Hourly salary rates and scales (in dollars)

Nature of the work*

The principal and customary work of an employee in this class of employment consists in buying goods required by the school board according to established practices.

Characteristic functions

The employee in this class of employment must update price lists and catalogues and identify potential suppliers.

The employee analyzes purchase orders for goods, services or rentals, obtains information from users and requests pricing and bids; if necessary, he or she participates in the opening of bids. He or she ensures that the bids correspond to the requirements and determines which is the most advantageous for the school board, taking into consideration the availability of supplies, price, quality, guarantee, delivery date and location, after-sales service and, if necessary, taxes, discounts and customs charges.

If necessary, the employee works with other staff to prepare and monitor the budget of a unit or department.

The employee discusses prices and conditions of purchase with suppliers when the purchasing process does not include bids.

The employee meets with sales representatives, monitors price trends, checks delivery slips and, if necessary, invoices and follows up with suppliers when goods are not delivered within the prescribed time or if the product does not conform to the specifications or to follow up on user complaints.

The employee uses a computer and the necessary software to perform his or her duties related to word processing, database entry, spreadsheets and in-house programs; he or she conducts research on the Internet; uses electronic mail; enters data, prepares and prints tables and reports. He or she may be required to help, on occasion, colleagues with the common software and programs used.

The employee makes suggestions and recommendations designed to improve the operations for which he or she is responsible; he or she participates in committee meetings.

The employee may be required to train new buyers as well as to coordinate the work of support staff.

If need be, he or she performs any other related duty.

Required qualifications

Schooling and experience

Hold a Diploma of Vocational Studies in an appropriate specialty for the class of employment, a Secondary School Diploma or a diploma or an attestation of studies recognized as equivalent by the competent authority, and have six (6) years of pertinent experience.

Other requirements

Have a thorough knowledge of office automation.

*The nature of the work, the characteristic duties and the qualifications required are taken from the Classification Plan.