Purchasing Specialist

Salary : $75,162.52 - $103,612.36 Annually

Location : Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

Job Type: Full-Time Represented

Job Number: 2025-20

Department: Finance

Opening Date: 04/08/2025

Closing Date: 4/22/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Job Description

Meet Santa Margarita Water District

Santa Margarita Water District is a dynamic, forward-thinking agency dedicated to delivering high-quality potable water, recycled water, and wastewater services to its 200,000 customers across Southern Orange County. As one of the region's largest and most impactful utilities, we are committed to the highest standards of transparency, innovation, and environmental stewardship.

Our people drive our progress, innovation, and results. Our collaborative, human-first culture fosters the sense of fun, comradery, and a rewarding sense of purpose as we do work that matters.

Dynamic teams of intelligent individuals work collaboratively to achieve SMWD's goals and solve challenges with a common aim that fosters a unique bond that is not often found in governmental agencies.

Santa Margarita Water District's Values Include

Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed by individual positions

Job Summary

Under general supervision, independently performs routine purchasing and procurement responsibilities for a variety of materials, supplies, services and equipment in accordance with District standards and policies and all applicable legal requirements; ensures that District staff is compliant with Board-adopted procurement policies and procedures; considers costs, quality, reliability of source and urgency of need; analyzes quotes received, negotiates goods and services as needed, processes purchase orders and performs related duties as assigned; and understands of basic accounting as associated with purchasing.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The Purchasing Specialist performs a variety of complex purchasing transactions for a wide range of materials, supplies, services and equipment for District departments in compliance with established regulations, policies and standards. Assigned work requires general knowledge of the functions applicable to an area of assignment and the ability to solve routine to moderately difficult problems. This position reports directly to the Purchasing Supervisor or his/her designee.

Essential Functions

ESSENTIAL FUNCTION STATEMENTS

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to this class.

Qualifications

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education, Training And Experience

Graduation from high school or GED equivalent supplemented by college-level course work in accounting, business or a related field and at least two years of progressively responsible professional purchasing experience, preferably in a government agency or utility.

Ability To

Knowledge Of

Additional Information

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit for extended periods, walk and stand; talk and hear; bend, twist, stoop, reach with hands and arms; and perform repetitive movements of hands or wrists. The employee is frequently required to lift up to 25 pounds unaided.

Specific vision abilities required for this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Mental Demands

While performing the duties of this class, an employee uses written and oral communication skills; reads and interprets data, information and documents; analyzes and solves problems; uses math and mathematical reasoning; observes and interprets people and situations; learns and applies new information and skills; performs highly detailed work; deals with changing deadlines, constant interruptions and multiple concurrent tasks; and interacts with others encountered in the course of work, including frequent contact with customers and/or the public.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The employee works in an office environment where the noise level is usually quiet to moderate.

Santa Margarita Water District offers a comprehensive benefit package for eligible employees and their eligible dependents. These benefits include the following: retirement benefits; medical, dental, vision and life insurance; and a variety of other benefits. Benefits may vary based on employment status.

PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM: As a public agency, the Santa Margarita Water District has enrolled in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) for retirement benefits. The retirement formula and required employee contribution may vary based on employment status.

HEALTH INSURANCE: The District contracts with the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) for medical insurance coverage. Employees may elect coverage from PPO or HMO plans. Medical premiums for plans in an amount up to or equal to the highest HMO are paid for by the District for all full-time employees. The District shares the cost of medical insurance for dependents with the employee. Coverage is effective the first of the month following 30 days of employment with full-time status.

DENTAL INSURANCE: The District provides dental insurance for all full-time regular employees. Optional dependent dental coverage is available at the District's rates. Coverage is effective the first of the month following 60 days of employment with full-time status.

VISION INSURANCE: The District provides each full-time employee and their eligible dependents with vision insurance through Vision Service Plan (VSP). Coverage is effective the first of the month following 60 days of employment with full-time status.

LIFE INSURANCE AND ACCIDENTAL DEATH AND DISMEMBERMENT: The District provides term-life insurance for all full-time employees through Lincoln Financial with Employee benefits equaling 2 1/2 times the employee's annual salary to a maximum of $200,000. Adjustments are made based on the employee's salary. Coverage is effective the first of the month following 60 days of employment with full-time status.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP): The District provides all employees and their dependents with an EAP that provides confidential, professional assistance with a variety of services such as legal/financial concerns, ID recovery, mental health, and more.

GENERAL LEAVE ACCRUAL: General leave is a multi-purpose leave providing for vacations, personal affairs, and non-job related illness/injuries.

While accrual begins from the date of hire, for the most part, general leave may not be taken until completion of the employee's six-month probationary period.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Regular full and part-time employees are eligible to participate in the District's deferred compensation program. The District shall match an employee's contribution into the deferred compensation plan up to a maximum of $2,400 per employee per year, or $100 per pay-period. The contributions occur each pay period except the third pay period in those months with three pay dates.

HOLIDAYS: The District provides 11 holidays (92 hours) per year for full-time employees.

FLEX SPENDING ACCOUNT: Through the District's Flexible Spending Account (FSA), employees may set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible "out-of-pocket" (unreimbursed) medical expenses, child or dependent care.

LIFESTYLE SPENDING ACCOUNT: A benefit in which your employer sets money aside for you to use on eligible expenses related to physical, financial and emotional

well-being.

EDUCATION REIMBURSEMENT: All full-time employees are eligible for reimbursement for educational training or certification training taken from any college, university, or accredited institution, up to the IRS annual limit with Department Head approval.

The aforementioned information is only a summary of the District's benefits. Detailed information may be found in the Personnel Rules and Regulations and/or the Memorandum of Understanding between the SMWDEA and the Santa Margarita Water District.

01

What purchasing software or ERP systems have you used, and how proficient are you with them?

02

Describe your experience with competitive bidding, RFPs, and RFQs in a government setting.

03

What experience do you have with grant-funded purchases and ensuring compliance with grant requirements?

Required Question

Required

Preferred

Job Industries

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