Purchasing Agent jobs in Hawaii

• Plans, organizes, coordinates and administers the County's program of centralized purchasing and execution of contracts for equipment, supplies, and services.
• Directs the work involved in the purchase of materials, supplies, equipment, and contractual services through negotiations, informal contracts, or purchase orders and/or formal competitive bids.
• Certifies requisitions and purchase orders as to the proper application of purchasing and contracting laws and regulations.
• Reviews, analyzes, develops, and revises purchasing policies, procedures, and activities to ensure the County's compliance with laws, ordinances, and other requirements governing expenditures of government funds and to ensure that operating needs are met economically.
• Provides advice and assistance to departments on complex procurements; recommends language on requests for proposals and contracts; reviews proposals, specifications, and terms of contracts for purchases necessitating formal bid procedures.
• Oversees the public notice of bids, requests for professional services, requests for proposals, and contract awards to ensure compliance with laws and rules; reviews bids and agreements and recommends award of contracts.
• Develops, analyzes, revises, and implements policies and procedures for quantity purchase of materials and supplies, for the review and control of procurement and contract activities, and for all related transactions.
• Manages and oversees the County's purchasing card (PCard) program; develops, maintains, edits, and updates the related policies and procedures for the program, including the training and coordination with bank representatives.
• Develops and maintains positive working relationships with line agencies, vendors and their representatives, legal, technical, and accounting personnel, and the public.
• Maintains, edits, and updates the purchasing manual and other internal published policies, procedures, and guidelines; coordinates training for division staff and for County departmental procurement and clerical staff.
• Provides information and education for the public by directing activities for the promotion and development of interest among suppliers to bid on government contracts and for the development of new sources of supply.
• Directs work connected with the standardization of specifications; makes recommendations and serves on the Standardization Committee.
• Plans, organizes, coordinates, and administers an enforcement program to ensure that departments are complying with the various purchasing requirements.
• Serves as principal agent for the County to work with the State Procurement Office and other governmental agencies on matters relating to the procurement program.
• Serves as principal agent for the County in dealing with other governmental jurisdictions on procurement and surplus property matters.
• Serves as the primary resource to the Director of Finance, Mayor, and County Council on procurement matters; provides input on pending legislation affecting procurement; attends meetings and provides testimony as required.
• Participates in the resolution of protests on bidding and contracting problems.
• Assigns and reviews the work of subordinates; provides training as necessary; recommends personnel actions on leave requests, hires, promotions, performance evaluations, disciplinary actions, etc.
• Oversees the preparation and maintenance of required operational reports and records.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

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

• graduation from an accredited college or university with a baccalaureate degree in business administration, public administration, economics, or a related field (scan and attach your official college transcript to your application), and 
• four (4) years of progressively responsible work experience in a government or a centralized corporate purchasing environment which involved responsibility for the procurement and contracting of goods, services, or construction through formal purchasing methods, such as invitations for bids or request for proposals, and 
• two (2) years of experience in an administrative or supervisory capacity.

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.

Knowledge of:  principles and practices of governmental procurement; applicable laws, ordinances, and regulations governing purchases, expenditure of funds, agreements, and sales contracts; purchasing principles and practices; principles and practices of analyzing and developing procurement systems, policies, standards, and procedures; principles and practices of supervision; public relations.

Ability to:  plan, organize, coordinate, and direct the work of a central purchasing agency; review and control purchasing transactions and records; develop new sources of supplies; review contracts and agreements for propriety and legality; interpret laws, ordinances, and regulations and initiate and implement appropriate policies, procedures, and guidelines; establish and maintain good working relationships with representatives from other governmental agencies, vendors, and employees.

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

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