Purchaser-Hybrid

Requisition ID: req968 Employment Type: Unclassified Regular Full-Time (URF) Division: Procurement and Contracts Compensation: 59,155.00 - 73,943.00, Annual Salary Location: TRS Job Closing: December 29th at 5:00 pm, CST

WHO WE ARE:
Service, Respect, and Connection are core to the individual and collective TRS experience. We know that great service rests on a foundation of relationships that connect us all to an empowering and rewarding career. At TRS, we're inspired by our diverse community who bring authenticity and commitment to our mission to improve the retirement security of public education employees and retirees throughout Texas.
As a group of achievers, we tap collaboration and innovation to raise the bar in performance, administering and counseling pensions and healthcare benefits to ensure certainty for the future of our members. We invite you to join us, where both personal and career growth are respected and where you can make a difference in our members' lives every day.

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The Purchaser is responsible for purchasing and procurement activities. The incumbent will prepare procurement documentation, purchase goods and services, and provide technical assistance. This position will proactively work with the Purchasing team, Business Administration staff, and agency employees.

This is a Hybrid position and requires days of onsite work a week conducted at our TRS office in Austin TX
WHAT YOU WILL DO:

Procurement Documentation
Coordinates the preparation, review, tracking, and expedition of purchase orders.
Develops bid specifications, including conferring with vendors and agency staff, to ensure items to be purchased are accurately and completely described.
Prepares and signs purchase orders for goods and services; coordinates with Legal Services and/or the to evaluate service delivery, coordinate corrective actions with vendors, and negotiate extensions or modifications to contracts; and enters information into state and/or agency purchasing systems.
Prepares formal solicitation documents (including Invitation for Bid, Requests for Offer, Requests for Proposal, and Requests for Qualifications) and distributes to appropriate vendors, including Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) vendors.
Reviews requisitions for completeness and compliance prior to processing the solicitation.

Purchasing
Analyzes vendor responses to determine best value, negotiates with vendors to develop best offer/proposal, and awards purchases.
Performs purchases of Automated Information Systems (AIS) utilizing Request for Offer process.
Processes ProCard purchases according to TRS ProCard rules and regulations and will be a TRS ProCard holder.
Processes purchase orders and other purchasing documents and enters information into state and/or agency purchasing systems.
Processes ProCard POs for agency ProCard holders
Reconciles and documents ProCard transactions that were purchased under their card according to TRS' rules and regulations.
Assists with the coordination of agency staff and vendors to ensure proper and timely delivery of goods and services and coordinates the return of incorrect products to vendors.
May monitor vendor performance.
Technical Support
Prepares regularly scheduled and ad hoc reports.
Maintains purchasing records and files
Provides technical assistance to purchasing staff, other agency staff, and vendors regarding state and agency purchasing regulations, policies, and processes.
Assists in the development/revision of purchasing related policies, procedures and systems.
Performs related work as assigned.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING:

Required Education
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in business administration, finance or a closely related field.
High school diploma or equivalent and additional full-time experience in purchasing, contract administration or similarly related experience may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.
Required Experience
Four (4) years of full-time directly related, progressively responsible experience in purchasing or contract administration for a Texas state agency or related experience.
One (1) years of full-time directly related, progressively responsible experience handling procurement for a Texas state agency or similarly related experience.
Experience may be concurrent.
A master's degree or doctoral degree in a closely related field may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.

Required Registration, Certification, or Licensure
Certification as a Certified Texas Contract Developer (CTCD) or must be obtained within one (1) year of employment if not already certified.
Certification as a Certified Texas Contract Manager (CTCM) or must be obtained within one (1) year of employment if not already certified.
Preferred Qualifications
Four (4) years of full-time directly related, progressively responsible experience handling procurement for a Texas state agency or similarly related experience.
One (1) year of experience using the formal solicitation process for awarding purchases.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

 Knowledge of:
General purchasing methods and practices of Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA) purchasing rules, regulations, policies, and processes, including the HUB program; and of the Centralized Masters Bidders List (CMBL).
Texas Smart Buy
Department of Information Resources
Formal Invitation for Bid, Request for Offer, Request for Proposal, and Request for Qualifications procedures and processes.
Skills in:
Analyzing vendor responses and determining best value for the agency.
Negotiating with vendors for better prices and terms.
Providing quality customer service.
Using a computer in a Windows environment with Microsoft Office word processing, spreadsheet, and other business programs, and accurately entering alpha/numeric data.
Planning, organizing, and prioritizing work assignments to manage a high-volume workload in a fast-paced and changing environment, and completing detailed work with a high degree of accuracy.
Effective verbal and written communication, including writing detailed specifications, solicitations, contracts, other purchasing documents, and correspondence.
Ability to:
Establish and maintain harmonious working relationships with co-workers, agency staff, vendors, contractors, and other external contacts.
Work effectively in a professional team environment.
Work independently and productively under minimal supervision.

Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) Codes:
Veterans, Reservists or Guardsmen with experience in the Military Occupational Specialty ( https://www.trs.texas.gov/files/trs-military-crosswalk.xlsx ) along with the minimum qualifications listed above may meet the minimum requirements and are highly encouraged to apply. Please contact Talent Acquisition at  careers@trs.texas.gov  with questions or for additional information.
To view all job vacancies, visit www.trs.texas.gov/careers  or www.trs.csod.com/careersite.
For more information, visit www.trs.texas.gov.