Purchasing Agent

Job Description

Under general direction of the Manager of Purchasing, performs work of considerable difficulty in the procurement of goods and services for the District.

Essential Functions:

• Facilitates activities involved with purchasing goods, services and construction, such as equipment, tools, parts and supplies, and professional services.
• Reviews requisitions and determines method of procurement and negotiates contracts within budgetary limitations and scope of authority.
• Confers with vendors to obtain product or service information, such as price, availability and delivery schedule; selects products for purchase by observing or examining items.
• Maintains electronic procurement records, such as items or services purchased, costs, delivery, and product quality; creates and maintains contracts and key dates, researches and reports on trends in electronic purchasing.
• Discusses and rectifies defective or unacceptable goods and services with users, vendors and others to determine source of trouble and take corrective action.
• Coordinates the final disposition of surplus supplies, materials and/or equipment; expedites delivery of goods to users.

Additional Responsibilities:

In the absence of the Manager of Purchasing, assume the duties of the Manager; performs related work as required or as delegated by supervisor.

Qualifications

Training and Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in business administration or related field AND five years' experience in the procurement of materials, supplies and equipment in sizable quantities, AND developing procurements with multiple options and escalation provisions.
• Must possess valid driver's license issued by the state in which the employee resides.
• Have at least one of the following certifications by a nationally recognized professional purchasing organization, such as National Institute of Public Purchasers (NIGP); Institute of National Association of Purchasing Managers (NAPM) or National Association of Contract Managers (NCMA) or Institute for Supply Management (ISM) (Preferred)

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Considerable knowledge of the practices and procedures for purchasing materials and equipment for a large organization with multiple locations.
• Considerable knowledge of regulations and standards pertaining to purchasing practices including those pertaining to governmental purchasing practices.
• Considerable skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with vendors and employees; considerable skill in communicating effectively both in oral and written form.
• Skilled in analyzing market and delivery conditions.
• Skilled in preparing various reports requiring data analysis; advanced knowledge of Oracle and Microsoft products.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:

Pursuant to MSD's "Substance Abuse Policy and Procedures," this position has been designated as non-safety sensitive and candidate must pass a Non-D.O.T. Drug Test for this position. Employees occupying this position are not subject to Federal (D.O.T.) Drug and Alcohol Testing Regulations.

Employees of MSD must have a meets expectation on their last review.

About Us

The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District provides comprehensive wastewater and storm water management services to residents and businesses in both St. Louis City and County. As one of the most recognized employers in the region and a fixture in the downtown area, MSD employs over 900 individuals in a wide-range of roles including skilled crafts and laborers, engineering, information technology, finance, human resources and administration support. We invite you to be part of the team!