Job Description

Buyer Specialist

Job Description

Innovation allows an organization to make the most of every dollar spent. At Virginia’s Community Colleges System (VCCS), our compelling mission, our ambitious strategic plan and our fiscal realities challenge us to ensure that community college resources are maximized for the priority of student success and credential completion.

Nestled between the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains, the VCCS Shared Services Center is centrally located to all 23 colleges in the VCCS, 43 miles from Blacksburg, VA, and a four hour drive from Washington, D.C. A vital part of the ever-growing Roanoke Valley, Daleville is a haven for tourists and residents alike. Within an hour’s drive are the breathtaking Smith Mountain Lake, world-famous Appalachian Trail, and many other outdoor activities, including golfing, biking, and hiking. The thriving Historic City Market in downtown Roanoke and the Daleville Town Center and Performance Pavilion also host farmers markets, community and cultural events, and festivals throughout the year.

The VCCS Shared Services Center is an innovation strategy to advance the priority of student success, reduce the administrative burden on individual colleges, consolidate transaction-based functions, create economies of scale and improve backroom process efficiency. This work allows the VCCS to better focus resources on the students – helping them start their educational journeys, persist, and succeed.

Under their direct supervisor the Buyer Specialist performs transactional purchases for a wide variety of goods and services for the 23 VCCS colleges, the System Office and the Shared Services Center. The position:

• Receives demand signals and purchases goods and services up to the small purchase threshold


• Ensures that all purchases are performed accurately, timely and in accordance with applicable state laws & policies and VCCS policies


• Employs best business practices to continuously improve performance, compliance, efficiency and effectiveness

KSA's/Minimum Qualifications

KSA’s:

Ability to:

• execute simple to moderately complex purchases of supplies, equipment, and services


• proficiently use automated procurement systems (e-procurement) to review and process requisitions through to a purchase order and acknowledgment


• analyze quotes and bids and make appropriate purchasing decisions


• fully manage procurement process for assignments from the need through the purchase order, including order status and invoicing discrepancies


• exercise sound judgment, solve problems, and attend to detail in a fast pace, team oriented and customer service-oriented environment


• work effectively with a wide range of constituencies


• provide exceptional customer service to internal and external customers in a professional manner


• complete assignments following procedures & processes within the policies & laws


• express thoughts clearly both verbally and in writing


• maintain confidentiality


• use the computer hardware and software required, including proficiency in MS Office

Minimum Qualifications:

• Multiple years of customer service or team-oriented work experience or a combination


• Minimal buying experience such as experience with purchasing, vendor management, inventory management, negotiations, market research, or project coordination


• Current Virginia Contracting Associate (VCA) certification or ability to obtain within one year of hire; see for more information on VCA certification

Additional Considerations:

• Procurement experience in higher education and/or state government


• Knowledge of governmental procurement principles and ability to follow procurement policy and standard operating procedures


• Knowledge of Commonwealth of Virginia & VCCS procurement policies (VPPA, APSPM, etc.)


• Knowledge of eVA (state procurement system) and AIS/PeopleSoft


• Professional procurement certification(s): Virginia Contracting Officer (VCO), Certified Public Procurement Buyer (CPPB), Certified E-Procurement Professional (CEPP) or other nationally recognized procurement certifications

Special Instructions to Applicants

In support of the Commonwealth's commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process (AHP). The AHP is established as part of a comprehensive strategy to increase employment of individuals with disabilities within state government, which offers a non-competitive path to state employment. For Frequently Asked Questions, please review the DHRM document here: alternative-hiring-process-faqs-for-applicants.pdf.(virginia.gov).

Link for posting:

Additional Information

Hybrid telework available!

Sponsorship will not be offered for this position.

The selected candidate’s offer is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background investigation, which may include: fingerprint checks, local agency checks, employment verification, verification of education, credit checks (relevant to employment). Additionally, selected candidates may be required to complete the Commonwealth’s Statement of Economic Interest. For more information, please follow this link:

The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, political affiliation, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or other non-merit factors.

The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Acts (ADA and ADAAA), to provide, reasonable accommodation to applicants in need of access to the application, interviewing, and selection processes when requested.

VCCS uses E-Verify to check employee eligibility to work in the United States. You will be required to complete an I-9 form and provide documentation of your identity for employment purposes.

Salary/Compensation: $49,000 - $54,000 per year

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