"Alerted.org

Principal Buyer

Print (https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/ventura/jobs/newprint/4935199)

Apply



Principal Buyer

Salary

$68,077.07 - $94,411.71 Annually

Location

Ventura, CA

Job Type

Full-Time Regular

Job Number

1607GSA-25AA (CN)

Department

General Services Agency

Opening Date

05/14/2025

+ Description

+ Benefits

+ Questions

Description

THE AGENCY

The General Services Agency (GSA) is comprised of Fleet Services, Facilities, Procurement, Special Services, Parks, Security, and Business Support and is responsible for a broad spectrum of services to all County departments and agencies. It requires a very diverse workforce to accomplish the GSA mission of contributing to the quality of life in Ventura County by partnering with customers to provide expertise and cost-effective service delivery, and foster the preservation of natural resources.

THE POSITION

Under direction, the Principal Buyer provides technical supervision of purchasing teams engaged in purchasing supplies, materials, equipment and services for use by County departments, and performs related duties as required.

This position serves as the technical expert within the division and provides direction, training, coaching, and mentoring of lower-level buyers, with emphasis on the performance of technical work and delivery of services. Incumbents are responsible for performing the most advanced and/or complex technical work within the division, providing technical direction and problem resolution related to purchasing division services and activities, and ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures.

Principal Buyer is represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and is eligible for overtime compensation.

Examples Of Duties

Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

+ Examines and processes highly complex departmental requisitions.

+ Directs, trains, coaches, and mentors subordinate purchasing staff.

+ Prepares highly complex bid specifications and related purchasing documents.

+ Represents GSA and the Purchasing Division in meetings with customers and vendors and negotiates or facilitates settlements of minor disputes or misunderstandings.

+ Locates sources of supply and places orders

+ Compares costs and evaluates the quality and suitability of supplies, materials, and equipment.

+ Interviews and corresponds with vendors and other product representatives.

+ Maintains expertise of market trends and conditions, and new services, products and vendors.

+ Confers with high-level officials and employees to determine purchasing needs and specifications.

+ Resolves sensitive and complex customer service problems.

+ Prepares written reports and correspondence and makes oral presentations.

+ Performs other related duties as assigned/required.

Typical Qualifications

These are the entrance requirements to the examination process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE

Progressive professional purchasing experience and training in business administration, marketing, procurement theory, and procurement related subjects which has led to the acquisition of the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

The required knowledge, skills, and abilities can also be obtained by three (3) years of professional purchasing experience that involved vendor contact and bid or value analysis - OR - two (2) years of experience as a Buyer with the County of Ventura or comparable.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENT

+ Must possess (by time of hire) and maintain a current valid California Driver License.

DESIRED

Possession of one of the following certifications is highly desirable:

+ NIGP-Certified Purchasing Professional (NIGP-CPP)

+ Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM)

+ Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM)

+ Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB)

+ Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO) or other related certification.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES

Extensive knowledge of: successful customer service concepts and practices; marketing principles, theory and procedures; business mathematics; office procedures, and data collection techniques.

Considerable knowledge of: effective directing, training, coaching, and mentoring practices; effective meeting practices; organization of workload techniques; purchasing practices, specific products, commodities, and services.

Ability to: develop and maintain flexibility and adaptability to changing priorities; communicate and establish effective relationships with commercial vendors, officials and employees; effectively lead, direct, train, coach, and mentor a team of employees; collect, read, analyze and evaluate data; utilize computer equipment; conduct studies and surveys; make decisions based on judgmental as well as factual criteria; develop a technical knowledge of specific products or services; communicate effectively both orally and in writing and make oral presentations to small and large groups.

Skill in: monitoring and evaluating the work of lower-level staff; prioritizing and assigning work; identifying emerging trends, needs, and services; assessing the consequences and outcomes of services; ensuring compliance with applicable policies, procedures, laws and regulations.

Recruitment Process

FINAL FILING DATE

This is a continuous recruitment and may close at any time; therefore, it is to your advantage to apply as soon as possible. Your application must be received by County of Ventura Human Resources in Ventura, California, no later than 5:00 p.m. on the closing date.

To apply on-line, please refer to our web site at www.ventura.org/hr. If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call (805) 654-5129 for application materials and submit them to County of Ventura Human Resources, 800 South Victoria Avenue, L-1970, Ventura, CA 93009.

Note to Applicants: It is essential that you complete all sections of your application supplemental questionnaire thoroughly and accurately to demonstrate your qualifications. A resume and/or other related documents may be attached to supplement the information in your application and supplemental questionnaire; however, it/they may not be submitted in lieu of the application.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE - qualifying

All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this examination at time of filing. This questionnaire may be used throughout the examination process to assist in determining each applicant's qualifications and acceptability for the position.

APPLICATION SCREENING – qualifying

All applications will be reviewed to determine whether or not the stated requirements are met. Those individuals meeting the stated requirements will be invited to continue to the next step in the screening and selection process.

ORAL EXAMINATION - 100%: A job-related Oral Examination will be conducted to evaluate and compare participating candidates' knowledge, skills, and abilities in relation to those factors which job analysis has determined to be essential for successful performance of the job. Candidates must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list.

ELIGIBLE LIST

If there are three (3) or fewer qualified applicants, an examination will not be conducted. Instead, a score of seventy percent (70%) will be assigned to each application, and each applicant will be placed on the eligible list.

Candidates successfully completing the exam process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of six (6) months.

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future regular (including Temporary and Fixed Term), Intermittent, and Extra Help vacancies. There is currently one (1) Regular vacancy within the General Services Agency - Procurement Department.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION

A thorough pre-employment, post offer background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information, and driving record may be required for this position. For further information about this recruitment, please contact Chinna Nahabedian by email at [email protected] or by telephone at (805) 654-2458.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

YOUR BENEFITS AS A COUNTY OF VENTURA EMPLOYEE

Service Employees International Union (LOCAL 721)

(SEIU)

To learn more about Benefits, Retirement, and the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), see links below.

+ Benefits website (https://hr.ventura.org/benefits) or you may call (805) 654-2570.

+ Retirement FAQ's (https://vcportal.ventura.org/CEO/benefits/docs/RETIREMENT%20-%20FAQs.pdf)

+ Memorandum of Agreement

Union Codes: UPA, UPC, UPE, UPH, UPI, UPJ, UPT, UWS

01

Which of the certifications below do you possess?

+ NIGP-Certified Purchasing Professional (NIGP-CPP)

+ Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM)

+ Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM)

+ Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB)

+ Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO)

+ Other related Certification

+ None of the above

02

Describe your experience providing successful customer service and establishing effective relationships with others, including co-workers, customers, and high level officials.

Include the employer(s) listed in the Work Experience section of your application where you obtained the experience.

If you do not have this type of work experience, type "No experience."

03

Describe your work experience with Request for Proposal and Request for Bid and what role you played in the process. Explain the rationale for using one or the other. Include the employer(s) listed in the Work Experience section of your application where you obtained the experience. If you do not have this type of work experience, type "No experience."

04

Describe your experience with marketing principles, theory and procedures.

Include the employer(s) listed in the Work Experience section of your application where you obtained the experience.

If you do not have this type of work experience, type "No experience."

05

Describe your work experience directing, training, coaching, and mentoring staff. Include the number of staff you mentored, and the employer(s) listed in the Work Experience section of your application where you obtained the experience. If you do not have this type of work experience, type "No experience."

06

Describe your experience leading stakeholder meetings and/or presenting to groups. In your response, include topics covered and audience group sizes. Include the employer(s) listed in the Work Experience section of your application where you obtained the experience. If you do not have this type of work experience, type "No experience."

07

Do you possess (or can you obtain by time of hire) a current valid California Driver License, which must be maintained?

+ Yes

+ No

Required Question

Employer

Ventura County

Address

800 S. Victoria Avenue LOC. #1970 Ventura, California, 93009

Phone

(805) 654-5129

Website

http://hr.ventura.org

Apply

Please verify your email address Verify Email