Buyer I, Zone 7

ZONE 7 WATER AGENCY

Zone 7 Water Agency is located in the Tri-Valley region of the eastern San Francisco Bay Area. It provides water on a wholesale basis to the cities of Pleasanton, Livermore, Dublin and the Dougherty Valley area of San Ramon, and flood-protection services to all of eastern Alameda County. Zone 7 employs approximately 116 full-time employees and has an operating budget for the 2014-15 fiscal year of $94 million. The Agency's administrative offices are located in Livermore, CA, the easternmost city of Alameda County, which is bordered by Contra Costa County to the north and San Joaquin County to the east. Livermore, California's oldest wine region, is known for the science and technology of its national laboratories, a historic downtown area and the surrounding farm lands and ranches that mirror the Valley's western heritage.

Zone 7 employees are committed to providing a reliable supply of high-quality water and an effective flood control system to the Livemore-Amador Valley in a fiscally responsible, innovative, proactive and environmentally sensitive way. We invite you to acquaint yourself with our dynamic Agency and its exciting employment opportunities.

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THIS RECRUITMENT HAS SPECIAL FILING INSTRUCTIONS. 

BE SURE TO READ THIS BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENT CAREFULLY.

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THIS IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION: The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year, but can be extended.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE:  A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application.  Applications and Supplemental questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Postmarks are not accepted.  Failure to submit the Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.  Applications will only be accepted on-line.

THIS RECRUITMENT HAS A LIMITED FILING PERIOD:  Application and supplemental questionnaire will only be accepted on-line, beginning December 1, 2014.

On December 1, 2014 the "Click Here to Apply" button will appear on this page.  Be sure to submit an application for this recruitment.  The completion of an application "TEMPLATE" will not substitute for the completion and submission of an application for this recruitment, 14-4953-01, Buyer 1, Zone 7.  

PLEASE NOTE:  The supplemental questionnaire will only be available for you to complete, along with the on-line application for this recruitment when the "Click Here to Apply" button becomes available on December 1, 2014.

THE POSITION:

Under supervision, assists the Buyer II, Zone 7 with performing purchasing work including working with various agency sections to specify materials, supplies, services and equipment needed, assists with bid notices and selection of bidders; tracks and ensures delivery of ordered items; and does related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES:

Buyer I is the entry level Purchasing class in which the incumbent receives on the job training and develops expertise to work independently. Incumbents in the class of Buyer I function in a supportive role and are assigned projects of a less complex nature where work is subject to review while in progress and upon completion. The Buyer I, Zone 7 receives direction and assignments from the Buyer II, Zone 7. This position differs from the Buyer II, Zone 7 in that the latter is responsible for overseeing the entire purchasing program for Zone 7. This position reports to the Accounting Manager, Zone 7.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE:

The Ideal Candidate for this position of Buyer I, Zone 7, will have demonstrated experience in the following areas:

• A thorough understanding of purchasing functions, industry trends, and one's own organization's position to contribute to effective business strategies and tactics;
• An understanding of the workings of public sector purchasing, and how to achieve results in these environments;
• Developing and using collaborative relationships to facilitate the accomplishments of work goals;
• Actively participating as a valued member of a work team;
• Seeking information to understand internal customer needs and developing appropriate solutions;
• Comparing data from different sources to draw conclusions;
• Negotiating terms, agreements, and understanding with others using all available information appropriately to guide decisions and meet objectives, while acting with integrity;
• Putting new knowledge, understanding, or skill to practical use on the job; furthering learning through trial and error;
• Providing exceptional service to internal and external customers;
• Ensuring the quality and accuracy of work products.

- Either

Pattern I:

The equivalent of two years full-time experience in the class of Buyer's Assistant in the Alameda County classified service (Non-classified includes the District Attorney’s Office, Hospital Authority, and the Consolidated Courts.)

Or

Pattern II:

The equivalent of three years full-time increasingly responsible purchasing experience that included developing/reviewing purchase orders, specifications and cost analysis in a public agency. (Completion of two years of education in business administration or a closely related field from an accredited college or university or a purchasing management certificate from a nationally recognized organization may be substituted for one year of the required experience.)

AND

- License:

All candidates must possess a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's license.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:

- Knowledge of:

• Characteristics of the different materials, supplies, and equipment, including specialized water treatment and laboratory equipment used by the agency.
• Applicable purchasing laws and regulations.
• Marketing principles and practices as they relate to purchasing.
• Principles and practices of purchasing for a public agency including techniques of price negotiation and preparation and evaluation of bid specifications.
• Practices and methods of purchasing by specification and competitive bidding.
• Basic financial record keeping, contract management, and mathematics as applied to purchasing.

- Ability to:

• Gather and analyze data.
• Reason logically, draw valid conclusions and make appropriate recommendations.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with vendors, department division, and the general public.
• Analyze and evaluate commodities of competitive bidders from vendors' descriptions or samples and award bids and contracts in accordance with established policy and law.
• Prepare accurate and concise product specifications.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Welfare Benefits

• Medical – HMO & PPO Insurance
• Dental – PPO & DHMO Insurance  
• Vision
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage) 
• County Allowance
• Health Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• Accident, Critical Illness & Hospital Indemnity
• Long Term Care Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Short-term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan – (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan

For your Work/Life Balance

• 11 paid holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Management Paid Leave**
• Group Auto/Home
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

** Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to seven days of management paid leave.

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Please add @acgov.org and alamedacountyHR@acgov.org as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the "My applications" button on the Current Job Openings page.

Please take the steps recommended above to insure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box alamedacountyHR@acgov.org are routed to an unmonitored mailbox.  If you have questions please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs. You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the job announcement for the recruitment for which you have applied.

Monique Hill, Human Resources Analyst II

Human Resource Services, County of Alameda

E-Mail Monique.hill@acgov.org

www.acgov.org/hrs

Alameda County is an Equal Opportunity Employer