About the Department

This is a mid-level buying position for the purchase of assigned hard goods, commodities and contractual services. Work includes reviewing purchase requests; talking to suppliers and department officials; examining price, suitability, and availability of items or services; developing and comparing specifications; reviewing alternatives to requests; and performing value analysis of the purchase requests. Work is performed independently under the general supervision of the Materials Manager. Collaborates with various divisions and assists with service and labor related contracts. The position is required to develop and maintain (with the Purchasing and Warehouse Manager) a coordinated system of Purchasing and Contract Administration, so as to promote cost-effective procurement of materials, supplies and services.

This role will also support the finance department with a variety of high-level accounting functions which may include working with month and year end close, journal entry preparation, reconciliation preparation, fixed assets, analyses, assist with various other financial / accounting processes and departmental needs and perform other duties as necessary. The role is expected to balance day-to-day transactional accuracy with longer-range analytical, reporting, and process improvement 

Work schedule - The regular work schedule is Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. This position may be eligible for remote work up to two days a week after the initial 6-month probationary period. 

Pay - Starting salary is $82,338 to $96,868 per year, depending on qualifications, with advancement to $121,086 This figure is based on the 2025 collective bargaining agreement and will be updated when a 2026 agreement is implemented.

Limited Term Appointment - This position is anticipated to last 18 - 24 months to support the City of Rochester's implementation of new Enterprise Resource Planning software. This role is contingent upon the availability of allocated funds, as well as favorable performance by the incumbent. 

Benefits - This position is eligible for benefits offered by the City of Rochester. Please check out the benefits tab at the top of the page for more details. 

Position Duties

The work below is representative of the scope of work performed within this job classification. 

*Initiate bid/quote process for services, supplies and equipment. 

• Consult with end-users and outside consultants to develop specifications.
• Obtain oral and written price quotes from our suppliers. 
• Conduct formal and informal solicitations/quotes for goods, commodities and services. 
• Compare quotes with the specifications and availability of items and places purchase orders.

*Prepare and process purchase orders. 

• Obtain proper documentation to validate, create and assign vendor numbers.
• Verify appropriate budget codes.
• Ensure purchases and sales comply with applicable Federal and State of Minnesota statutes, City of Rochester City Charter and RPU policies
• Review and approve invoices in conjunction with project owner to ensure compliance with terms and conditions of the contract.

*Collect, organize, update and retain required departmental and vendor documentation 

• Documentation will include but not be limited to: purchase approvals, product information files, purchase order records, and all purchasing related correspondence.
• Manage documents in RPU's electronic document management system in coordination with RPU's records retention schedule.
• Maintain, monitor and improve master data in RPU's ERP System.

*Prepare and process requisitions and purchase orders. 

• Perform accounting, and analytical functions in support of RPU operations and leadership decision-making. 
• Prepare journal entries, reconciliations, workpapers, and related month-end and year-end close support. 
• Review and reconcile account balances and help maintain the chart of accounts in accordance with applicable reporting and regulatory requirements. 
• Perform financial, statistical, and operational analyses to identify trends, discrepancies, and opportunities for process improvement. 
• Support fixed asset accounting and work order closeout/unitization activities by gathering information, determining capitalization treatment, and assigning appropriate values. 
• Create, maintain, and improve reports, databases, spreadsheets, and other tools used to record, analyze, and communicate financial and operational information. 
• Research issues, respond to internal and external information requests, and recommend solutions that ensure accurate implementation of corrections or changes. 
• Compile, organize, verify, and report financial and statistical information to support internal management reporting, audits, reimbursement requests, and regulatory submissions. 

Miscellaneous Responsibilities.

• Collaborate with internal and external customers to resolve problems arising from the purchase and sale of goods and services.
• Recommend changes to policies, procedures, contract terms and conditions for procurement and sale of goods, services and capital improvement projects.

Perform other duties as assigned or necessary.

*ESSENTIAL DUTIES  

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience
A Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university in accounting, finance, economics, industrial engineering, logistics/operations, supply chain management, purchasing or business administration/management or a closely related field and three (3) years of direct experience as a Buyer, with inventory control responsibilities.

Licenses and Certifications
Valid Minnesota Driver's License

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Purchasing experience for a public agency and/or electric utility.

Designation as a:
Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO),
Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB); and/or
Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM).
Experience using enterprise systems that support warehouse and materials management modules such as SAP, CGI or JD Edwards. 

Other Qualifications

PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the following represents the physical and environmental demands for this position. The employee must be able to perform the essential functions with or without accommodation.

Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work.

Physical demands that may be required continuously (2/3 or more of the time), frequently (1/3 to 2/3 of the time), and occasionally (up to 1/3 of the time) are noted below:

Continuous demands: sitting, standing
Frequent demands: walking, fine dexterity, handling
Occasional demands: lifting, carrying, bending, reaching

Sensory requirements necessary in the performance of the essential functions of this position include sight, hearing and touch.

Environmental conditions that may exist in the performance of the essential functions of this job include:  NONE (not substantially exposed to environmental conditions)