SUPERVISOR OF PURCHASING AND SERVICES, STATE COLLEGES
Career Family: SUPERVISOR
To land Supervisor of Purchasing and Services, State Colleges in New Jersey you go through the competitive route: you sit an announced exam and the score puts you on the eligible list agencies hire from.
A bachelor's degree is the listed credential, and extra years on the job can be traded for it. The FY2027 range lands between $83,582 and $122,832.
How to apply
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Exam
This is an application to sit an exam and be placed on an eligible list for this title, not an application for a specific job. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. There may be no current vacancy behind it, and the list it produces may not be certified for months or years.
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Exam
Open to permanent employees in the competitive division who hold a qualifying lower title in the same unit. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. Like the open competitive exam, this places you on a list; it is not itself a job offer.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator.
Definition
Under the direction of the Director, Business Services I, State Colleges, or other supervisory officer, Department of Higher Education, directs a buying team whose responsibility is to administer a purchasing program and an ancillary services program by planning, organizing and implementing work programs and developing appropriate policies and working procedures; does related work as required,
Examples of work
Responsible for all phases of purchasing including the keeping of up to date vendor lists, specifications new development and writing, vendor relations, preparing bid documents, advertising of bids, furnishing samples, awarding of contracts, making emergency purchases, expediting deliveries, receiving, verifying shipments, final delivery to user, transfer and/or disposal of surplus, used and/or obsolete property, and handling of any complaints. Responsible for all phases of the ancillary services programs consisting of 12 primary areas. (Food Services, Mail, Printing & Duplicating, Telecommunications, Warehousing, Records Retention, Fixed Asset Inventory Control, Courier Services, Insurance, Surplus Property, Lounges, and Vending). Creates and supervises all purchasing and warehouse office procedures including record keeping, consecutive numbering of purchase orders, requisitions, preparation of insurance forms, professional contract retention, annual contract retention, vendor catalog library, commodity code listings, federal vendor identification numbers, annual contract numbers and expiration dates, perpetual inventory records of all supplies stocked in the warehouse, filing of bills of lading, and miscellaneous shipping and receiving receipts, etc. Reviews the needs and requirements of the college to determine whether special procurement arrangements need to be made and implements them within the framework of college policy and any other rules, laws, or regulations which may apply Sets levels of quality for the materials purchased by the college and inspects them to see that they meet these levels. Maintains a working knowledge of all fields in which the college requires the procurement of materials and services including janitorial supplies, consultant services, professional services, educational supplies and equipment, scientific apparatus, office supplies and equipment, medical supplies and equipment, fuel oil, lumber, insurance services, road materials, snow removal services, carpeting, chemicals, drugs, and in general all materials, supplies and services which are necessary for the operation of the college. Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting and/or disciplining of employees. Sets appropriate criteria for judging whether a vendor can perform adequately to satisfy the needs of the college. Visits plant sites when necessary. Handles all vendor protests and complaints and related public relations programs pertaining to the purchasing program. Prepares bidding documents and analyzes bids in order to insure that the college receives the goods and services it requires at the best possible prizes. Maintains a complete familiarity with all internal local, state and federal rules, laws and regulations which deal with purchasing and reviews each purchase order to ensure compliance. With the concurrency of the Director of Business Services, formulates all purchasing policy and initiates whatever steps are necessary to implement such policy. Designs all forms troth for internal and external use by the Purchasing Staff. Maintains a working relationship with all department heads and concerned administrators and faculty in order to facilitate the proper requisitioning of the goods, materials, supplies and services which they require. Addresses departments or groups of concerned individuals regarding any and all phases of the Purchasing and Ancillary Services Programs. Prepares statistical reports and documents for reporting on past performances and the projecting of future trends and goals.
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
Ability to acquire thorough knowledge of State Government and how it relates to the particular problems and needs of the college. Thorough knowledge of the administration, organization and management of a diversified group and solving problems accordingly. Ability to acquire thorough knowledge of and familiarity with the laws, regulations, policies, standards, and procedures of the Purchase Bureau. Ability to acquire thorough knowledge of the services and commodities purchased by the college. Considerable knowledge of shipping and transportation details and related problems. Considerable knowledge of basic source materials relating to qualities and standards established for varied types of equipment, materials, supplies, machines and commodities and their application to specific procurement problems. Wide knowledge of State and College record-keeping procedures, budget procedures, and related budgetary problems. Ability to organize and assign field, office, and other purchasing work for the college and to develop effective work methods in accordance with prescribed procedures. Ability to comprehend, analyze and interpret State and college purchase regulations and ensure their implementation. Ability to create and maintain a harmonious relationship with associates, superior officers, state and college department officers, vendors, and salespeople and with others concerned with purchase matters. Ability to guide staff members in the creation of committees for development of ists of standard items to be used by all college departments. Ability to draft proposals specifically designed to ensure timely delivery at the best possible price of services or commodities of the required quality. Ability to analyze bids to determine which bid constitutes the best value offered to the state. Ability to supervise the orientation and training of Buyer personnel and other employees. Ability to interview salespeople, vendors, and departmental representatives. Ability to determine actions required to expedite delivery of purchases. Ability to oversee studies of commodities purchased and to create proposals which best meet college requirements. Ability to address large groups of agency representatives. Ability to write for publication, articles concerning commodities, services, and general procedural information. Ability to drift correspondence and reports. Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently Lo 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 if they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot he made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Note
Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience. Nine (9) years of professional experience in the large scale purchase of commodities materials, equipment and/or supplies, three (3) years of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and five (5) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, three (3) years of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity. "Professional experience" refers to work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession's principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the authority to act according to one's own judgment and make accurate and informed decisions.