored evaluation of your knowledge, skills and experience. Be certain that the choices you make correspond to the information you have provided in your application and resume. You must be honest and accurate in answering the supplemental questions and do not type "see resume". You may also be asked to demonstrate your knowledge and skills in a work sample or during an interview for this position. By completing this supplemental questionnaire you are attesting that the information you have provided is true and accurate. Any information provided may be reviewed by the hiring manager. Any misstatements or falsification of information will eliminate you from consideration or may result in dismissal. Do you understand and agree with this statement?

+ Yes

+ No

02

What is your chosen name?

03

Which of the following best describes your level of education?

+ High school diploma or equivalent G.E.D.

+ Less than 2 years post-secondary training

+ Completion of a 2 year program or degree

+ Completion of a 4 year program or degree

+ Completion of a Master's degree or higher

+ None of the above

04

Other than your High School diploma/GED, which of the following best describes the field of study for your degree?

+ Business Administration

+ Business Management

+ Purchasing

+ Logistics/Operations

+ Industrial Engineering

+ Supply Chain Management

+ My degree is in an area NOT RELATED to any of the above

+ N/A - I do not have a degree

05

Which of the following best describes your years of full-time employment experience in purchasing, procurement, grant management, or contracting

+ No experience

+ Less than 2 years

+ 2 or more years, but less than 3 years

+ 3 or more years, but less than 5 years

+ 5 or more years, but less than 7 years

+ 7 or more years, but less than 10 years

+ More than 10 years

06

Tell us how your professional, educational, and lived experiences would help you be successful in this role. Please limit your answer to 3-4 sentences.

07

Does your purchasing-related employment experience include working with any of the following processes, applications and/or systems? (Select all that apply)

+ The purchasing requirements of the Uniform Municipal Contracting Law (MS 471.345)

+ Best Value alternative

+ The State of Minnesota Joint Cooperative Purchasing Venture (State Contract) or any other cooperative purchasing venture

+ Public Surplus (www.publicsurplus.com)

+ SAP, JDE or other similar ERP systems with supply management modules

+ AMS/CGI Enterprise System

+ ImageNow or similar Document Management System

+ None of the above

08

Does your full-time work experience include of the following? (Select all that apply)

+ Determining and obtaining forms, affidavits, certifications, and other necessary documentations required for the procurement. Prepare and publish solicitations.

+ Assisting with developing contract terms and conditions for materials and construction contracts

+ Negotiating contracts for goods and services

+ Administering the vendor and contract evaluation process

+ Analyzing bids and proposals for content and price; providing recommendations to leadership for vendor and contract for award.

+ Preparing status and budget reports.

+ Invitation for Bid (IFB)

+ Request for Proposals (RFP)

+ Request for Information (RFI),

+ Request for Qualification (RFQ)

+ Proactively monitoring existing contracts to ensure renewals or new solicitations are prepared in a timely manner to ensure continuity.

+ Collaborating with internal business teams to achieve good work relationships and improve business processes

+ Assisting in the management of key performance indicators for process improvement

+ Assisting in developing and monitoring long term contracts

+ Troubleshooting vendor related problems

+ I have no experience with any of the listed items above.

09

Which of the following purchasing-related certifications/designations do you currently possess: (Select all that apply)

+ Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO)

+ Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB)

+ Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.)

+ Accredited Purchasing Practitioner (A.P.P.)

+ Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM)

+ Certified in Supply Management (CSM)

+ Other (List below)

+ N/A - I do not possess any purchasing-related certifications/designations

10

Please indicate the current versions of software that you are PROFICIENT in using: (select all that apply)

+ SAP, JDE or other similar Enterprise Resource Planning systems

+ Microsoft Word

+ Microsoft Outlook

+ Microsoft PowerPoint

+ Microsoft SharePoint

+ Microsoft Excel

+ Microsoft Office

+ None of the above

11

Which of the following best describes your employment experience working for a utility company as an employee, subcontractor, independent contractor or consultant:

+ I have worked for a communications utility company

+ I have worked for a natural gas utility company

+ I have worked for a water utility company

+ I have worked for an electric utility company

+ N/A - I have no experience in this area

12

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: If selected as a finalist, are you willing to undergo a background investigation which may include, but not limited to: verification of employment and educational records, identification verification, driver's license record and a criminal history?

+ Yes

+ No

Required Question

Employer

City of Rochester

Address

201 4th Street SE Rochester, Minnesota, 55904

Phone

(507) 328-2555

Website

https://www.rochestermn.gov/employment

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