The City of Rochester now welcomes applications for
Buyer
Rochester Public Utilities
The City of Rochester is committed to a community where all members feel a sense of belonging. We commit to recognizing the diversity of our community members, listening to ALL voices and providing equitable services to create an inclusive place to live, play and work.
We believe EQUITY should be at the center of all our work. We strive to represent our community in our teammates, as we know that diverse and inclusive teams are more innovative, and have an empowering impact on the work, progress and culture of our community.
It takes us all working together.
Nature of Work
This is a mid-level buying position for the purchase of assigned hard goods, commodities and contractual services. Work includes reviewing purchase requests; talking to suppliers and department officials; examining price, suitability, and availability of items or services; developing and comparing specifications; reviewing alternatives to requests; and performing value analysis of the purchase requests. Work is performed independently under the general supervision of the Materials Manager. Collaborates with various divisions and assists with service and labor related contracts. The position is required to develop and maintain (with the Purchasing and Warehouse Manager) a coordinated system of Purchasing and Contract Administration, so as to promote cost-effective procurement of materials, supplies and services.
This role will also support the finance department with a variety of high-level accounting functions which may include working with month and year end close, journal entry preparation, reconciliation preparation, fixed assets, analyses, assist with various other financial / accounting processes and departmental needs and perform other duties as necessary. The role is expected to balance day-to-day transactional accuracy with longer-range analytical, reporting, and process improvement
Work schedule - The regular work schedule is Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. This position may be eligible for remote work up to two days a week after the initial 6-month probationary period.
Pay - Starting salary is $82,338 to $96,868 per year, depending on qualifications, with advancement to $121,086 This figure is based on the 2025 collective bargaining agreement and will be updated when a 2026 agreement is implemented.
Limited Term Appointment - This position is anticipated to last 18 - 24 months to support the City of Rochester's implementation of new Enterprise Resource Planning software. This role is contingent upon the availability of allocated funds, as well as favorable performance by the incumbent.
Benefits - This position is eligible for benefits offered by the City of Rochester. Please check out the benefits tab at the top of the page for more details.
To have your application considered for the first round of interviews, please apply by Sunday, May 17th, 2026, at 11:59 PM CST.
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
The City of Rochester will not sponsor or transfer visas for this position including F1 OPT STEM.
Education and Experience
A Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university in accounting, finance, economics, industrial engineering, logistics/operations, supply chain management, purchasing or business administration/management or a closely related field and three (3) years of direct experience as a Buyer, with inventory control responsibilities.
Licenses and Certifications
Valid Minnesota Driver's License
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Purchasing experience for a public agency and/or electric utility.
Designation as a:
Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO),
Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB); and/or
Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM).
Experience using enterprise systems that support warehouse and materials management modules such as SAP, CGI or JD Edwards.
PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the following represents the physical and environmental demands for this position. The employee must be able to perform the essential functions with or without accommodation.
Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work.
Physical demands that may be required continuously (2/3 or more of the time), frequently (1/3 to 2/3 of the time), and occasionally (up to 1/3 of the time) are noted below:
Continuous demands: sitting, standing
Frequent demands: walking, fine dexterity, handling
Occasional demands: lifting, carrying, bending, reaching
Sensory requirements necessary in the performance of the essential functions of this position include sight, hearing and touch.
Environmental conditions that may exist in the performance of the essential functions of this job include: NONE (not substantially exposed to environmental conditions)
