The Purchaser Associate is responsible for assisting with purchasing and procurement activities. The incumbent will assist with the preparation of 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.

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.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

Procurement Documentation
Purchaser Associate
• Coordinates the preparation, review, tracking, and expedition of purchase orders.
• Prepares and signs purchase orders for goods and services; coordinates with Legal Services and/or 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.
• Reviews requisitions for completeness and compliance prior to processing the solicitation.
• Assists in developing bid specifications, including conferring with vendors and agency staff, to ensure items to be purchased are accurately and completely described.
• Assists with preparing 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.
Purchaser
•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
Purchaser Associate or Purchaser
•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
Purchaser Associate or Purchaser 
• 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:

Education:
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university.
• High school diploma and additional purchasing, contract administration, or closely related experience may substitute for the required education on an equivalent year-for-year basis.
Experience:
Purchaser Associate
• Three (3) years of full-time procurement or closely related experience.
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.
Purchaser
•Four (4) years of full-time procurement or closely related experience.
•One (1) year of procurement experience in a Texas State agency.
•Experience may be concurrent.
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:
Purchaser Associate 
•Associate’s or bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
•Three (3) years of procurement experience in a Texas state agency.
•One (1) year of experience using the formal solicitation process for awarding purchases.
•Certified Texas Contract Developer (CTCD) or eligible to be certified within the first year of employment.
Purchaser
•Four (4) years of procurement experience in a Texas state agency.
•One (1) year of experience using the formal solicitation process for awarding purchases.
•Certified Texas Contract Developer (CTCD) and/or Certified Texas Contract Manager (CTCM) or eligible to be certified within the first year of employment
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.
Skill 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.