Buyer, Business

The purpose of this classification is to perform professional and administrative duties in the process of acquiring goods and services for Knox County.

The Buyer is responsible for the following essential functions:

• Processes purchase requisitions and ensures compliance with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures
• Identifies opportunities to utilize the electronic commerce card for purchases to reduce processing expenses and reconciles charges to the card on a monthly basis
• Formulates and prepares and Invitations for Bid and Requests for Proposals for all types of contracts
• Negotiates contract pricing and term bid renewals
• Evaluates bids and proposals to determine “Best Value”
• Evaluates proposal responses, pricing data, scope of services and contract terms
• Awards contract to successful vendors
• Negotiates contract pricing and term bid renewals.
• Reviews insurance, bid bonds, performance and payment bonds to ensure and verify financial viability and solvency of insurers and sureties
• Ensures that contact documents are maintained with County Procurement regulations, including contract extensions, renewals and modifications
• Performs market research and/or product research as needed
• Meets with vendors and end-users to gather information concerning product, price, vendor capacity, vendor performance and compliance and delivery.
• Creates spreadsheets from historical data regarding spending trends. Interprets trends to aid in forecasting.
• Provides a wide variety of customer service-related functions such as answering telephones, responding to questions regarding policies and procedures, and refers individuals to appropriate divisions of Knox County Government
• Respond to and report immediately if called upon by local, regional or central office supervisors, as part of a coordinated emergency response by the Knox County Mayor’s Office
• Ensure regular, punctual attendance during scheduled work hours
• Performs other duties as required

• High School diploma/GED required;
  Associates degree with business concentration preferred.
• Minimum of two (2) years’ buying experience,
• Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) certification is required per the guidelines of the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council
• Any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered for employment into the position.

• N/A
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite
• Excellent organizational skills
• Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
  
  Excellent communicator and active listener
• Ability to work in a position of moderate complexity
• Proficient is use of computers, printers and other office equipment
• Ability to focus and demonstrate great attention to detail
• Ability to work cooperatively as a member of a team

• This position requires the ability to engage in occasional light physical activity.
• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time working on a computer
• N/A

Knox County Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Knox County Government may provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.