Director - Purchasing

Title: Director - Purchasing

Employee Classification: Other Professionals

Institution: Southwest Tennessee Community College

Department: Finance

Campus Location: STCC - Multiple Campus Locations

Job Summary

This is a full-time, fiscal year appointment reporting to the Chief Financial Officer. The Director of Purchasing supervises the purchasing functions and serves as the liaison for the Cafeteria and Bookstore Auxiliary Services. Prepares requests for proposals and quotations, evaluates proposals and bids, prepares revenue and expenditure contracts, reviews all contracts, and procures the necessary goods and services required by the college in compliance with college, TBR, and State of Tennessee purchasing policies, procedures, guidelines, and the state legal code.

The Director is responsible for all reports and contract administration for the College. Also, the Director is responsible for the development of the purchasing and auxiliary services budget and for all expenditures of department funds. This position reports to the Chief Financial Officer.

Job Duties

• Reviews, negotiates, and prepares all expenditure and revenue contracts, amendments, addendums, and lease agreements for college. Ensure that all purchase orders, contracts, and leases comply with college, TBR, & State of TN purchasing & contracting policies, procedures & guidelines.
• Responsible for clear audit trail of records and files.
• Research TN Code Annotated to maintain currently knowledge of TN laws.
• Communicates with college personnel regarding writing specifications, making value analyses, negotiating, preparing requisitions, providing cost estimates, & answering questions regarding various purchasing activities.
• Ensures that bid documents are consistent in form & content to appropriate TN laws & policies.
• Assign sources of supply for each bid.
• Analyze bid documents & perform final review of departmental recommendations for award to ensure compliance with appropriate policies.
• Responsible for oversite and management of the College purchasing card program.
• Corresponds, both oral & written communication, with all levels of college personnel, existing & potential suppliers, TBR personnel & the public regarding purchasing activities; including preparation of various reports or performance of special projects as required by college personnel & TBR.
• Supervises staff to ensure efficient operation of the purchasing department.
• Approves requisitions & purchase orders; obligate funds for procurement of materials, equipment, & services, & obtain the best value at minimum cost for college.
• Prepares departmental budget & manage the expenses & operations within the limits of the approved budget for Purchasing, Cafeteria, and Bookstore.
• Attend appropriate conferences to acquire knowledge about current purchasing practices & enhance professional development.
• Coordinate distribution of surplus property notices & disposal of surplus property through the bid process.
• May perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business administration or related field.
  
• Five (5) years experience in supervising a procurement function.
  
• A background check is required for the successful candidate.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of purchasing & business practices both in industry and in TN state government & the ability to apply them.
  
• Ability to coordinate many activities simultaneously & the ability to work well under pressure.
  
• Ability to apply mature judgment & the highest of business ethics. Skilled in automated & computerized systems & software.
  
• Ability to apply analytical, interpretive, evaluative & constructive thinking in a variety of situations. Possess efficient planning methods, organizational skills, decision-making skills, & leadership & supervisory skills.
  
• Skills in writing proposals & various reports for all levels of college personnel. Ability to initiate oral & written communication & maintain a good working relationship with all levels of college personnel, suppliers, contractors, & business leaders in the community.
  
• Possess positive attitude & motivation to accept new responsibilities, skills & challenges as well as obtain a broad knowledge of most facets of the college in order to understand & anticipate the procurement needs of the college.
  
• Ability to understand, select, & develop employees in order to generate a team-oriented environment that elicits the philosophy & integrity of the college.