Buyer

Position Summary Under general supervision, the Buyer is responsible for the economical procurement of materials, supplies, services, vehicles, equipment and machines required for the continual operation of the District's water and gas systems and business operations. Within the confines of established policies and procedures of the District and Nebraska state statutes, the Buyer has the authority to solicit bids and quotes, select vendors and place purchase orders.

Education
•Required - Bachelor's Degree Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting or related field required.
•Preferred - Emphasis of study in Supply Chain Management.
 

Minimum Requirements
•Required - Minimum of 2 years experience as a Buyer or Purchasing Agent or District experience with material management or procurement related functions. and
•Required - Experience working with computerized purchasing/inventory systems to process requisitions, create purchase orders and manage vendor information in enterprise software (i.e. SAP MM); as well as experience utilizing the internet as a resource to research industrial/corporate products, vendors and fulfil procurement requisitions.
 

Licenses, Certifications and/or Testing
•Required - Have and maintain a valid driver’s license Upon Hire
•Required - Pre-employment Background Check & Drug Screen Upon Hire
 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
•Knowledge and experience in the procurement of materials, and supplies used in the natural gas and water industries desired. (Entry proficiency)
•Strong analytical and confident decision-making skills necessary to assume daily procurement responsibilities which impact people, costs and quality of service.
•Proficiency with personal computers, tablets, and/or other electronic devices to include familiarity with, but not limited to, Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, Word) and enterprise wide software (e.g., SAP). (Intermediate proficiency)
•Ability to learn new or upgraded computer software as required.
•Ability to act independently without detailed instructions and meet established work priorities and deadlines, with strong attention to detail and a high degree of accuracy.
•Efficient written and verbal communication skills, in English, to assist internal and external customers, co-workers and management professionally, regardless of provocation.
•Excellent interpersonal skills to develop and foster effective relationships with both internal and external parties to ensure an uninterrupted and continual supply chain to support District operations.
 

Essential Functions
•Review requisitions for conformance to established policies, procedures and standards with specific attention to proper approvals, specifications, quantity compared to usage, special instructions, lead times and delivery requirements. Consult with requisitioner and make recommendations where appropriate.
•Request and receive bids/quotes, evaluate pricing, price extensions, terms, discounts, lead times, specifications and other applicable measures to determine the best overall value to the District prior to selection of vendor. Negotiate price, terms and delivery as to best benefit the District.
•Create and issue purchase orders to vendors and contractors. Inform requisitioning department of issuance.
•Research and review industry and market indexes and other applicable resources to make recommendations of purchases and contract extensions to best serve the District.
•Review, investigate, resolve and report vendor invoice discrepancies as required via enterprise software (i.e. SAP and VIM)
•Develop and maintain solid and ethical vendor relations and supply sources. Inspect samples, catalogs and internet sites for vendor products and coordinate contact between vendors and interested District parties. Seek out, research and approve potential vendors to assure a solid and viable vendor base.
•Keep abreast of new products, technology and services. Develop and revise specifications and vendor bid lists for new items in the natural gas and water market place.
•Create and manage annual contract orders as directed by the Director, Purchasing.
•Within an established timeframe, review outstanding purchase orders for vendor conformance to lead times and delivery. Resolve problems with vendor performance and expedite orders as required to meet District demands.
•Inform departments of anticipated price increases, material shortages, strikes, force majeure and other potential impacts to the District’s supply chain and business continuity.
•Arrange for the sale or disposal of scrap and/or surplus materials.
•Create and manage maintenance contracts as directed by the Director, Purchasing.
•Utilize enterprise software (i.e. SAP) to create, manage and maintain vendor profiles.
•Assist as directed in the coordination of activities within the Department to include, but not limited to, posting of bid invitations, conducting bid openings, processing contracts, releasing materials for contracts and training of department personnel.
•Handle stresses related to effectively complete the above referenced requirements.
•Fulfill responsibilities common to all Supervisory, Professional and Administrative positions as stated.
 

Required for All Jobs
•Perform a variety of other duties as assigned
•Understand and comply with all District policies and procedures

In contributing to the objectives of the District, this role is responsible for the initiation, cultivation, and maintenance of strong relationships of a business and professional nature. This position requires good communication skills and tact in order to maintain professional relationships with the following, but not limited to:

-Board of Directors

-All levels of District

-Internal and external customers

-Federal, State, and local agencies

-Community organizations and partners

-Consultants, contractors and other third-party organizations that fall within the scope of this
role

-Professional, industry, trade, and civic associations
 

Physical and Environmental Requirements
•Office: Work is primarily performed in an office setting amid normal conditions of dust, odors, fumes, office lighting and noise.
 

Hybrid Flexible Work Arrangement Job may be eligible for a hybrid in-office and work from home flexible work arrangement.
 

*Please see job posting on our Careers page for a full list of physical demands
*Please ensure the application is filled out thoroughly to be considered for this position

An Equal Opportunity Employer “Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran/Gender Identity/Sexual Orientation"