Senior Buyer

The Position

Bargaining Unit: IFPTE, Local 21

Why join the Contra Costa Public Works?

Contra Costa County Public Works Department (CCCPWD) maintains over 660 miles of roads, 150 miles of streams, channels, and over 200 County buildings throughout Contra Costa County. CCCPWD also provides a multitude of services to the public throughout the unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County.

The Public Works Department has an organizational culture that strives for continuous improvement. Our mission is to deliver cost-effective, safe, reliable, and sustainable services to the Contra Costa County community.

The Purchasing Division of the Public Works Department provides Purchasing Services to 29 County Departments. The Division’s primary function is to provide services in support of acquiring the goods and services necessary to support overall County operations, at fair and competitive market pricing. This function is vital to ensure effective and efficient service delivery by all Departments in the County. The office is in the city of Martinez, located in central Contra Costa County.

We are looking for someone who:

• Has extensive experience in a centralized Procurement operation, preferably in government buying
• Possesses a clear and demonstrated understanding of the bid process
• Has proficiency with computer skills, including Microsoft Office 365 and Purchasing Programs
• Has a high level of attention to detail, and is customer-focused
• Has the ability to build and maintain positive, professional relationships
• Has the ability to lead a work group to achieve common goals
• Possesses a high degree of ethics, integrity, and personal credibility
• Has a positive attitude and is a true team player

What you will typically be responsible for:

• Developing complex bid packages designed to support the needs of the entire County
• Providing lead direction and guidance to subordinate staff
• Partnering with individual County Departments to develop, maintain, and implement a streamlined, systematic approach to the procurement of goods and services
• Supporting the efforts to transform the Division from a transaction-based process to a strategic sourcing solution
• Capturing service requirements by business sector

A few reasons you might love this job:

• Departmental emphasis on employee satisfaction and camaraderie
• A cohesive and positive work environment
• The challenge of changing the strategy and fundamental objective of the Division for the betterment of the organization
• Work-Life balance, including options for flexible and hybrid schedules
• Offices are in the central part of the County

A few challenges you might face in this job:

• Working in the current system can seem inefficient
• Customers may be resistant to change and ignore County objectives
• Working with multiple systems that are not integrated
• Government bureaucracy
• Integration with the County culture
• Communications challenges with the distribution of information to other County departments
• Seasonal periods of heavy workload, i.e., receipt of new funding allocations, end of the fiscal year

Competencies Required:

• Legal & Regulatory Navigation: Understanding, interpreting, and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations
• Attention to Detail: Focusing on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products
• Professional Integrity & Ethics : Displaying honesty, adherence to principles, and personal accountability
• Negotiating: Reaching mutually satisfying agreements and compromise
• Coaching & Developing Others : Supporting others in stretching and expanding their capabilities
• Critical Thinking : Analytically and logically evaluating information, propositions, and claims
• Fact Finding : Obtaining facts and data pertainingto an issue or question
• Professional & Technical Expertise : Applying technical subject matter to the job
• Action & Results Focused (Taking Initiative) : Initiating tasks and focusing on accomplishment
• Adaptability : Responding positively to change and modifying behavior as the situation requires
• Oral Communication: Engaging effectively in dialogue
• Building & Maintaining Relationships : Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships
• Customer Focus : Attending to the needs and expectations of customers
• Teamwork : Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals
• Project Management : Ensuring that projects are on-time, on-budget, and achieve their objectives

To read the complete job description, please visit the website, www.cccounty.us/hr

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill future openings for up to six (6) months.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Possession of a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Business Administration, Public Administration, or a closely related field.

Experience: Three (3) years of full-time experience or its equivalent, performing technical purchasing in a centralized purchasing department. This experience must have involved direct responsibility for purchasing a wide variety of commodities with extensive vendor and customer contacts including negotiation of large contracts and/or major bids

Substitution: Additional qualifying experience of the type noted above may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis, up to a maximum of four (4) years.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Purchasing certifications such as Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) or Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO)
• Experience in purchasing a wide variety of goods and services
• Experience developing Requests for Proposals (RFPs)
• Experience in government buying

Selection Process

1. Application Filing and Evaluation: Applicants will be required to complete a supplemental questionnaire at the time of application, applications will be evaluated to determine which candidates will move forward in the next phase of the recruitment process.

2. Virtual Oral Interview: Candidates who possess the minimum qualifications will be invited via email to complete a HireVue On Demand video interview. The assessment will measure candidates' competencies as they relate to the Senior Buyer classificatio n. These may include, but are not limited to, Legal & Regulatory Navigation, Attention to Detail, Professional Integrity & Ethics, Negotiating, and Coaching & Developing Others. (Weighted 100%)

The Senior Buyer interview is tentatively scheduled to take place via computer (remotely): September 5 , 2025 - September 10, 2025 (Tentatively)

• The virtual oral interview will be administered remotely using a computer or mobile device such as a tablet. You will need access to a reliable internet connection to take the assessment, as well as a computer or mobile device with a camera.

Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an invitation to participate in the selection process.

The Human Resources Department may change the examination steps noted above in accordance with the Personnel Management Regulations and accepted selection practices.

For recruitment specific questions, please contact Christine Bissada at Christine.Bissada@hrd.cccounty.us. For any technical issues, please contact the GovernmentJobs’ applicant support team for assistance at +1 855-524-5627.

CONVICTION HISTORY
After you receive a conditional job offer, you will be fingerprinted, and your fingerprints will be sent to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The resulting report of your conviction history (if any) will be used to determine whether the nature of your conviction conflicts with the specific duties and responsibilities of the job for which you have received a conditional job offer. If a conflict exists, you will be asked to present any evidence of rehabilitation that may mitigate the conflict, except when federal or state regulations bar employment in specific circumstances. Having a conviction history does not automatically preclude you from a job with Contra Costa County. If you accept a conditional job offer, the Human Resources department will contact you to schedule a fingerprinting appointment.

DISASTER SERVICE WORKER
All Contra Costa County employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
It is the policy of Contra Costa County to consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, or other protected category under the law.

To find more information on Benefits offered by Contra Costa County, please go to https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/1343/Employee-Benefits

Closing Date/Time: 8/15/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

• 

• Contra Costa County Human Resources Department

• 925-655-2100

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