Purchasing Officer

Salary : $89,861.40 - $105,341.40 Annually
Location : Compton, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 25-26:53
Department: City Manager
Opening Date: 10/28/2026
Closing Date: 11/16/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

GENERAL PURPOSE
Under administrative direction, to plan, organize and supervise a City-wide plan of purchasing and stock control; and to perform other related duties as required.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Directs the operation of the Purchasing Division In purchasing supplies and equipment for all City departments; controls the storing and distribution of supplies and equipment; responsible for continual surveillance of approved purchasing policies and procedures; enforces a proper perpetual inventory system; negotiates purchases to obtain desirable quality, quantity and prices; supervises inspection of

purchases for quality in conformance with specifications; prepares forms and specifications for formal competitive bidding; establishes bidding procedures and bidding calendar; examines and analyzes bids and prepares necessary reports preparatory to the awarding of bids; disposes of surplus, obsolete or unused supplies, materials and equipment; contracts for the rental, repair or maintenance of equipment or machinery; an performs other related duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
DESIABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Education:
Graduation from an accredited college, preferably including courses in business administration, public administration, accounting, data processing, or a related field. Responsible supervising purchasing experience may be substituted for the required college education on a year-for year basis.

Experience:
Minimum of four (4) years of increasingly responsible experience in purchasing and stores management, two years or which must have been in a supervisory capacity.

Knowledge of:
Principles and practices of governmental purchasing; legal requirements of bidding and contact procedures; warehouse accounting, inventorying and general procedures; principles of public administration and management.

Ability to:
Develop and maintain purchasing systems and procedures; establish and maintain effective working relationships with City officials, City employees, vendors and the general public; prepare specifications and procedures of competitive bids for supplies, materials, and equipment; evaluate product lines for quality suitability and proposed applications; prepare clear and concise reports; operate office appliances such as adding and calculating machines; plan, organize train and direct work of subordinate staff

Internal applicants must use their personal email to apply, as City of Compton work emails will not be accepted for job applications. While we cannot prevent applicants from using their work email, the City is not responsible for missed communications due to system outages, firewall restrictions, employee leave, or any other technical or accessibility issues affecting City email accounts.All applicants must meet the minimum qualifications for the position and submit all required documents -such as licenses, certifications, and proof of education- outlined in the job posting. Incomplete applications, including those missing any required documentation, will not be considered.
Please note: Only the first 50 applications received that best meet the qualifications and needs of the hiring department will be invited to continue in the hiring process. Additional applications may be reviewed at a later time, based on hiring needs.

EXAMINATION
The purpose of this examination is to establish an eligible list from which vacant position(s) may be filled.

Phase one (1) is a written examination (weighted 50%) which will measure all or portions of the above knowledge, and skills. Phase two (2) is an oral examination (weighted 50%) that will be administered by an appraisal panel to evaluate professional qualifications, background and suitability. A passing score for each phase is 70%. Each candidate will be notified via e-mail of their status at each step of the recruitment.

The City of Compton reserves the right to utilize alternative testing methods, if deemed necessary. Failure in one phase of the examination shall be grounds for declaring the applicant as failing in the entire examination, and as disqualified for subsequent parts of an examination.

GENERAL INFORMATION TO EXAMINATION APPLICANTS

Applicants with disabilities who require special testing arrangements must give advanced notice to the Human Resources Department prior to the final filing date.

ELIGIBLE LISTSRecruitment may be conducted on a (a) promotional basis, (b) open-competitive basis, or (c) promotional and open-competitive basis simultaneously. All candidates who attain an overall score of at least 70.00 (open-competitive) and at least 75.00 (promotional) will be placed in rank order on the relevant eligible list(s).

PLEASE NOTE:
All permanent City employees that attain an overall score of at least 75.00 will be placed on both the promotional eligible list and the open-competitive eligible list. All City employees that attain a score of 70.00 on EACH PHASE of the examination but an overall score of less than 75.00 will be placed on the open-competitive eligible list only.

Each eligible list shall remain in effect one (1) year from the date of its establishment unless it is extended, abolished or exhausted. Whenever possible, three (3) names are certified to fill any one (1) vacant position. No candidate may be certified more than three (3) times for any one classified position. When certifying eligible lists to appointing powers, the promotional eligible list takes precedence over the open-competitive eligible list. A department manager's recommendation for employment is subject to the City Manager's approval.

EXAMINATION APPEAL PROCEDUREA candidate may, within five (5) days after taking the written examination, file in writing with the City Manager an appeal against any part of the test, citing the item or items against which the appeal is directed, and the reason(s) for such appeal. The Personnel Board will consider appeals from the decisions and ratings of qualifications appraisals (interview) boards if such appeals meet the conditions described in the Personnel Rules and Regulations (Section 6.8).

EXAMINATION RECORDSAll examination papers, including the employment application, resume, and other attachments submitted by candidates are the property of the Personnel Board and are confidential records which may be open to inspection only for purposes and under conditions established by the Personnel Board.

VETERAN'S PREFERENCEIn all entrance examinations (open-competitive only) for positions in the Classified Service, veterans who served in the armed forces of the United States during time(s) of war, and who attain an overall passing score in the examination are allowed additional preferential credit in accordance with the Personnel Rules and Regulations. In order to claim veterans' credit, the applicant must submit proof of service and honorable discharge (showing specific dates of service) on a U.S. Military form (DD-214) at the time of application or not later than the final filing date for the examination.

FRINGE BENEFITSThe City's comprehensive fringe benefits program includes: retirement (Public Employees' Retirement System), medical, dental, life and vision insurances, deferred compensation, sick and vacation leaves, after-hours education reimbursement, ride share program, uniform allowance and other provisions.

• CalPERS Retirement- Secure pension through the California Public Employees' Retirement System
• Lifetime Medical Coverage for Retirees- Fully funded by the City after 5 years of service with CalPers
• CalPERS Health Benefits Program- Choice of 10 health plans, with City-paid premiums for employees and eligible dependents (up to the annual Kaiser family rate)
• Employer-Paid Vision and Dental Insurance- For both employees and eligible dependents
• Employer-Paid Life Insurance- Offered through UNUM
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)- For healthcare and dependent care expenses through American Fidelity
• Employee-Sponsored Supplemental Benefits- Optional coverage such as life, disability, and accident insurance
• Generous Paid Time Off- Vacation, sick leave, and 16* paid holidays per year
• 4/10 Flexible Work Schedule- Most Administrative roles based at City Hall enjoy a 4-day workweek, with Fridays off*
• Educational Reimbursement- Up to $3,000 per fiscal year for tuition and books
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)- Confidential services for personal and professional support
• Professional Development Opportunities- Ongoing training and career growth resources

*Total number of holidays are subject to change based on the fiscal year.
*City Hall is closed on Fridays. Please contact HR to confirm if the position you're interested in follows a 4/10 schedule.
01

What is the highest level of education you have completed? Please attach proof of education to your application for verification.

• Associate's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent.
• I have not met either of the above educational requirements.

02

How many years of increasingly responsible experience do you possess in purchasing and stores management? (please note that this experience must be clearly outlined in your application)

• Six (6) years or more
• Five (5) years
• Four (4) years
• Three (3) years
• Two (2) years
• One (1) year or less
• No experience

03

How many years of supervisory experience do you possess in purchasing and stores management? (please note that this experience must be clearly outlined in your application)

• Two (2) or more years
• One (1) year
• Less than one (1) year or no supervisory experience

04

Do you possess a valid and appropriate California driver's license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)? Please attach a copy of your driver's license to your application for verification.

• Yes
• No

05

Describe your work experience as it relates to the principles and practices of governmental purchasing; legal requirements of bidding and contact procedures; warehouse accounting, inventorying and general procedures; principles of public administration and management.
06

Are you a current, permanent City of Compton employee? Please note this excludes individuals currently on probation.

• Yes
• No

07

Do you have any relatives employed by the City of Compton? If you have any relatives that work for the City of Compton, please indicate their name. If you do not, please type in N/A.
08

This brings you to the end of your application. Before submitting your application, please make sure you have done the following: 1. Read the entire job description and understand the position you are applying for.2. Read the Minimum Qualifications and clearly state your relevant experience and education on your application; including any licenses and/or certificates if applicable.(Note: resumes will not be reviewed in lieu of a completed application.)3. Attach any proof of education, licenses and/or certificates if applicable.4. Completed all sections of the application and answered all questions thoroughly.

• I certify that I have read this notice and understand the instructions provided.

Required Question