Purchasing Agent

REDWOOD CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

CLASS TITLE: PURCHASING AGENT

RCSD takes pride in our dedicated workforce and strong connection with our students, families, and community. Our highly dedicated and skilled team of professionals provides a safe and supportive, inspirational and rigorous, joyful and inclusive environment for all learners. We are looking to build our workforce with a staff who share this vision and want to instill passion in learning emphasizing student strengths and gifts for all learners: all abilities, all ethnicities and cultural identities, LGBTQ+ youth, and multilingual learners.

BASIC FUNCTION:

Under the direction of an assigned supervisor, plan and direct all District purchasing functions and perform specialized clerical and technical duties relating to the acquisition of supplies, equipment, and materials for the District.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES:

• Receive, review, and process purchase requisitions; review requisitions for accuracy, completeness and authorized signatures; prepare requisitions for input; type, process distribute, file and mail purchase orders; maintain purchase order log and purchasing records.
• Maintain contact with District departments and divisions to answer questions and provide information related to the procurement of supplies and equipment and purchase orders; monitor progress of purchase orders.
• Develop vendor lists, research a variety of information and maintain related records and files.
• Negotiate annual purchase agreements and terms with vendors.
• Establish and maintain a system of vendor evaluation.
• Research a variety of purchasing information; contact vendors to obtain quotations and compare prices; verify accuracy of quotations or bids on items; correct any errors before purchase orders are written.
• Maintain bid lists and supply sources.
• Prepare bids and specifications. Analyze bids and make recommendations for bid awards to the assigned supervisor.
• Prepare standard list of supplies and equipment.
• Maintenance of standard stock catalog.
• Confer with warehouse and District personnel and vendors regarding delivery discrepancies and adjustments.
• Coordinate the annual purchase of warehouse and physical education supplies, magazines, and other supplies.

• Work with site or department administrators to discuss recommendations and development of specifications.
• Prepare and coordinate the issuance of Public Works Contracts.
• Serve as liaison with equipment repair companies on service contracts.
• Maintain fixed asset furniture and equipment inventory; coordinate the disposal of District personal property.
• Perform related duties and responsibilities as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE:

• Principles, practices, and legal requirements of public or school district purchasing.

• Methods, practices, and terminology used in financial clerical work.

• Basic work processing methods, techniques, and programs including spreadsheet and database operations and applications.

• Sources of purchasing information.

• Modern office practices, procedures and equipment.

• Principles of business letter writing.

• Principles and procedures of record keeping.

• Principles and practices used in dealing with the public.

• Basic mathematical principles.

• English usage, spelling, vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation.

ABILITY:

• Correctly interpret and apply the policies, procedures, laws, ad regulations pertaining to assigned programs and functions.
• Perform accurate mathematical computations
• Respond to requests and inquiries for information regarding District purchasing policies and procedures.
• Exercise good judgment flexibility, creativity, and sensitivity in response to changing situations and needs.
• Independently compose correspondence and memoranda.
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others.
• Work independently in the absence of supervision.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Any combination or equivalent; two years of college level training with specialized course work in purchasing, bookkeeping or related field, and two years of increasingly responsible experience.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

The Redwood City School District (RCSD) is an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. RCSD makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.