Salary : $112,652.80 - $137,779.20 Annually
Location : City Hall, 250 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto, CA
Job Type: Regular Full-Time
Job Number:
Department: Administrative Services Department
Opening Date: 09/10/2026
Closing Date: 9/27/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description
The City of Palo Alto is seeking a Buyer to join our team and support critical procurement needs of various City departments.

The Position

In this role, you will be a key player in ensuring the effective and efficient use of City funds. You will be responsible for the full procurement lifecycle, from sourcing and selecting vendors to negotiating contracts and purchasing a wide range of materials, equipment, and services. You'll work closely with internal City staff to understand their needs, review requisitions, and ensure all purchases align with City policies.
Ideal Candidate:

The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented professional who can build strong relationships with vendors, manage contracts effectively, and maintain accurate records. This position also requires strong communication skills, as you'll be a central point of contact for both external vendors and internal departments.

• Experience in public sector procurement
• Strong communication skills
• Knowledge of public procurement practices
• Familiarity with procurement software; SAP experience a plus
• Comfortable with e-procurement systems
• Detail-oriented

Typical Tasks
Duties performed may vary depending on working level assigned.

• Reviews and receives purchase requisitions to be processed;
• Prepares Request For Quotes(RFQ);
• Schedules advertising and announcement of solicitations on the City's eprocurement software;
• Conducts pre-bid conferences & review Council staff reports;
• Analyzes bids;
• Determines successful bidders and issues purchase orders, makes recommendations relative to the awarding of contracts.
• Prepares contracts and amendments
• Reviews and edits Scope of Services and Specifications
• Enters contracts, amendments, encumbrances, close out and task orders into SAP
• Works with Project Managers to resolve issues in SAP;
• Maintains contract files and ensures documents and pertinent materials are current;
• Operates personal computers and learns specialty software programs;
• May provide training to other procurement staff and partner departments on the procurement process;
• Serves as a back-up to other Buyers in their absence
• Performs related duties as required.
• P-card Admin and Technical Support

Interested in learning more about the Administrative Services Department
Essential Duties

• Manage the procurement process from requisition to purchase for assigned departments
• Purchase goods and services via purchase orders, contracts, and agreements
• Work with City departments to identify and plan purchasing needs
• Research and evaluate suppliers; negotiate prices and terms
• Maintain accurate procurement records and compile reports with statistical data
• Evaluate vendor performance and resolve issues
• Serve as a resource for City staff, providing guidance on procurement policies and procedures
• Assist with inventory control and records management

To view full job description
Minimum Qualifications
Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities which would typically be acquired through:

• Equivalent to completion of 2 years of college with major in business.

and

• Two years experience as a buyer or equivalent purchasing experience.

Special Requirements:

• Possession of a California Driver's License.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Ability to communicate with others and to assimilate and understand information, in a manner consistent with the essential job functions.

• Knowledge of purchasing and contracting methods; modern business practices; and, public purchasing and materials principles.
• Ability to analyze purchase requests; evaluate bids; prepare product specifications and contracts; make sound recommendations; establish, maintain, and compile accurate records and reports; operate office equipment; learn record retention procedures.
• General knowledge of maintenance, repairs, operating and office supplies, and safety equipment; ability to write and analyze related specifications.
• The skills associated with vendor development including negotiating, communicating, and product analysis.
• Ability to operate assigned equipment.
• Ability to make sound decisions in a manner consistent with the essential job functions.

Supplemental Information
This position is represented by Service Employee International Union (SEIU).
The Selection Process:

• Recruitment status notifications will be sent via email or text (please enroll in text alerts when applying).
• Updates can also be found on your governmentjobs.com account.
• Applicants will be screened throughout the posting process and highly qualified candidates may be invited to interview at any time.
• The screening process for this position may include a virtual recorded interview and/or panel interviews preceding final interviews with the hiring manager or their designee.

Our online application system is provided by NeoGov. If you have problems while applying online, please contact NeoGov's Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday.
See our Benefits at a Glance Bookletfor more details.
Learn more about our Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) between the City and its bargaining units, by clicking
01

Do you possess equivalent to completion of two (2) years of college with a major in business or a closely related field?

• Yes
• No

02

How many years of professional experience do you have as a buyer or in an equivalent purchasing role?
03

Describe your experience reviewing and editing Scopes of Services and product/material specifications working alongside project managers or internal departments. How do you ensure specifications are clear, objective, and fair to bidders?
04

This position requires entering contracts, amendments, encumbrances, and purchase orders into enterprise software like SAP. Please describe your level of proficiency with SAP or other ERP/procurement systems.
05

Describe your familiarity with e-procurement platforms (e.g., NeoGov, PlanetBids, PlanetGov, etc.) and any experience you have with P-Card (Procurement Card) administration or technical support.
Required Question