Purchasing Specialist

Job Title: Purchasing Specialist
Wage/Hour Status: Exempt
Reports to: Purchasing Supervisor
Pay Grade: PG 2
Dept./School: Business, Finance & Administrative Services
Initiated Date: April 2025
WHO WE ARE
La Joya Independent School District (ISD) is committed to excellence for students and our community. We have a strong, 100-year, legacy in the Rio Grande Valley. The district's vision - Educational Excellence: The Right of Every Student - conveys our urgent focus on students.
Our work is rooted in five district priorities, which require collaboration and deep commitment to supporting one another as we serve the community.

1. Customer Service
2. Trust & Transparency
3. High-Quality Instruction
4. Excellence in Leadership
5. Integrity & Accountability

We are focused on ensuring every student in La Joya ISD has access to high-quality, best-fit schools as we work to improve from a B-district to an A-rated district. We serve more than 22,000 students in more than 30 schools and span six municipalities, covering more than 220 square miles.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
We are looking for a dependable and detail-focused professional who brings strong organizational skills and a collaborative mindset to support the purchasing function. The ideal candidate will have a working knowledge of procurement processes and contract management, along with the ability to prepare accurate documentation and communicate effectively with internal teams and external vendors. This individual should demonstrate initiative, accuracy, and professionalism in managing contracts, supporting compliance, and assisting with purchasing operations. A strong commitment to teamwork, efficiency, and continuous learning is essential to thrive in this role.
WHY LA JOYA ISD
You will be joining a district that is building on a legacy of achievement while rapidly improving and creating systems to reach new heights for student outcomes and improving the District's overall operational efficiency and effectiveness. You will receive intentional, targeted support in your essential role in serving the Business, Finance and Administrative Services Department of the District. We are also a district focused on continuous improvement and rigorous analysis of the policies and procedures we have in place to ensure that the financial and business operations of the District are transparent to the public and in keeping with generally acceptable accounting principles.
Minimum Required Qualifications

• Education:

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Accounting, or related field preferred.

• Experience:

Three years' of experience in public purchasing preferred.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Working knowledge of computers and software related to department business
• Ability to type with a high degree of accuracy and speed.
• Possess excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Possess a high level of accuracy and dependability in document preparation.
• Interpersonal and organizational skills are a must
• Uses personal computer, copier, calculator.
• Such alternatives to the above qualifications as deemed appropriate by the Purchasing Supervisor

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
General:

1. Work collaboratively within the purchasing department under the direct supervision of the Purchasing Supervisor.
2. Establish and maintain effective working relations with coworkers, internal customers and the vendor community.
3. Develop and maintain a vendor contract management program capturing a contract's scope of work, term, contract amount, and termination provisions.
4. Collaborate with supervisory personnel to initiate and coordinate the extension, rebidding or termination of existing contracts.
5. Establish a process with budget owners for evaluating the overall efficiency and effectiveness of a contract prior to any renewal thereof.
6. Reviews contracts to ensure compliance with federal and state laws, local policies and procedures.

1. Consult and confer with appropriate district staff regarding the development of contract objectives and solicitation scopes of work.
2. Prepare appropriate solicitation documents, such as quotes, bids, proposals, requests for qualifications and related information.
3. Write, review and modify technical specifications for materials, supplies, equipment and services to be procured to eliminate ambiguities, conflicts and misunderstandings.
4. Conduct and/or participate in bid openings and review responses for compliance with bid requirements and specifications.
5. Coordinate the evaluation of bids and proposals to ensure that all required processes have been followed.
6. Address and resolve disputes with vendors.
7. Coordinate with Risk Management to assure adequacy of vendor insurance coverage, bond requirements, if necessary, and maintain a system to ensure required coverage continues throughout the term of the contract.
8. Assist with issuance of district purchase orders, ensuring completeness and compliance with all applicable contract requirements.
9. Assist with issuance of district purchase orders, ensuring completeness and compliance with all applicable contract requirements.
10. Keep abreast of technical, legislative and professional trends, developments and standards related to purchasing contracts.
11. Assist in providing departmental and district staff development.
12. Performs other duties as assigned.

Safety:

• Performs preventive maintenance on tools and equipment and ensures equipment operates safely.
• Follows established safety procedures and techniques to perform job duties, including lifting and climbing; operates tools and equipment according to established safety procedures.
• Corrects unsafe conditions in the work area and promptly reports any conditions that are not immediately correctable to the supervisor.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• None

Personal Work Relationships

• All La Joya ISD employees must maintain a commitment to the District's mission, vision, and strategic goals.
• Exhibits high professionalism, standards of conduct, and work ethic.
• Demonstrates high-quality customer service; builds rapport/relationship with the consumer.
• Demonstrates cultural competence in interactions with others; is respectful of co-workers; communicates and acts as a team player; promotes teamwork; responds and acts appropriately in confrontational situations.

Travel Requirements

• Travels to school district buildings and professional meetings, as required.

Physical & Mental Demands, Work Hazards

• Tools/Equipment Used: Standard office equipment, including computer and peripherals.
• Posture: Prolonged sitting and standing; occasional stooping, squatting, kneeling, bending, pushing/pulling, and twisting.
• Motion: Frequent repetitive hand motions, including keyboarding and use of mouse; occasional reaching.
• Lifting: Occasional light lifting and carrying (less than 15 pounds).
• Environment: Works in an office setting; may require occasional irregular and/or prolonged hours.
• Attendance: Regular and punctual attendance at the worksite is required for this position.
• Mental Demands: Maintains emotional control under stress; works with frequent interruptions.

Position Working Days:
226 Days
NOTE: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive description of all work requirements and responsibilities, and management reserves the right to revise the job description or require that other responsibilities be performed when the job changes. Additionally, the minimum level of education notated as a requirement could be supplemented by commensurate experience and/or certification(s) or license(s) as determined by the hiring manager.