Buyer - II

Introduction

Living in Placer County from Placer County Video Portal

Placer County is comprised of over 1,400 square miles of beautiful and diverse geography, ranging from the residential and commercial areas of South Placer, through the historic foothill areas of Auburn, Foresthill, and Colfax, and to the County's jewel of the North Lake Tahoe basin. Placer is a great place to live, work, play, and learn! For more information about Placer County, please visit www.placer.ca.gov.

POSITION INFORMATION

The Procurement Services Division of the Department of General Services is currently accepting applications for Buyer - I and Buyer - II. This position is responsible for the purchase of materials, supplies, equipment, and services for use by County departments through the use of formal or informal solicitations, and other related purchasing functions.

The ideal candidate should possess strong analytical skills and an awareness or knowledge of fundamental purchasing requirements, ideally for a governmental entity. Each level in this job series has different minimum qualifications. To participate in the recruitment at the I level, II level, or both levels, you must complete and submit separate applications for each recruitment:

Buyer - I #2026-14755-01

Buyer - II #2026-14757-01

The eligible lists established as a result of these recruitments may be used to fill future vacancies as they arise, subject to position-specific requirements.

BENEFITS

Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees. The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change. Applicants should inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.

Click here to view Placer Public Employees Organization (PPEO) benefits.

For more information regarding the benefits Placer County has to offer, please visit Placer County's Human Resources website.

DEFINITION

To purchase, or negotiate to purchase, materials, supplies, equipment, and services for use by County departments; to consult with departments in assessing requirements and developing specifications for the procurement of goods and services; and to prepare and conduct formal and informal competitive solicitations.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is the full journey level class within the Buyer series. This class is distinguished from the Buyer I by the assignment of the full range of duties. Employees at this level receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies within the work unit. Positions in this class are flexibly staffed and are normally filled by advancement from the entry level.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives direction from higher level-professional staff.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Analyze, evaluate, and make recommendations for solicitation awards for the purchase of goods and services utilized by County departments.
• Conduct formal solicitations and prepare specifications for acquisition of a wide variety of goods and services utilized by County departments.
• Conduct informal solicitations by telephone, letter, personal contact, computerized system, or any other manner appropriate for acquisition of goods and services utilized by County departments.
• Maintain a variety of records relating to the purchasing function; prepare reports and correspondence.
• Provide liaison assistance between County departments and vendors.
• Negotiate and administer contracts to ensure that goods and services are delivered consistent with contract and bid specifications.
• Conduct research on market conditions, product developments, and relative merits of individual products and vendors.
• Assist County departments in assessing their needs; advise departments on quantities to be purchased to obtain better prices; provide information on how to prepare specifications for purchases and requisition procedures.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with coworkers, other County employees, and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is typically performed in an indoor office and/or warehouse environment with controlled temperature conditions. Position may require travel to and from other locations in a variety of outdoor weather conditions and lifting various materials and supplies.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Show Your Qualifications

When applying, please be sure to clearly describe how your background meets each of the Minimum Qualifications listed below. This ensures our screening team can accurately evaluate your eligibility.

Experience: Two years of responsible purchasing experience with a large business or governmental agency.

Training: Equivalent to an associate’s degree from an accredited college with major course work in business administration, public administration, economics, or a related field.

Required License or Certificate:

• May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position. Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.
• Possession of or ability to obtain the Certified Professional Public Buyer or equivalent certification is desirable.

Experience as a Substitute

You may substitute relevant, equivalent experience for the required education. The Human Resources Department will evaluate your background to ensure it qualifies as the same knowledge, skills, and abilities as the specified degree or coursework.

International Degrees

If you earned your degree outside the United States, you must provide proof of accreditation from a recognized evaluation agency. Please attach this documentation to your application to ensure your education is verified.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Buyer I

Knowledge of:

• Purchasing principles and practices.
• Techniques of organization and planning.
• Basic record keeping, statistics, and data processing principles, including the use of common spreadsheet and word processing software used on personal computers.

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; intermittently analyze work papers, reports, and special projects; identify and interpret technical and numerical information; observe and solve problems relating to operational and technical policy and procedures.
• On a continuous basis, sit at a desk for long periods of time; intermittently twist to reach equipment surrounding desk; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; use telephone and write or use a keyboard to communicate through written means; lift heavy weight.
• Keep abreast of market conditions, product developments, and the relative merits of individual vendors.
• Learn the methods of purchasing by specifications and competitive bidding.
• Learn to use specialized financial, procurement, and data management software utilized within County departments.
• Learn pertinent local, state, and federal laws, ordinances, and rules applicable to public procurement.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

Buyer II

In addition to the qualifications for Buyer I:

Knowledge of:

• Pertinent local, state, and federal laws, ordinances, and rules applicable to public procurement.
• Solicitation methods for the purchase of goods and services.
• Characteristics of materials, supplies, equipment, and contracted services used by large public agencies.
• Statistical methods, analyses, and the use of statistics in reports.

Ability to:

• Exercise independent judgment and initiative on purchasing matters.
• Prepare detailed and complex numerical and narrative reports.
• Prepare for and conduct effective meetings with internal and external stakeholders.
• Interpret and explain pertinent local, state, and federal laws, ordinances, and rules applicable to public procurement.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

Training & Experience Rating 100%

Applicants are required to complete a Supplemental Questionnaire,which serves as the examination for this recruitment.

• Evaluation: We use a pre-determined formula to score your responses related to education, training, and professional experience.

Accuracy: Please ensure your application and questionnaire thoroughly reflect your background, as these scores determine your ranking on the eligible list.

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

Length of Probation:

All permanent appointments from open eligible lists to positions in the classified service shall serve a probationary period of twelve (12) months or two thousand eighty (2,080) hours, whichever is more.

Bargaining Unit:

General

Salary Grade:

GNRL-82 – Range A

GNRL-82 – Range B

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT

Pre-Hire Requirements

Candidates must complete the following requirements before their start date if an offer is extended:

• DOJ Criminal Background Clearance: Successfully complete a fingerprint-based background check through the California Department of Justice.

• Medical Evaluation: Pass a pre-employment physical, which may include drug screening and/or a psychological evaluation.

• Oath of Office: Subscribe to the constitutional oath or affirmation as required for all public employees by the California Constitution.

• Employment Eligibility Verification: Provide original documents that establish both identity and the legal right to work in the United States, as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Position-Specific Requirements

In addition to the above, some positions may require one or more of the following:

• Age Verification: Provide documentation verifying that you meet the minimum legal age requirements for this position.

• Background Check: Some positions require a background investigation. This may include a credit check, voice stress analysis, polygraph, and/or proof of bonding.

• Law Enforcement: Applicants for law enforcement functions must complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process.

• Medi-Cal Access/Licensing: Applicants with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification.

Failure to clear all requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.

SUBSTITUTE LISTS

Substitute Lists

The eligible list from this recruitment may be used to fill vacancies in similar roles or lower-level positions within the same career series (e.g., journey-level vs. entry-level).

• Interviews: If contacted to interview for a similar role, the hiring department will provide the specific job details before the interview.
• No Risk: Choosing not to interview for a different classification will not affect your standing on the original list for which you applied.

EMPLOYEES OF OTHER PUBLIC AGENCIES

Public Agency Eligible List

If you are a current or recent employee of another public agency, you may qualify for an expedited application process. Visit our Employees of Other Public Agencies page to view eligibility requirements, download required forms, and submit an application.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Placer County is an equal opportunity employer committed to a workplace free from unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. All applicants and employees receive fair and equal consideration in every stage of employment. Employment decisions are based on job‑related qualifications and are not influenced by any protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law. Refer to our Equal Employment Opportunity Program and Policy Statement (PDF) for detailed information.

Applicants who need an accommodation during the recruitment or examination process should contact Human Resources at least five working days before the scheduled exam.

Conclusion

For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Hannah Moore, Administrative Technician, at hmoore@placer.ca.gov or (530) 886-4667.