Purchasing Director

This is highly responsible professional and managerial work in administering the city’s centralized procurement process.

Under administrative direction, an employee in this class plans, directs and controls the administration of the city’s purchasing system to acquire needed goods and services in an efficient and cost-effective manner in accordance with federal and state laws, and city code provisions. Work is of unusual difficulty requiring the exercise of extensive initiative and independent judgment in coordinating activities with city departments and officials in such areas as the preparation of specifications, solicitation and evaluation of bids, development of advantageous contractual provisions for the city, preparation of contract documents, formulation of policies and procedures for the disposition of excess and obsolete city materials, and administration of the City’s Equal Business Opportunity (EBO) ordinance. Work is reviewed through conferences, reports submitted, and results achieved. Appointed position; employee serves at the pleasure of the Mayor. As outlined in the City Charter, the Purchasing Director must reside within the City of Tampa or be willing to relocate.

Plans, develops, organizes, coordinates and directs city purchasing activities, including all purchases by the city and all contracts for the furnishing to the city of supplies, printing, materials, equipment, machinery, appliances and other commodities; maintenance of bidder lists; maintenance of inventory, control of supply operations, disposition of excess or obsolete city materials, etc.

Serve as a member of the City’s Sheltered Market Committee regarding recommendations for solicitations of goods, services, materials, supplies and equipment for Sheltered Market Solicitations. Serves as member of the EBO Goal Setting Committee to set EBO projects specific goals for construction and construction related services. Serves as a critical member of the City’s Emergency Management Steering Committee in planning Logistics and Support Resources during catastrophic events.

Consults with city department directors, managers and other employees to clarify purchasing policy and to provide technical assistance regarding proposals, solicitation of bids, etc.; consults and confers with city officials and executive staff relative to purchasing policies and program.

Reviews, approves, disapproves or revises city department purchase requisitions within a designated dollar range; reviews city department purchase requisitions for goods or services over a specified dollar amount and, if approved, initiates process for required documentation and routing through Legal, Budget, Finance and the Mayor’s Office, and for final approval by Council.

Provides direction to management, supervisory, buying, inventory, and specification staff of the department to assure consistency of policy, procedure and requirements; communicates with vendor representatives to resolve issues such as bid protests; serves as chief purchasing official for all matters relating to EBO policies and program.

Prepares reports and correspondence; assigns, develops and evaluates staff; manages unit budget and work processes.

Performs related work as required.

Extensive knowledge of: principles, procedures, ethical standards and priorities of governmental purchasing; modern developments, current literature and sources of information relating to purchasing activities; application of data processing and accounting to purchasing procurement and inventory maintenance and records.

Considerable knowledge of: federal and state laws relating to governmental purchasing; municipal administration and organization; modern management practices and procedures.

Ability to: plan, direct, assign and coordinate the work of professional, paraprofessional and administrative support employees in a manner that promotes full performance; write and speak clearly and succinctly in a variety of communication settings; establish and maintain effective working relationships with city officials, directors, managers and other employees, vendors and the general public; set clear objectives and measures to monitor process, progress and results; plan, organize and refine procedures.

Skill in: research and analysis of data; excellent public speaking and ability to make presentations to the public, within the community and before elected officials.

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in purchasing, business or public administration or related field and five (5) years of progressively responsible municipal purchasing experience, including three (3) years in supervisory experience.

NIGP-CPP certification through the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing as well as CPPO certification through the Universal Public Purchasing Certification Council are highly desired.

Possession of a valid Florida drivers license required.

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