Government Jobs
Job Posting
The City of Rochester now welcomes applications for a position within the Rochester Public Utilities department. Vision: "We Will Set the Standard for Service" RPU, a division of the City of Rochester, MN, is the largest municipal utility in the State of Minnesota. RPU serves over 57,000 electric customers and 42,000 water customers in a 60 square mile service area and has revenues nearing $161 million annually. Our vision is based on six core values which are Safety, Integrity, Service, Stewardship, Accountability, and Skill. To have your application considered in the first round of application review, please apply before July 7th, 2025. Position Description
The Assistant Buyer will perform purchasing functions and assist in the efficient procurement of materials, supplies and services for the utility. Work includes reviewing and maintaining bidder's lists; preparing requests for quotes, bids and proposals; assisting with the evaluation of quotes, bids and proposals received; preparing purchase orders; expediting stock materials; and maintaining accurate purchasing records; Responsibilities may also include resolving issues related to purchasing, invoicing, and inventory. 2025 Wage Range $31.67 per hour, with advancement to $39.06 in five years. Duties and Responsibilities
*Provide procurement and inventory assistance. Review requisitions, and make independent decisions, adhering to all policies, procedures, and requirements of law, before issuing purchase orders and addendums for routine commodity and contracted procurements; Expedite shipments of open orders. Schedule delivery dates and follow up on delivery delays; Ensure compliance with the Minnesota Uniform Municipal Contracting Law. Utilize "best value" practices in procurements and negotiate purchases and contracts that meet organizational goals. Research and resolve vendor issues; Assist Accounts Payable and/or user departments in solving invoice/receiver problems; Work with vendors and/or appropriate buyer in researching and solving problems with purchase orders. *Provide assistance in contract bidding and administration. Assist in obtaining competitive bid quotations, determining lowest quote that meets specifications, and providing recommendations; prepare and place purchase orders; Maintain a file of suppliers who have been invited to bid and record bids that are received; Compile product information; Seek guidance and clarification for any exceptions requested by contractors or suppliers. Assist in the bid and proposal process by distributing documents, attending bid openings, documenting vendor responses, preparing and distributing bid tabulations; At the direction of the Buyer, Procurement and Contracts Specialist, and/or Purchasing and Warehouse Manager, check for required bonds, insurance and other specification requirements to assist in determining responsiveness; Maintain all required contract files. Serve as the Purchasing liaison with assigned departmental clients delivering value in Sourcing, Materials Management, and Contracting. *Serve as the primary contact and support person for the Purchasing team. Assume the role of primary contact for both stock and ad-hoc purchases as well as quote requests. Collect and analyze data regarding current market conditions. Interview vendors regarding ordering supplies. *Business Process Review and Special Assignments Participate in business process review and implementation. Perform special assignments or projects as needed. Perform other duties as assigned or necessary. Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience
An Associate's degree or higher in accounting, finance, economics, industrial engineering, logistics/operations, supply chain management, purchasing or business administration/management or closely related field AND three (3) years of progressively responsible full-time employment experience in purchasing for a large business, non-profit agency, utility or governmental agency; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.
Licenses and/or Certifications
Valid driver's license
Desirable Qualifications
Experience with business process improvements and ERP systems. If this work interests you but you are unsure if you meet all the job requirements listed above, please apply anyway! Your experience is likely more applicable to the role than you think, and the City is interested in candidates who can bring not only technical expertise but a variety of lived experience to the team. Additional Information
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Knowledge of: the basic principles, practices and techniques of purchasing; regulations governing purchasing and supply procedures; basic accounting practices; obtaining quotes for various types of commodities and supplies; the various products used in the utility business, including maintenance supplies, repair supplies etc. Skill in: negotiating for the purchase of goods and services; resolving problems with deliveries, invoicing, etc. Ability to: evaluate quality and price elements for comparison of products and services; maintain records; effectively communicate verbally and in writing; establish and maintain effective work contracts with vendors and requisitioning business units, City officials and the public; work effectively with SAP computer system, the suite of Microsoft products and records management software; organize work files and follow up procedures; to issue applications for bidder, prepare necessary bid documents for major contract amounts or capital equipment; effectively make business process improvement recommendations and implementation. 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. In consideration of the overall amount of physical effort required to perform this position, the work is best described as
Sedentary Work
: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met. 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, fine dexterity
Frequent demands:
walking, standing
Occasional demands:
lifting, carrying, pushing/pulling, reaching, handling, kneeling, crouching, crawling, bending, twisting, climbing, balancing. Sensory requirements necessary in the performance of the essential functions of this position include: sight, hearing, touch. Environmental conditions that may exist in the performance of the essential functions of this job include: NONE (not substantially exposed to environmental conditions).
The City of Rochester now welcomes applications for a position within the Rochester Public Utilities department. Vision: "We Will Set the Standard for Service" RPU, a division of the City of Rochester, MN, is the largest municipal utility in the State of Minnesota. RPU serves over 57,000 electric customers and 42,000 water customers in a 60 square mile service area and has revenues nearing $161 million annually. Our vision is based on six core values which are Safety, Integrity, Service, Stewardship, Accountability, and Skill. To have your application considered in the first round of application review, please apply before July 7th, 2025. Position Description
The Assistant Buyer will perform purchasing functions and assist in the efficient procurement of materials, supplies and services for the utility. Work includes reviewing and maintaining bidder's lists; preparing requests for quotes, bids and proposals; assisting with the evaluation of quotes, bids and proposals received; preparing purchase orders; expediting stock materials; and maintaining accurate purchasing records; Responsibilities may also include resolving issues related to purchasing, invoicing, and inventory. 2025 Wage Range $31.67 per hour, with advancement to $39.06 in five years. Duties and Responsibilities
*Provide procurement and inventory assistance. Review requisitions, and make independent decisions, adhering to all policies, procedures, and requirements of law, before issuing purchase orders and addendums for routine commodity and contracted procurements; Expedite shipments of open orders. Schedule delivery dates and follow up on delivery delays; Ensure compliance with the Minnesota Uniform Municipal Contracting Law. Utilize "best value" practices in procurements and negotiate purchases and contracts that meet organizational goals. Research and resolve vendor issues; Assist Accounts Payable and/or user departments in solving invoice/receiver problems; Work with vendors and/or appropriate buyer in researching and solving problems with purchase orders. *Provide assistance in contract bidding and administration. Assist in obtaining competitive bid quotations, determining lowest quote that meets specifications, and providing recommendations; prepare and place purchase orders; Maintain a file of suppliers who have been invited to bid and record bids that are received; Compile product information; Seek guidance and clarification for any exceptions requested by contractors or suppliers. Assist in the bid and proposal process by distributing documents, attending bid openings, documenting vendor responses, preparing and distributing bid tabulations; At the direction of the Buyer, Procurement and Contracts Specialist, and/or Purchasing and Warehouse Manager, check for required bonds, insurance and other specification requirements to assist in determining responsiveness; Maintain all required contract files. Serve as the Purchasing liaison with assigned departmental clients delivering value in Sourcing, Materials Management, and Contracting. *Serve as the primary contact and support person for the Purchasing team. Assume the role of primary contact for both stock and ad-hoc purchases as well as quote requests. Collect and analyze data regarding current market conditions. Interview vendors regarding ordering supplies. *Business Process Review and Special Assignments Participate in business process review and implementation. Perform special assignments or projects as needed. Perform other duties as assigned or necessary. Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience
An Associate's degree or higher in accounting, finance, economics, industrial engineering, logistics/operations, supply chain management, purchasing or business administration/management or closely related field AND three (3) years of progressively responsible full-time employment experience in purchasing for a large business, non-profit agency, utility or governmental agency; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.
Licenses and/or Certifications
Valid driver's license
Desirable Qualifications
Experience with business process improvements and ERP systems. If this work interests you but you are unsure if you meet all the job requirements listed above, please apply anyway! Your experience is likely more applicable to the role than you think, and the City is interested in candidates who can bring not only technical expertise but a variety of lived experience to the team. Additional Information
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Knowledge of: the basic principles, practices and techniques of purchasing; regulations governing purchasing and supply procedures; basic accounting practices; obtaining quotes for various types of commodities and supplies; the various products used in the utility business, including maintenance supplies, repair supplies etc. Skill in: negotiating for the purchase of goods and services; resolving problems with deliveries, invoicing, etc. Ability to: evaluate quality and price elements for comparison of products and services; maintain records; effectively communicate verbally and in writing; establish and maintain effective work contracts with vendors and requisitioning business units, City officials and the public; work effectively with SAP computer system, the suite of Microsoft products and records management software; organize work files and follow up procedures; to issue applications for bidder, prepare necessary bid documents for major contract amounts or capital equipment; effectively make business process improvement recommendations and implementation. 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. In consideration of the overall amount of physical effort required to perform this position, the work is best described as
Sedentary Work
: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met. 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, fine dexterity
Frequent demands:
walking, standing
Occasional demands:
lifting, carrying, pushing/pulling, reaching, handling, kneeling, crouching, crawling, bending, twisting, climbing, balancing. Sensory requirements necessary in the performance of the essential functions of this position include: sight, hearing, touch. Environmental conditions that may exist in the performance of the essential functions of this job include: NONE (not substantially exposed to environmental conditions).