State of Maryland

A Buyers Clerk is advanced level clerical work in the details involved in assisting a Buyer in purchasing functions including the letting of bids, requisitioning, and buying. Employees in this classification works directly under the supervision of a Buyer or other purchasing official acting as a purchasing agent in preparing contracts for the purchase of materials, supplies, and equipment.  Employees in this classification relieve Buyers of clerical detail related to the buying process such as screening requisitions, tabulating of bids, answering inquiries from using agencies or vendors, maintaining purchase record files and related activities.  Employees in this classification do not supervise.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Buyer or other purchasing official.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

Assists a Buyer in the details of buying;

Types inquires and awards;

Makes arithmetical computations;

Performs follow-up work on requisitions and awards;

Composes correspondence relative to purchasing matters;

Occasionally makes purchases;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of routine office practices, procedures and equipment;

Knowledge of business English, spelling, punctuation, grammar, and arithmetic;

Knowledge of the elementary principles of office management and supervision;

Knowledge of the methods of purchasing;

Ability to make complex arithmetical calculations accurately;

Ability to maintain and keep records and to prepare reports and tabulations from the records;

Ability to understand and follow relatively complex instructions;

Ability to type accurately at a speed not less than forty-five words a minute from plain copy.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: Five years of successful and progressively responsible clerical experience with demonstrated ability to type accurately at a speed of not less than forty-five words per minute from plain copy. 

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit B, Administrative, Technical and Clerical classes.  As provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime, as provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.