Buyer II - SR-18

Supervises and participates in the buying of a variety of commodities and services in a central purchasing operation; and performs other related duties as required.

There is one (1) immediate permanent full-time vacancy with the Department of Finance - Purchasing Division in Hilo.

The eligible list may be used for other permanent and temporary vacancies as they arise during the life of the list.   Temporary appointment may lead to conversion to permanent appointment.

• Supervises and participates in receiving, reviewing, and approving purchase requisitions, proposed contracts, and invoices for completeness and conformity to established regulations, procedures and policies.
• Checks to ensure that product and service specifications are sufficiently broad to cover all qualified bidders.
• Selects the method of soliciting bids, taking into consideration procurement policies, monetary amounts involved, types of suppliers to contact, urgency of the request, and number of items involved.
• Supervises and participates in negotiating purchase of commodities and services through formal or informal written bids.
• Analyzes and recommends award of bid.
• Conducts procurement training for divisional and county-level departmental employees.
• Assigns and supervises the work of subordinate staff which includes providing training; approving leaves of absence; conducting ongoing performance management; conducting job performance reviews; and making recommendations involving personnel actions such as hiring, promotions, transfers, disciplinary actions, etc.
• Processes purchase orders as required.
• Maintains Purchasing equipment inventory list.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Training and Experience: 
A combination of education and experience substantially equivalent to:

• graduation from high school, and
• five (5) years of experience in buying of a variety of commodities and services, and
• demonstrates supervisory aptitude*.

*Supervisory aptitude is the ability or potential of an individual to perform supervisory duties as demonstrated: 

• by the successful completion of regular or special assignments which involve some supervisory responsibilities or aspects, 
• by serving as a group or team leader, or in similar work in which opportunities for demonstrating supervisory capabilities exist, 
• by completion of training courses in supervision accompanied by application of supervisory skills in work assignments, or 
• by favorable appraisals by a supervisor indicating the possession of supervisory potential.

Knowledge of:  various types of commodities and services and their sources of supply; principles and practices used in government purchasing; policies and procedures of the Purchasing Division; the County Charter and ordinance and State statutes governing governmental purchasing; market conditions and price trends; interviewing techniques; basic research principles, techniques and methods, and office practices and procedures, including filing methods and systems.

Examination:   All applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements will be assigned a score of 70 points.  An education and experience evaluation will be conducted based on the applicant's training, education and experience as presented in the application.

Please read the minimum qualification requirements carefully.  Be certain to list all pertinent training and experience, as this may be important in determining your examination score.  It is essential that the applicant describe fully the duties and responsibilities of each position held, specify the date of each position held (from and to, month and year), and indicate the number of hours worked per week.   

Attach all required documentation (e.g. official transcript, professional license(s)/certification(s), DD-214, etc.) at the time of submitting your application. 

Note:   In-person interviews and/or further testing in Hawai'i County may be required at the discretion of the hiring department/agency.  If in-person interviews and/or further testing are required, applicants who are referred to the hiring department/agency must be available to participate in person and at their own expense at that phase of the selection process.

Ability to:  plan, assign, and review the work of subordinates; evaluate the quality and suitability of commodities and services; review and revise commodity and service specifications; research and evaluate market conditions and price trends; analyze and determine appropriateness of bids, and recommend awards; interpret policies, laws, and ordinances related to governmental purchasing; give and follow oral and written instructions; conduct training sessions; conduct effective interviews; establish and maintain effective working relationships with other County agencies, vendors and their representatives, and technical consultants; communicate effectively orally and in writing with vendor representatives, County personnel and the general public, effectively organize work and apply priorities, and operate standard office machines.

Physical Requirements:  Persons seeking appointment to positions in this class must meet the health and physical condition standards deemed necessary and proper to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.

Physical Effort Grouping:  Light

Benefits of County employment: The County of Hawai‘i offers a competitive compensation package.  Your total compensation is comprised of your salary and a generous range of valuable benefits, subject to eligibility requirements.

• Flexible Working Arrangements:  Options may include alternate work schedules (4-10) and flexible working hours.   (Not all Departments/Agencies participate and not all positions are eligible.)    
• Vacation:   Start accruing paid vacation time immediately upon hire – up to 21 days per year.
• Sick Leave:  Start accruing paid sick leave time immediately upon hire – up to 21 days per year.
• Holidays:   The County provides 13 paid holidays per year (plus General Election Day when applicable).
• Training and Development:  The County has a variety of training and development opportunities for employees.   
• County Tuition Reimbursement Program: This scholarship program rewards employees who take the initiative to advance their education and learning.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program:  You may be eligible for this federal program which forgives portions of federal student loans for individuals working in public service.  
• Retirement Plan:  The Employees’ Retirement System is a qualified defined benefit public pension plan that provides retirement, disability, survivor and other benefits to all eligible full-time and part-time county employees in the State of Hawaii as well as their beneficiaries.
• Deferred Compensation:  Save additional money for retirement - this voluntary supplemental retirement savings plan allows for the investment of tax-deferred contributions.
• Flexible Spending Plan:  Use pre-tax dollars to pay for qualified dependent care and/or medical expenses, as well as insurance premiums.
• Health Benefit Plans:  The County of Hawai‘i offers a variety of health benefit plans for eligible employees.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP):  This voluntary assistance program provides employees and their family members with free professional and confidential assistance in overcoming personal and work-related problems.
  • Group Life Insurance:  Free life insurance policy for active employees.  
  • Credit Union Membership
  • Other Leaves:  You may be eligible for other leaves, including Family Leave, Funeral Leave, Leave Sharing, Military Leave, Donor Leave, Victims Protection Leave, as well as leave for Parent-Teacher Conferences, Disaster Relief, Blood Bank Donations, and Jury Duty.

All benefits are subject to eligibility requirements and change due to legislative actions and/or changes negotiated through collective bargaining.  Please check out the benefits tab for additional information.

Please scan and attach these supporting documents to your on-line application, if required:

• an official college transcript,
• a valid driver's license,
• a temporary assignment verification, 
• professional licenses, and/or
• certificates.

Veterans applying for veteran's preference points shall also scan and attach their DD-214 form and as needed, their VA claim letter to the on-line application.

ELECTRONIC NOTIFICATION TO APPLICANTS:
Please ensure that the email address and mobile phone number you provide is current, secure, and readily accessible to you.  We will not be responsible in any way if you do not receive our emails and text messages or fail to check your email box or NEOGOV account INBOX in a timely manner.  Checking your NEOGOV account INBOX daily is recommended and is the most secure method to check on notices sent to you.  This is a new feature created by our vendor, NEOGOV. 
 
Please add [email protected] to your contact list.  Open your NEOGOV account using your user name and password.  In the upper right hand corner of the account is your name, and under your name, click on INBOX to view all notices sent you.   The notices will appear here in the INBOX even in the event you don't receive it on your cell phone, computer, or other electronic device.  This is the best way to check and view all notices sent to you.

You will receive a confirmation email upon successfully submitting your application. Failure to receive this confirmation email, indicates that your application was not submitted.

APPLICATIONS MUST BE FILED ONLINE AT:
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/countyhawaii
 
E-mail: [email protected]