Procurement Buyer
Regional Office
Vacant full-time position effective immediately
Education Entities Non-Union Compensation Framework, Band 5
Salary $51,138-$63,923 annually (pro-rated for term of employment and depending on qualifications and experience).
Closing Date for Applications: July 7, 2024

Terms and conditions of employment are in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of Employment for Non-Union Employees (AVRCE).

Under the direction of the Coordinator of Procurement, the Procurement Buyer is responsible for the day-to-day procurement of goods and services for the Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education (AVRCE) in accordance with all procurement policies, protocols, and trade agreements. The Procurement Buyer supports the procurement of construction and related contract activities. The Procurement Buyer is involved in and accountable for the planning, managing, developing, implementing, and the evaluation of various procurement activities. The Procurement Buyer provides advice and consultation to end-users relating to supply market trends, procurement leading practices, strategic sourcing methodologies, and cost saving opportunities.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

• Post Secondary education in business, or related discipline, with a purchasing certification or designation such as CPPB, PSPP, or equivalent (a recognized Industry Certification Program), or the equivalent obtained through relevant training and experience.
• A minimum of three (3) years related experience working in a high-volume purchasing environment.
• Strong analytical skills and advanced skills in Excel and other Microsoft applications are required.
• Public sector experience is considered an asset.
• Strong knowledge of the SAP Materials Management module or equivalent is considered an asset.
• Willingness to continue education and enhance skills by taking training and related courses.
• A self-motivated problem-solver with the ability to make decisions independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with personnel at all levels of the organization and with external stakeholders.
• Ability to work well under pressure when dealing with competing priorities and deadlines.
• Good organizational skills and the ability to manage time effectively.
• Effective customer service skills and the ability to work well in a team environment.

Responsibilities and Abilities:

The Procurement Buyer is responsible for day-to-day procurement of goods and services, through the procurement life cycle, including:

• Collaboration with end-user departments with the preparation of specifications, statements of work, and associated procurement documentation to support open, fair, and transparent competition.
• Decision making to ensure purchases are appropriate and follow all safety standards and AVRCE purchasing guidelines.
• Processing of Purchase Requisitions and converting into Purchase Orders (POs) in SAP.
• Developing, preparing, and issuing standing offer agreements, quotations, tenders, and proposals (RFx) and any related addendums, as required by Coordinator of Procurement.
• Promoting a high standard of customer service.
• Providing conflict resolution recommendations to resolve identified issues or concerns at the end-user level and/or the vendor level, including delivery issues, invoice discrepancies, and return of defective or duplicate materials for credit or replacement.
• Responsible for maintaining and monitoring the information on the Province of Nova Scotia Tender Opportunities Notification Service (TONS) website, and AVRCE's tender website.
• Responsible for meeting with potential vendors/suppliers to obtain knowledge of products, innovations, and market fluctuations.
• Responsible for planning, preparing, and conducting initial and recurring training and professional development sessions for Regional Office, School, & Maintenance staff relating to the proper processes and requirements of the Procurement Cycle, SAP Procurement Module and ensuring the adherence to the applicable procurement policies and practices.
• Responsible for staying current with best practices, trends and issues, and trade agreements; providing advice on current and emerging procurement trends and practices, updating, and revising procurement policies, guidelines and procedures, to proactively assist end-users with achieving their operational requirements.

Details regarding the specific responsibilities relating to this position may be obtained by contacting Gerry Wilson, Coordinator of Procurement (902-538-4625).

All applications will be considered in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of Employment for Non-Union Employees Policy:

• This position is first available to current "Non-Union" employees of the Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education.
• Second, this position is available to Employment Equity external candidates.
• Third, if there are no successful candidates from the Employment Equity applicant pool, then other external candidates who are not members of the identified peoples will be considered for this position.

The successful applicant will be required to provide a Driver's Abstract, Criminal Record Check and a completed Child Abuse Registry.

Please include the names of three work-related references with email addresses and telephone numbers, one of the references shall be your most recent immediate supervisor. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those short-listed for an interview will be contacted.