Buyer II

At the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, we deliver reliable water to a region with 19 million people—and to accomplish this, we rely on a team of talented employees: innovators, problem-solvers, and collaborators who make it all possible.

There is currently one (1) opening for Buyer II located at Headquarters (Los Angeles, CA).

This recruitment may result in an eligibility list*.

As a Buyer II, you will perform purchasing and expediting activities such as contacting suppliers; negotiating pricing, terms, and conditions; issue requests for bids; and collecting, inputting, maintaining, and reporting purchase information. You will also be responsible for processing purchases of materials, supplies, equipment, non-professional and minor construction services in accordance with specifications and scopes of work to support operations. You may prepare and present analytical information to support contract decisions.

Additionally, you will investigate and correct purchasing and invoicing discrepancies, evaluate submittals for compliance with contractual and administrative policy requirements, and maintain or assistant in the maintenance of purchase order files, and related records. In this position you will make use of your exceptional skills in oral/written communication, customer service, organization and analysis, and attention to detail.

What You’ll Do

• General Goods & Services Procurement: Procure a wide range of materials, supplies, equipment, and non‑professional services in accordance with specifications and public procurement rules and best practices.

• Requisition & Specification Review: Review requisitions, scopes of work, and specifications for completeness, clarity, and compliance with laws, policies, and established procurement standards.

• Customer & Stakeholder Support: Collaborate with internal customers to clarify requirements, resolve questions, and refine product or service descriptions as needed.

• Sourcing & Market Research: Identify procurement strategies and sources of supply, including cooperative contracts and public agency agreements, to meet operational needs.

• Solicitation Management: Issue bids and solicitations, conduct pre‑bid job walks, respond to vendor inquiries, and prepare clarifying amendments.

• Bid Evaluation & Award: Analyze submittals for compliance, negotiate exceptions, verify vendor qualifications, recommend award to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, and conduct sole source negotiations when appropriate.

This job announcement has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work being performed by employees in this classification / job.

To view the full job description, click here: Buyer II

Schedule: 44/36 - Monday through Friday, every other Friday off. Start times are no earlier than 6 am and end times are no later than 6 pm.

Hybrid: Metropolitan’s current practice in this position is a hybrid work schedule. This typically includes two days a week in person and the other days remote. This is subject to change dependent on organizational needs. In addition, a telework policy is scheduled for negotiations and once completed and implemented, will provide final direction on the hybrid schedule.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a related field and four years relevant experience;

OR Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in a related field and two years relevant experience;

OR two years in a MWD Buyer I classification.

Relevant/Related Experience is defined as: proven work experience in the following: developing contracts and negotiations; sourcing goods and services; preparing and administering competitive solicitations for goods and services in a public sector environment.

CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, AND REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

Employees in this position may be required to obtain and maintain the following certifications, licensing and registrations:

License(s): Valid California Class C Driver’s License or equivalent that allows you to drive during your employment is required at time of application.

BENEFITS

• Competitive compensation • Excellent medical, dental, life, vision plans. • Deferred compensation in the form of a 401(k) plan (with matching contribution) and a 457 plan. • Retirement benefits under the California Public Employees' Retirement System • Tuition reimbursement • Training and advancement opportunities • Public transportation reimbursements

• Hub of public transportation: rail, subway, buses, and taxis

• On-site fitness center

For more information on MWD benefits, please use the following link: Benefits Regular FT PT Employees (Represented)

ABOUT MWD

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a state-established cooperative that, along with its 26 cities and retail suppliers, provides water for 19 million people in six counties. The district imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies, and helps its members to develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other resource-management programs.

Metropolitan is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful workplace for all employees.

Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process, please reach out to the Human Resources Office at (213) 217-7738 or email jobs@mwdh2o.com.

In accordance with applicable laws, we provide religious accommodations for sincerely held religious beliefs, practices, and observances that conflict with work requirements. If you require a religious accommodation during the application, interview, or employment process, please reach out to the EEO Office at (213) 217-5858 or eeooffice@mwdh2o.com. Requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Application Filing Period: Closes at 11:59 pm PT on the date stated in the job announcement. However, it may close prior to the filing end date if sufficient applications have been received. If sufficient applications have not been received, then the filing period end date may be extended.

Eligibility List*: An eligibility list is a list of qualified candidates created when a job posting states that one will be established.

Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications listed in the original posting and successfully pass all stages of the recruitment process—but are not selected for the initial vacancy—may be placed on this list for future openings.

The list may be used to invite candidates to participate in a selection interview for a future vacancy in the same classification / title (if there is one). The duration of the list depends on the applicable bargaining unit.

Qualifying Experience: Your resume must at a minimum include the month and year you began and ended employment, name of the organization, your title, and a brief description of your experience. If your employment was part-time, make sure you identify it on your resume next to the month/year.

Sponsorship: Applicants for employment with The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California must have work authorization that does not now or in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the United States (i.e., H1-B or other employment-based immigration case).

#LI-Hybrid