Associate Procurement Professional

Analytical Thinking: Knowledge of techniques and tools that promote effective analysis; ability to determine the root cause of organizational problems and create alternative solutions that resolve these problems. Level Basic Understanding: • Names specific tools or techniques that can be used to support the analytical thinking process. • Describes specific software applications or products used for business analytics. • Gives examples of how analytical thinking has been used to resolve problems. • Helps others research and learn more about business analytics tools and applications.

Effective Communications: Understanding of effective communication concepts, tools and techniques; ability to effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviors. Level Working Knowledge: • Delivers helpful feedback that focuses on behaviors without offending the recipient. • Listens to feedback without defensiveness and uses it for own communication effectiveness. • Makes oral presentations and writes reports needed for own work. • Avoids technical jargon when inappropriate. • Looks for and considers non-verbal cues from individuals and groups.

Project Management: Knowledge of effective project management strategies and tactics; ability to plan, organize, monitor, and control projects, ensuring efficient utilization of technical and administrative resources to achieve project objectives. Level Working Knowledge: • Provides input for Gantt or PERT charts or their equivalent to track project progress and status. • Under guidance, plans and estimates simple projects. • Assists in detailed project plans including cost, schedule, and resource requirements. • Obtains information from stakeholders during the planning stage of a project. • Produces standard project status reports.

Procurement: Knowledge of buying and procurement; ability to work with organizational strategies and practices, and use tools for buying goods, supplies, equipment and services needed to conduct business. Level Basic Understanding: • Identifies the major steps and critical paths in a purchasing cycle. • Explains the basic concepts and responsibilities of institutional purchasing. • Describes the major types of materials, products or services purchased by the organization. • Identifies the basic tools used for maintaining procurement information and records.

Knowledge of a Specific Procurement System: Knowledge of the features, functions and operations of a specific procurement system; ability to develop and use tools, techniques, and practices for a specific procurement application. Level Working Knowledge: • Uses the system to process routine purchase orders and payments. • Communicates with professionals to understand various procedures for a specific procurement system within the organization. • Troubleshoots common applications or data problems for a specific procurement system. • Uses software to monitor the status and shipment of orders. • Maintains inspection records, photographs, and important documentation of procurement system.

Purchasing Tasks and Activities: Knowledge of policies, regulations and processes of purchasing; ability to use practices and procedures for procurement of materials, components, equipment and services. Level Basic Understanding: • Identifies the basic tools used for maintaining procurement information. • Identifies major types of products or services purchased by the organization. • Explains the basic concepts and responsibilities of purchasing tasks and activities. • Describes established procurement processes and standards.

Logistics Management: Knowledge of the processes, tools and operational considerations for effective and efficient movement of goods and materials; ability to understand, predict and control the movement of goods, materials and supplies. Level Working Knowledge: • Uses tools, with guidance, to forecast delivery times, determine costs and assess performance. • Works with logistics in a domestic environment. • Maintains records of all shipments and invoices using an established system. • Assists in the development of process flows to track lead time by activity. • Participates in integrating logistics processes and developing effective networks.

This Job Description is intended as a general guide to the job duties for this position and is intended for the purpose of establishing the specific salary grade. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as an exhaustive summary of all responsibilities, duties and effort required of employees assigned to this job. At the discretion of management, this description may be changed at any time to address the evolving needs of the organization. It is expressly not intended to be a comprehensive list of “essential job functions” as that term is defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.