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, Contract Manager Office (CMO), Legal and Compliance (L&C), Finance, and agency employees.

This is a Hybrid position requiring onsite work a week conducted at our TRS office in Austin, TX- approximately two to three times a week or as required for business needs.

This vacancy will be filled at one of two levels – Purchaser OR Purchaser Senior. Selected applicant will be offered the position that most closely matches their education and experience.

Salary Range
Purchaser: $62,113 – $77,640
Purchaser Senior: $73,790 – $92,237

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

Procurement Documentation
• Coordinates the preparation, review, tracking, and expedition of purchase orders.
• Review requisitions for completeness and compliance before processing the solicitation.
• Develops bid specifications, including conferring with vendors and agency staff, to ensure items to be purchased are accurately and completely described.
• Prepares formal solicitation documents (including Invitations for Bids, Requests for Offers, Requests for Proposals, and Requests for Qualifications) and distributes them to appropriate vendors, including Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) vendors.
• Prepares and signs purchase orders for goods and services;
• Coordinates with Business Unit and/or evaluation committee members for selecting vendors.
• Works with L&C and/or CMO to negotiate service delivery; negotiates contract extensions or modifications; and works on any required corrective action plans.
• Reviews, tracks, and expedites purchase orders.(Senior)
• Develops complex bid specifications for large-dollar goods and services, including conferring with vendors and agency staff to ensure items to be purchased are accurately and completely described. (Senior)
Procurement
• Analyzes vendor responses to determine the best value, negotiates with vendors to develop the best offer/proposal, and awards purchases.
• Performs Automated Information Systems (AIS) purchases utilizing the Request for Offer process and/or DIR.
• Processes purchase orders against Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA) acquired contracts.
• Able to navigate TxSmartBuy System and issue purchase orders.
• Processes ProCard purchases according to TRS ProCard rules and regulations and will be a TRS ProCard holder; reconciles and documents ProCard transactions purchased under their card according to TRS’ rules and regulations.
• Processes purchase orders and other purchasing documents and enter information into state and/or agency purchasing systems.
• Coordinates with contract managers on returning incorrect products to vendors and assists agency staff and vendors in ensuring proper and timely delivery of goods and services.
• May assist contract managers and CMO in monitoring vendor performance.
Technical Support
• 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.
• Prepares required statutory reports and monitoring legal and regulatory requirements pertaining to purchasing.(Senior)

• Performs related work as assigned.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING:

Required Education
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in business administration, finance or a closely related field.
• A high school diploma or equivalent and additional full-time experience in purchasing, contract administration, or similarly related experience may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.
Required Experience
• Four (4) years of full-time directly related, progressively responsible experience in purchasing, contract administration or related experience.
• One (1) year of full-time directly related, progressively responsible experience handling procurement for a Texas state agency or related experience.
• Six (6) years of full-time directly related, progressively responsible experience in purchasing or contract administration for a Texas state agency or related experience. (Senior)
• Two (2) years of full-time directly related, progressively responsible experience handling procurement for a Texas state agency or related experience. (Senior)
• Experience may be concurrent.
• A master’s degree or doctoral degree in a closely related field may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.
Required Registration, Certification, or Licensure
• Certification as a Certified Texas Contract Developer (CTCD) or must be obtained within six (6) months 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
• Four (4) years of full-time directly related, progressively responsible experience handling procurement for a Texas state agency or related experience.
• One (1) year of full-time directly related, progressively responsible experience using the formal solicitation process for awarding purchases or related experience.
• Five (5) years of full-time directly related, progressively responsible experience handling procurement for a Texas state agency or related experience. (Senior)
• One (1) year of full-time directly related, progressively responsible experience using the formal solicitation process for awarding purchases or related experience. (Senior) 

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.
• Department of Information Resources process for IT contracts and services (Senior)
Skills 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.