Placer County→
Buyer - I at Placer County in Auburn, CA
Skills
Job Description
Introduction
Living in Placer County from Placer County Video Portal
Placer County is comprised of over 1,400 square miles of beautiful and diverse geography, ranging from the residential and commercial areas of South Placer, through the historic foothill areas of Auburn, Foresthill, and Colfax, and to the County's jewel of the North Lake Tahoe basin. Placer is a great place to live, work, play, and learn! For more information about Placer County, please visit www.placer.ca.gov.
POSITION INFORMATION
The Procurement Services Division of the Department of General Services is currently accepting applications for Buyer - I and Buyer - II. This position is responsible for the purchase of materials, supplies, equipment, and services for use by County departments through the use of formal or informal solicitations, and other related purchasing functions.
The ideal candidate should possess strong analytical skills and an awareness or knowledge of fundamental purchasing requirements, ideally for a governmental entity. Each level in this job series has different minimum qualifications. To participate in the recruitment at the I level, II level, or both levels, you must complete and submit separate applications for each recruitment:
Buyer - I #2026-14755-01
Buyer - II #2026-14757-01
The eligible lists established as a result of these recruitments may be used to fill future vacancies as they arise, subject to position-specific requirements.
BENEFITS
Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees. The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change. Applicants should inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.
Click here to view Placer Public Employees Organization (PPEO) benefits.
For more information regarding the benefits Placer County has to offer, please visit Placer County's Human Resources website.
DEFINITION
To purchase, or negotiate to purchase, materials, supplies, equipment, and services for use by County departments; to consult with departments in assessing requirements and developing specifications for the procurement of goods and services; and to prepare and conduct formal and informal competitive solicitations.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
This is the entry level class in the Buyer series. This class is distinguished from the journey level by the performance of the more routine tasks and duties assigned to positions within this series. Employees at this level are not expected to perform with the same independence of direction and judgment on matters allocated to the journey level. Since this class is typically used as a training class, employees may have only limited or no directly related work experience. Employees work under immediate supervision while learning job tasks.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives general supervision from higher-level professional staff.
EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Analyze, evaluate, and make recommendations for solicitation awards for the purchase of goods and services utilized by County departments.
- Conduct formal solicitations and prepare specifications for acquisition of a wide variety of goods and services utilized by County departments.
- Conduct informal solicitations by telephone, letter, personal contact, computerized system, or any other manner appropriate for acquisition of goods and services utilized by County departments.
- Maintain a variety of records relating to the purchasing function; prepare reports and correspondence.
- Provide liaison assistance between County departments and vendors.
- Negotiate and administer contracts to ensure that goods and services are delivered consistent with contract and bid specifications.
- Conduct research on market conditions, product developments, and relative merits of individual products and vendors.
- Assist County departments in assessing their needs; advise departments on quantities to be purchased to obtain better prices; provide information on how to prepare specifications for purchases and requisition procedures.
- Build and maintain positive working relationships with coworkers, other County employees, and the public using principles of good customer service.
- Perform related duties as assigned.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is typically performed in an indoor office and/or warehouse environment with controlled temperature conditions. Position may require travel to and from other locations in a variety of outdoor weather conditions and lifting various materials and supplies.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Show Your Qualifications
When applying, please be sure to clearly describe how your background meets each of the Minimum Qualifications listed below. This ensures our screening team can accurately evaluate your eligibility.
Experience: One year of purchasing experience is desirable.
Training: Equivalent to an associate’s degree from an accredited college with major course work in business administration, public administration, economics, or a related field.
Required License or Certificate:
May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position. Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.
Experience as a Substitute
You may substitute relevant, equivalent experience for the required education. The Human Resources Department will evaluate your background to ensure it qualifies as the same knowledge, skills, and abilities as the specified degree or coursework.
International Degrees
If you earned your degree outside the United States, you must provide proof of accreditation from a recognized evaluation agency. Please attach this documentation to your application to ensure your education is verified.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of:
- Purchasing principles and practices.
- Techniques of organization and planning.
- Basic record keeping, statistics, and data processing principles, including the use of common spreadsheet and word processing software used on personal computers.
Ability to:
- On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; intermittently analyze work papers, reports, and special projects; identify and interpret technical and numerical information; observe and solve problems relating to operational and technical policy and procedures.
- On a continuous basis, sit at a desk for long periods of time; intermittently twist to reach equipment surrounding desk; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; use telephone and write or use a keyboard to communicate through written means; lift heavy weight.
- Keep abreast of market conditions, product developments, and the relative merits of individual vendors.
- Learn the methods of purchasing by specifications and competitive bidding.
- Learn to use specialized financial, procurement, and data management software utilized within County departments.
- Learn pertinent local, state, and federal laws, ordinances, and rules applicable to public procurement.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
- Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
SELECTION PROCEDURE
Online Written Examination 100% - Tentatively Scheduled for the Week of December 14, 2026.
Once the filing deadline passes, qualified candidates will receive an email with instructions to begin the online exam.
- Content: Questions may include multiple-choice, true/false, fill-in, or essay types based on the required knowledge for this role.
- Time Limit: You will have 3 calendar daysfrom the date of the email notification to complete the exam.
- Single Attempt: Only one attempt is allowed.
Monitor your inbox and spam folder closely after the filing deadline to ensure you don't miss your testing window.
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
Length of Probation:
All permanent appointments from open eligible lists to positions in the classified service shall serve a probationary period of twelve (12) months or two thousand eighty (2,080) hours, whichever is more.
Bargaining Unit:
General
Salary Grade:
CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT
Pre-Hire Requirements
Candidates must complete the following requirements before their start date if an offer is extended:
- DOJ Criminal Background Clearance: Successfully complete a fingerprint-based background check through the California Department of Justice.
- Medical Evaluation: Pass a pre-employment physical, which may include drug screening and/or a psychological evaluation.
- Oath of Office: Subscribe to the constitutional oath or affirmation as required for all public employees by the California Constitution.
- Employment Eligibility Verification: Provide original documents that establish both identity and the legal right to work in the United States, as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Position-Specific Requirements
In addition to the above, some positions may require one or more of the following:
- Age Verification: Provide documentation verifying that you meet the minimum legal age requirements for this position.
- Background Check: Some positions require a background investigation. This may include a credit check, voice stress analysis, polygraph, and/or proof of bonding.
- Law Enforcement: Applicants for law enforcement functions must complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process.
- Medi-Cal Access/Licensing: Applicants with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification.
Failure to clear all requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.
SUBSTITUTE LISTS
Substitute Lists
The eligible list from this recruitment may be used to fill vacancies in similar roles or lower-level positions within the same career series (e.g., journey-level vs. entry-level).
- Interviews: If contacted to interview for a similar role, the hiring department will provide the specific job details before the interview.
- No Risk: Choosing not to interview for a different classification will not affect your standing on the original list for which you applied.
EMPLOYEES OF OTHER PUBLIC AGENCIES
Public Agency Eligible List
If you are a current or recent employee of another public agency, you may qualify for an expedited application process. Visit our Employees of Other Public Agencies page to view eligibility requirements, download required forms, and submit an application.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Placer County is an equal opportunity employer committed to a workplace free from unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. All applicants and employees receive fair and equal consideration in every stage of employment. Employment decisions are based on job‑related qualifications and are not influenced by any protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law. Refer to our Equal Employment Opportunity Program and Policy Statement (PDF) for detailed information.
Applicants who need an accommodation during the recruitment or examination process should contact Human Resources at least five working days before the scheduled exam.
Conclusion
For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Hannah Moore, Administrative Technician, at hmoore@placer.ca.gov or (530) 886-4667.