Buyer I/II

JOB Examination Schedule:

Written Exam:

will be conducted on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.

Level I:

$1,665.92 - $1,990.93 Biweekly;

Level II:

$2,003.54 - $2,394.42

Biweekly Minimum Qualifications/Employment Standards Level I:

Certification as one of the following: Accredited Purchasing Practitioner (A.P.P.) or Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.) by the Institute of Supply Management or Certified Public Purchasing Buyer (C.P.P.B.) or Certified Public Purchasing Officer (C.P.P.O.) by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing. OR High School Diploma, G.E.D. or equivalent AND 60 semester or 90 quarter units of college credit from an accredited college or university in business or public administration, economics, accounting, finance or a closely related field. OR Two (2) years of experience in purchasing including reviewing vendor bids, preparation of specifications, analysis and awarding of bids, and working with vendors. OR An equivalent combination of related experience and education which has provided the knowledge and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Level II:

Bachelor's Degree from an accredited university in business or public administration, economics, accounting, finance, or a closely related field. OR Certification as one of the following: Accredited Purchasing Practitioner (A.P.P.) or Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.) by the Institute of Supply Management or Certified Public Purchasing Buyer (C.P.P.B.) or Certified Public Purchasing Officer (C.P.P.O.) by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing. OR Two (2) years experience equivalent to Buyer I in the Kern County Classification System. OR 60 semester or 90 quarter units of college credit from an accredited college or university in business or public administration, economics, accounting, finance or a closely related field AND two (2) years purchasing and/or contracts experience. Please ensure applicable degrees or transcripts are attached to your application. If you are unable to attach application materials to your application, you may deliver a copy to the Human Resources Division at 1115 Truxtun Ave. First Floor, Bakersfield, CA 93301 or fax to (661) 868-3926.

Full Job Descriptions for:

Buyer I- II Examinations:

Written Exam (Weight 100%): May include knowledge of purchasing practices and ethics, bid preparation and competitive bidding procedures; budgetary controls; statistical analysis; and accounting and completing bid tabulations. Applicants must attain at least a 70% score on each phase of the exam process. This position works within the General Services Division of Kern County. For more information about the department, please view their website here.

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES

Kern County employees provide opportunities that are purposeful to our community. Every employee and every action contributes to the improvement and strengthening of our county. To learn more about Kern County, click here or follow us: Growth Mindset We always encourage our employees to grow and develop. Kern County has a culture of innovation that allows employees to explore creative and more efficient ways to accomplish their work. We provide access to training and continued professional development in an effort to ensure that our employees have opportunities for career growth.