Buyer, Business

Nature and Scope of Work

This is supervisory and purchasing work involving the planning and procurement of a variety of supplies, services and equipment to meet the needs of the Police Department. An incumbent plans and supervises the work of subordinates engaged in purchasing and inventory functions; oversees and ensures adequate supply and control of inventory; procures a variety of products and services through the competitive bidding process, the processing of requisitions, and direct purchase as per established procedures;

acts as a liaison between the Police Department and City of Delta Finance on purchasing matters; advises and assists staff in relation to the work, and ensures adherence to established policies and procedures. The work also involves arranging for building and equipment maintenance; assisting superiors with budget reporting and costing; and preparing, processing and maintaining a variety of records related to the work.

Considerable independent judgement and action are exercised within a framework of established policies and procedures, with the more complex or policy matters referred to a superior. Work performance is reviewed for conformance with established guidelines and effectiveness of services rendered.

• Plans, assigns, reviews and supervises the work of a small group of subordinates engaged in purchasing, recording, storing and issuing inventory; oversees and ensures adequate supply and control of inventory; ensures adherence to established policies and procedures.
• Purchases, requisitions and processes requisitions for a variety of supplies, equipment and services; liaises with user departments to develop specifications and evaluation criteria as required; amends product descriptions and writes non-technical general specifications to facilitate competitive quotations.
• Locates supply sources; interviews suppliers, obtains quotations and production information such as price, condition of sale, availability and quality, and samples as required; reviews data and recommends most suitable supplier; negotiates prices as appropriate; and processes according to established procedures.
• Advises and assists staff on purchasing matters; liaises with City of Delta Finance, suppliers, contractors and various other contacts to provide information and assistance as required.
• Procures, schedules and oversees contract services for the maintenance and repair of police buildings and equipment; coordinates and oversees minor building renovations, and office moves and installations.
• Prepares tender forms, including terms and conditions; receives and reviews submissions and prepares recommendations; for larger purchases drafts council reports for supervisory review; notifies successful contractors; monitors contract performance.
• Assists superiors with annual budget preparation, ongoing budget variance reports and explanations of same, capital budget proposals and costing; provides budget information to Police Administration and acts as liaison between the Department and City of Delta Finance to identify and rectify inconsistencies.
• Receives invoices for a variety of supplies and services rendered; checks invoices for accuracy and completeness, and resolves resultant discrepancies; itemizes and codes invoices prior to submitting to accounts payable for processing, or to a superior for payment authorization.
• Reviews, recommends and implements new methods and procedures for inventory control; determines appropriate inventory levels to meet the needs of the Department.
• Prepares and types a variety of correspondence and related material; prepares and maintains a variety of records and reports related to the work.
• Performs related work as required.

• Considerable knowledge of the sources, types, qualities and prices of specific goods and services required by the Police Department.
• Considerable knowledge of the Department's purchasing practices and procedures and of the policies and regulations governing the work performed.
• Considerable knowledge of applicable stores methods and procedures and in maintaining related records.
• Ability to plan…