Purchasing Manager

Northern Wasco County PUD is seeking an experienced and driven Purchasing Manager to lead our Purchasing team. This is an exciting new opportunity for a strategic professional who is ready to make a meaningful impact within a collaborative and forward-thinking organization. This full-time, exempt role offers a Monday-Thursday, 4/10 work schedule.

Flexible hybrid position requiring a minimum of two in-office days a week, with additional on-site presence as necessary. 

The Purchasing Manager, as the subject matter expert in procurement and purchasing, is responsible for implementing the PUD’s public procurement and purchasing policy and maintaining compliance with financial reporting requirements. Ensures compliance with State laws and PUD policy for public purchases. Follows applicable bidding procedures, creates, and negotiates purchasing contracts. Establish processes for the procurement function, collaborates with managers to determine appropriate purchasing requirements to achieve the District’s strategic initiatives, and perform analysis on purchasing trends and forecast material needs to accommodate supply chain constraints. Maintains records and assists with risk management activities as they relate to contracts, vendors, and purchasing activities. Directs and manages the purchasing and warehouse staff to ensure alignment with strategic initiatives, supports and encourages District’s culture, and promotes staff’s personal and professional growth. Provides a high level of customer service to District staff and presents recommendations and/or data to executive management and the Board of Directors as required.

SUMMARY OF BENEFITS: We are proud to offer a comprehensive and very competitive benefits package including but not limited to:

Generous PTO Accruals

11 Paid Holidays

100% employer paid premium for Medical/Rx/Dental for individual and/or family coverage

100% employer paid premium for vision coverage for individual and/or family coverage

100% employer paid Basic Life Insurance 2X annual salary

401(k) 7.5% base + 7.5% match = 15% total possible employer contribution

457(b) 

100% employer paid Short Term Disability and Long Term Disability

HRA VEBA employee funded

Wellness Incentive to HRA VEBA employer funded

100% Paid Business Travel Insurance

Voluntary benefits

GENERAL ACCOUNTABILITIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

•  Ensures policies and procedures are reviewed, upheld, revised, and adopted in accordance with 
    State procurement laws. Continuously performs regulatory research, reviews, and improves 
    procurement policies for compliance and clarity.
•  Oversee the compliance requirements for tracking and reporting necessary information as required 
    by State procurement laws.
•  Review and update existing administrative regulation as necessary. Develop and implement  
    administrative regulations and standard operating procedures for purchasing, contract management, 
    and inventory management.
•  Provide training on updated and new administrative regulations and standard operating 
    procedures.
•  Ensure effective contract administration by managing contract development and approval 
    process.
•  Provide direct supervision, coaching, and performance management of assigned staff.
•  Lead recruitment, selection, and retention efforts for department personnel.
•  Establish clear performance standards and priorities aligned with District goals.
•  Leads the development and implementation of the Purchasing staff goals, objectives, and 
    priorities.
•  Hold employees accountable for safety, productivity, and compliance with District 
    policies.
•  Handles discipline and termination of employees in accordance with District policies.
•  Collaborates cross-departmentally to identify and develop timeframe requirements for equipment, 
    materials, inventory, products, services, and acceptable substitutions. Consider external and 
    internal influences which may affect procurement of necessary goods or services.
•  Assesses current material and inventory availability; reasonably predicts future need and 
    availability based on the market, delivery systems, and other variables.
•  Reviews requisitions and creates purchase orders (POs) for materials, inventory, supplies, 
    equipment, and services.
•  Creates and reviews contracts and requests for proposals (RFPs). Collaborates with legal counsel 
    to ensure appropriate terms and conditions and other legal clauses for individual contracts are 
    appropriate.

•  Reviews scopes of work and confirms project requirements with purchasing staff, SME’s, and 
    leadership.
•  Evaluates and approves conditions for issuing and awarding bids.
•  Assist staff with various contract variables including resolution of grievances with vendors, 
    contractors, and suppliers.
•  Supports project managers or project management process with risk management and 
    negotiations.
•  Assist staff with contract management
•  Prepares and presents management reports on procurement data and issues and identifies trends 
    and practices in procurement. Keeps Chief Financial Officer informed on a proactive basis regarding 
    procurement issues and trends.
•  Provide direction, guidance, and training for purchasing staff by creating and communicating a 
    plan for the department that includes collaboration with all departments in the District and 
    providing necessary resources.
•  Ensure the District meets its legal and financial obligations with vendors and labor/service 
    providers by reviewing and updating contracts and vendor information, working closely with contract 
    work managers, contractors, insurance companies, Dept. of Labor & Industries, and the Department of 
    Revenue.
•  Collaborate with managers and oversee the annual purchasing budget for the District.
•  Review budget to actual variances monthly.
•  Represent the District in meetings with contractors, vendors, and regulatory agencies.
•  Demonstrates cultural competency through respectful, inclusive work habits and through the 
    valuing and welcoming of cultural differences in all position responsibilities.
•  Supports the District’s mission to serve our customers and foster a safe and positive work 
    environment by personally exhibiting behavior that aligns with the District’s Core Values & 
    Beliefs.
•  Must perform the duties of this position in a safe and efficient manner and follow all safety 
    regulations and protocols.
•  Other duties as assigned.

Secondary Functions:

•  Participate in cross-departmental process improvement initiatives.
•  All PUD employees are expected to work outside of normal business hours when required during 
   emergency restoration activities and to accomplish other special projects.

Skills/Knowledge/Abilities: PLEASE NOTE: This position requires the use of various tools/equipment 
that are related to performing the essential functions of this job.

•  Advanced knowledge and ability to apply public sector procurement principles and practices, 
    competitive bidding requirements and exceptions including alternative contracting methodologies.
•  Knowledge of applicable Federal, State, and local laws, rules, regulations, codes, and/or 
    statutes.
•  Knowledge of contract negotiations, administration and maintenance principles and 
    practices.
•  Working knowledge of governmental accounting practices and processes, including but not limited 
    to procurement requirements related to Federal and State grants.
•  Knowledge of Internet research techniques and methods to use on-line bidding and procurement 
    systems.
•  Working knowledge of principles and procedures associated with public procurement records and 
    retention.
•  Working knowledge of computer applications related to work, including automated purchasing 
    systems, word processing and spreadsheet software.
•  Knowledge and ability to prepare a purchase order, type of purchase order to create, appropriate 
    coding of items being purchased, and what terms and conditions must be attached to the purchase 
    order.
•  Ability to determine if purchase is a capital or operating & maintenance expenditure that is 
    budgeted. Understanding of governmental account coding for expenditures listed on a purchase order.
•  Knowledge and ability to budget and forecast purchases necessary to accomplish District’s 
    strategic initiatives and goals.
•  Knowledge and ability to manage and oversee District warehouse, including purchasing of 
    inventory, supplies, and necessary services.
•  Create expenditure models to look at purchasing trends.

•  Ability to provide a high level of customer service to public and District staff, in person and 
    over the telephone.
•  Ability to teach and explain policies, procedures, and practices of purchasing processes to all 
    staff with varying levels of purchasing experience.
•  Possess technical writing and proofreading skills, including the ability to draft contract 
    language.
•  Possess complex critical thinking skills using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and 
    weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
•  Possess advanced problem solving to identify complex problems and review related information to 
    develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
•  Ability to establish and effectively demonstrate productive time management of own workload 
    amongst competing priorities.
•  Possess strong verbal and written communication skills.
•  Possess interpersonal skills and attention to detail.
•  Ability to use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment.
•  Understands the importance and possess the ability to establish, maintain, and foster positive 
    and harmonious working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Supervisory and/or Functional or Technical Responsibility or Oversight:

•  Direct supervisory responsibility over purchasing staff and union warehouse staff.
•  Provides functional and technical oversight of procurements, contracts, and budgets.
•  Provides training and advises departments and staff at all levels on purchasing protocols and 
    policies.

QUALIFICATIONS: Recommended Education, Training & Experience (includes licenses or certifications): 
Other combinations of education and/or experience demonstrating the knowledge, skills, and 
abilities required to do the work will also be considered.

Education/Experience:
•  Bachelor’s degree in construction management, business, supply chain management, public policy, 
    or similar field required.
•  Seven (7) or more years of complex purchasing experience required, preferably in a public agency 
    or public organization.
•  Two (2) or more years’ experience in inventory management.
•  Minimum of five (5) or more years of experience in a management or supervisory role.
•  Experience or advanced knowledge of State law as related to procurement compliance 
    responsibilities.

Licensing or Certifications Preferred:
•  Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB), Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO), or 
    other certifications related to procurement preferred
•  Certifications in contracts administration and utility procurement or similar program

Job Scope:
•  Works on extremely complex non-routine assignments where analysis of situations or data requires 
    an evaluation of intangible variables. Exercises judgment in developing methods, techniques, and 
    evaluation criteria for obtaining results.
•  Guide activities and decisions that affect work accuracy, reliability, service quality, systems, 
    or operations with moderate to significant financial impact and moderate impact to the public, 
    policyholders, business partners, and other customers through multiple contacts or activities that 
    require relationship management and impact on the District's image and reputation.
•  Provides input to and directly supports strategic direction of the organization.

•  Decisions focus on monthly, annual, and long-term activities to create and define goals and 
    processes to achieve assigned objectives.
•  Responsible for functional area(s), works through teams or non-direct reports to achieve 
    objectives. Provides input on defining policies, procedures, and objectives for accomplishing work 
    within the functional area and/or program and monitors achievement of objectives.
•  Tasks and information relative to this position are of a confidential and/or sensitive nature 
     requiring strict confidentiality and professional conduct.
•  Priority of tasks or projects can change quickly and might require multiple projects being 
    worked at the same time while waiting for additional information or direction of project.

Mental or Visual Demand:

Concentrated mental and/or visual attention; the work involves performing complex tasks to very
close accuracy and quality specifications; or a high degree of hand and eye coordination for
sustained periods.

Working Conditions:

The job is typically performed under very comfortable working conditions; any disagreeable  

elements are generally absent during normal performance of job

Physical Requirements: Physical demands are that typically needed for an office environment such as sitting, standing, walking/ability to be mobile, keyboarding. 

This organization believes that each employee makes a significant contribution to our success.  That contribution should not be limited by the assigned responsibilities.  Therefore, this job description is designed to outline primary duties, qualifications, and job scope, but not to limit the incumbent nor the organization to just the work identified.  It is our expectation that each employee will offer their services wherever and whenever necessary to ensure the success of our endeavors. Northern Wasco County PUD reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

***Northern Wasco County PUD is an Equal Opportunity Employer