TECHNICAL ASSISTANT 2 PURCHASING

Definition

Under direction of a supervisory official, performs highly complex technical functions and supervises paraprofessional, and/or clerical staff in support of purchasing operations; does related work as required.

Examples of work

• Provides highly complex, direct, technical assistance to professional buying staff engaged in completing sophisticated procurements, special analytical projects, or investigations.
• Supervises the work of a small number of clerical and/or subordinate technical employees.
• Assigns work and gives directions, when required, to subordinate clerical and/or technical staff, explaining the prescribed and discretionary aspects of the tasks, procedures, and performance requirements necessary to ensure that work is completed efficiently.
• Plans, organizes, and assigns the work of the organizational unit and evaluates employee performance and conduct, enabling the effective recommendation of the hiring, firing, promoting, and disciplining of subordinates.
• Reviews, forwards, and recommends appropriate action on requisitions, obligations, purchase orders, and fund transfers to buying unit supervisors.
• Oversees the preparation and distribution of waiver documents, contract award notices, and bid proposals.
• Solicits and documents vendor price quotations and authorizes awards to the lowest responsive bidder.
• Oversees the receipt of bid applications and the compilation and maintenance of up-to-date bidders lists.
• Reviews and accepts or recommends rejection of vendor bid proposals.
• Monitors and keeps purchasing supervisors informed of key contract expiration dates.
• Tabulates complex bid proposals from multiple vendors and recommends awards, price and other factors considered.
• Monitors procurement transactions to ensure agency compliance with purchasing regulations and prompt payment of bills.
• Writes simple commodity specifications and reviews specifications written by purchasing staff for completeness and accuracy.
• Prepares clear, technically sound, accurate purchasing production reports for professional or management consideration.
• Coordinates the scheduling of facilities for and participates in training, bidders' conferences, and bid readings.
• Prepares procurement related correspondence.
• Coordinates the maintenance of essential contract, bid history and/or waiver records and files.
• May be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Education

Completion of sixty (60) semester hour credits at an accredited college.

Experience

Two (2) years of paraprofessional or technical support experience in procurement/purchasing.

License

Appointee will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of modern data collection, compilation, analysis, and interpretation techniques.
• Knowledge of purchasing methods, practices, routines, and modern office equipment applications.
• Knowledge of the problems encountered in organizing the work of subordinates and in developing effective work procedures in a purchasing agency.
• Knowledge of and familiarity with state/department policies, procedures, and documents after a period of training.
• Ability to analyze procurement problems, to collect and evaluate data, and to prepare clear, concise, technically sound reports.
• Ability to comprehend modern purchasing practices and organizational policies and procedures.
• Ability to organize clerical and/or paraprofessional work, to recognize the problems therein, and to develop effective work procedures.
• Ability to speak and write effectively and to analyze and interpret technical procurement information.
• Ability to coordinate the maintenance of essential purchasing files and records.
• Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

Applicants who do not possess the required sixty (60) semester hour credits may substitute additional experience as indicated above on a year-for-year basis.