Buyer I

Department: Procurement and Real Estate Services
Employee Group: Teamsters Local 31
Location: 4515 Central Boulevard, Burnaby
Salary Range/ Wage Rate: PG T25 $3,434.33 – $4,054.93 bi-weekly

Our Procurement and Real Estate Services Department is seeking a Buyer I who will contribute towards Vancouver’s future livability by procuring critical goods and services.

You are: Experienced Buyer with expertise in procurement and Category Management specially Corporate Services Categories, including goods and professional services. Proactive and detail-oriented, with a proven ability to manage end-to-end public solicitations. You bring a continuous improvement mindset to enhance processes, deliver value, and manage commercial risk.

This role:

• In conjunction with client departments, prepares detailed specifications and related documents; assists in the preparation of criteria of acceptable vendors; arranges for calling of selected and advertised tenders; ensures all information is uniformly distributed; analyzes bids as to price, quality, quantity, future availability, past performance, etc.
• Independently, or in conjunction with client departments, interviews suppliers, negotiates satisfactory price discounts, terms, delivery methods and dates and related items; determines the most appropriate source of supply.
• Drafts contract language according to precedent; researches and obtains information and material required from a variety of sources.
• Reviews all tenders, requests for proposal and contracts to ensure appropriate purchasing treatment including levels of indemnification and to verify required insurance and bonding certification; administers and monitors awarded product and service contracts.
• Performs research and analysis of products and services, and prepares reports and recommendations on purchasing of same; provides assistance to client departments regarding purchasing matters.
• Liaises with external and internal contacts such as engineers, architects, project managers, contractors, suppliers and lawyers.
• Maintains purchasing records and prepares summary statistical and information reports.
• Performs related work as required.

To be successful, you have:

• Completion of the 12th school grade supplemented by courses in a recognized purchasing program, such as completion of the majority of courses leading to a diploma in the Supply Management Training program of the Supply Chain Management Association, plus considerable related experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Considerable knowledge of the policies and procedures governing municipal purchasing.
• Considerable knowledge of the sources, quantities, types and prices of products and services required.
• Considerable knowledge of market conditions, price trends, business conditions and governmental regulations affecting the work.
• Sound knowledge of the functions and requirements of the departments served.
• Sound knowledge of contract law, negotiation, and corporate insurance.
• Ability to evaluate quality, price and service factors to determine quality and suitability of all products and services.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of internal and external contacts.
• Ability to prepare specifications and related documents for a variety of products and services and to monitor and administer such contracts.
• Ability to study and review market conditions and prepare reports and recommendations on purchasing matters.
• Driver’s Licence for the Province of British Columbia.