Purchasing Specialist

FUNCTIONAL PURPOSE:

Solicits, negotiates, administers, and settles significant contracts and purchases for services, supplies, and equipment, including informal purchases.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Performs market surveys to determine availability of products and producers; monitors industry factors related to purchase of items, such as strikes, shortages, and inflation; analyses market trends and the impact of socioeconomic considerations; reviews industry publications and meets with industry representatives to obtain information.

2. Develops new purchasing sources based on projected needs; resolves specification problems which limit competition; modifies contract clauses which discourage potential bidders from participating; works with contractors and potential bidders to identify possibilities for expanding competition and decides the best time to issue solicitations.