Purchasing Technician

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 the 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 their customers to provide expertise and cost-effective service delivery, and foster the preservation of natural resources.

Procurement Services purchases goods and services for County of Ventura departments and agencies. Departmental activities include: processing purchase requisitions; issuing various purchase documents; issuing and evaluating bids, proposals, and quotations; writing bid specifications; drafting contracts; managing surplus sales and auctions; issuing and providing Procurement card training; verifying licenses and insurance coverage; and processing vendor applications and complaints.

THE POSITION
Under direction, the Purchasing Technician performs a variety of technical activities relating to the procurement of goods, materials, supplies and equipment; performs related processing and record keeping functions; operates within a framework of standard policies and procedures; exercises responsibility for accurate and timely performance of procurement support activities; and performs related duties as required. Incumbents must be able to accurately perform basic math calculations and establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with internal and external customers including vendors and representatives from the twenty-six County departments/agencies.

The ideal candidate for this position will have the ability to work effectively in a high volume, fast moving environment, be detail oriented, have strong skills in English grammar and punctuation, and be team oriented. They will have some purchasing related experience, intermediate experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and have familiarity with the Ventura County Financial Management System (VCFMS). The ideal candidate will also exhibit strong interpersonal and customer service skills interfacing with a multitude of internal and external customers (employees and vendors) in the context of a large organization.

EDUCATIONAL INCENTIVE: Some positions may be eligible for educational incentive. This incentive may be 2.5%, 3.5%, or 5% for incumbents in eligible positions based on completion of an Associate's, Bachelor's, or Master's degree that is not required for the classification.

AGENCY/DEPARTMENT : General Services Agency - Procurement

Examples Of Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Processes requisitions and creates purchase documents.
• Coordinates with buyers for projects, research projects, creation of purchase documents, special handling (rushes), and other tasks as needed.
• Coordinates with buyers to process requisitions of $10,000 or less.
• Follows up on rush or expedited purchase documents.
• Ensures proper documentation is on file (e.g., insurance certificates, contractor's license, Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), etc.) prior to award and/or purchase document creation.
• Conducts necessary follow-up and tracking to finalize purchasing transactions.
• Answers telephones, provides information and assistance to County personnel and vendors.
• Maintains records and files in support of purchasing function and duties.
• Completes special assignments, such as overseeing training for procurement cards, DIR, Help Desk, etc.
• Research vendor pricing, product information, and new products.
• Summarizes bid/quotation results.
• Performs other related duties as required.

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

Typical Qualifications

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

EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERIENCE
Any combination of training and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be two (2) years of increasingly responsible general clerical experience.

DESIRED

• Purchasing related experience
• Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, andPowerPoint.
• Familiarity with the Ventura County Financial Management System (VCFMS)
• Strong Customer Service Skills

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES:

Working knowledge of:

• Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment, receptionist, and telephone techniques and etiquette;
• Basic purchasing terminology;
• English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation;
• Basic mathematical principles.

Skill in:

• Use of job-related software, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as Ventura County Financial Management System (VCFMS).

Working ability to:

• Working ability to apply County purchasing principles, procedures, and terminology.
• Learn methods of pricing, including the calculation of discounts and taxes;
• Perform responsible clerical work with speed and accuracy;
• Make arithmetic calculations quickly and accurately;
• Maintain detailed and accurate records;
• Operate modern office machines, including calculators and computer;
• Understand and follow oral and written directions;
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing;
• Operate automated purchasing system.
• Establish work priorities and work in an environment with changing assignments/priorities/deadlines;
• Working ability to explain purchasing procedures.
• Provide good customer service, exercising patience, tact, and discretion; and
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.

Recruitment Process

FINAL FILING DATE: T his is a continuous recruitment and may close at any time. Applications 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 online, please refer to our website at www.ventura.org/jobs. A paper application form can be obtained by calling (805) 654-5129. Our address is: County of Ventura, Human Resources Division, 800 South Victoria Avenue, L-1970, Ventura, CA 93009.

NOTE : If presently permanently employed in another "merit" or "civil service" public agency/entity in the same or substantively similar position as is advertised, and if appointed to that position by successful performance in a "merit" or "civil service" style examination, then appointment by "Lateral Transfer" may be possible. If interested, please click here for additional information.

Note to Applicants: It is essential that you complete all sections of your application and 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 and supplemental questionnaire.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE - qualifying: All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this examination AT THE TIME OF FILING. The supplemental questionnaire may be used throughout the exam process to assist in determining each applicant's qualifications and acceptability for the position. Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire may result in the application being removed from consideration.

APPLICATION EVALUATION - 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.

WRITTEN EXAMINATION - 100% : An un-proctored, internet-based job-related written exam will be conducted to evaluate participating candidate's knowledge of reading comprehension, math, ordering, and grammar. Applicants must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list.

Candidates successfully completing the examination process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (6) months. The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill present and future regular (including temporary and fixed-term), intermittent, and extra help vacancies. There is currently one (1) Regular vacancy in the General Services Agency - Procurement Department.

VALIDATING PROCTORED WRITTEN EXAM

Offers of employment may be conditional to the candidate until taking and passing an on-site, proctored exam similar to the un-proctored, internet-based exam.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A thorough pre-employment, post offer background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, credit, education, criminal background information, and driving record may be required for this position.

For further information about this recruitment, please contact Chinna Nahabedian by e-mail at Chinna.Nahabedian@venturacounty.gov or telephone at (805) 654-2458.

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 or you may call (805) 654-2570.
• Retirement FAQ's
• Memorandum of Agreement

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

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• County of Ventura

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