2026-07 Purchasing Specialist

PURCHASING SPECIALIST

Employment Type: Regular Full Time

Pay Grade 26: $46.07 - $54.44 (2024 rates)

Hours of Work: 0830 – 16:30

Competition Number: 2026-07

Closing Date: Open until filled

The City of White Rock - where every wave of talent helps shape our City by the sea. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and are committed to promoting and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We know that our greatest strengths come from the people who make up our teams.

The City of White Rock is a unique, ocean-side community of 24,000 citizens located half an hour south of Vancouver on the shore of Semiahmoo Bay and is known for its sunny weather, expansive beach, historic pier, delightful restaurants, and sense of community.

Overview

The Financial Services Department is seeking a self-motivated Purchasing Specialist to join our team. In this role, you will contribute to the development of corporate purchasing strategies, standards, procedures, and internal control systems. You will recommend and implement new or revised practices and processes, and perform a full range of purchasing functions, including the preparation of requests for proposals (RFPs), evaluation criteria, and other complex or specialized procurement activities.motivated

The successful candidate will provide sound advice and guidance to departmental clients on purchasing matters, ensuring that all procurement activities comply with established standards, policies, and applicable legislation. The role requires exercising sound judgment, working with minimal supervision, and operating within established policies, standards, and budget considerations.

This position reports to the Manager, Budgets & Accounting.

Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree in commerce or business administration or equivalent and related purchasing experience or an equivalent combination of training and experience
• Two to five years of related purchasing experience, ideally in a senior purchasing or equivalent role.
• A valid BC Driver’s License.
• Supply Chain Management Professional (SCMP) from the Supply Chain Management Association (SCMA), or equivalent certification; candidates nearing completion may also be considered.
• Experience in the public sector is considered an asset.

Requirements

• Contributes to the development of purchasing strategies and ethical standards, evaluating and monitoring corporate procurement needs and overseeing the City’s annual purchases; recommends, develops and implements purchasing practices, processes, procedures and internal control systems; ensures that purchasing practices are consistent with established standards, policies, and applicable legislation.
• Maintains liaison with City staff to remain apprised of upcoming projects and contracts.
• Prepares competitive bid documents such as tenders, requests for quotations and proposals for major items based on specifications of user departments; sets up and leads evaluation processes; resolves bid irregularities; performs price and cost analyses; negotiates acceptable prices, terms and conditions; conducts follow-up as necessary; manages contracts after award.
• Conducts tender openings, mandatory public meetings, and site visits.
• Works with City staff to develop requirements and implement plans for vendor evaluations; evaluates and oversees the effectiveness of the vendor evaluation process and performance criteria; assesses supplier performance and establishes standards.
• Carries out special studies or projects related to purchasing operations and problems; researches markets to identify cost drivers, trends and competitive environment for large purchases; provides assistance with budget development and analysis for tendered projects; analyzes operations for standardization opportunities; serves as team lead for the procurement, actively participates in upgrades to the ERP system.
• Provides assistance, guidance, and expertise to user departments regarding procurement issues and requirements. Liaises on the development of specifications, terms and conditions for incorporation into bid documents; determines appropriate method of procurement based on estimated expenditure.
• Drafts contract language in coordination with City staff and according to precedent; researches and obtains information and material required from a variety of sources.
• Reviews all bids/contracts to ensure appropriate purchasing treatment including levels of indemnification and to verify required insurance and bonding certification; administers and monitors awarded service and purchase contracts.
• Advises and assists departmental clients and suppliers regarding purchasing problems and requirements, specifications, contracts and details of goods and services to be purchased; liaises with external and internal contacts such as engineers, lawyers, architects, project managers, vendors and mechanics; attends meetings related to the work and may serve on committees as required.
• Maintains purchasing records and prepares summary of statistical and information reports.
• Provides advice and training to departments on procurement and other supply matters; explains policies and procedures, legal and ethical concerns; provides advice on procurement risk.
• Performs research and analysis of products, services, supplies, materials and equipment and prepares reports and recommendations on purchases of same.
• Represents the City in meetings of the Cooperative Purchasing Group.
• Consults with professional staff to develop contract language outside of precedent, strategies to resolve disputes with contractors and consultants; negotiates with contractors and consultants to resolve disputes and clarify discrepancies.
• Performs related work as required.

The City is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is committed to promoting and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We know that our greatest strengths come from the people who make up our teams and a more vibrant community starts with you! If your experience and education have prepared you for success in this role and you are committed to working in a manner that supports a respectful, healthy, and safe environment, please submit a cover letter and resume online.

APPLY HERE

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