HomeMy WebLinkAbout22 - Reclassification of Senior Buyer PositionCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Agenda Item No. 22
May 13, 2008
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Human Resources Department
Barbara Ramsey, Human Resources Director
949 -644 -3303, bramseYO- citv.newport- beach.ca.us
SUBJECT: RECLASSIFICATION OF SENIOR BUYER POSITION TO
PURCHASING AGENT
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the City Manager's recommendation to reclassify the vacant Senior Buyer
position in the Administrative Services Department to the new classification of
Purchasing Agent with a monthly salary range of $5619 - $7902.
DISCUSSION:
Recently, our Senior Buyer retired after working for the City since 1999. Usually, when
a position becomes vacant after being occupied for a long time and before we open the
recruitment, we review it to ensure it is correctly classified and the salary is appropriate.
We also review and update the job description to accurately reflect any changes in the
duties, responsibilities and minimum qualifications.
The Senior Buyer classification is the supervising member of the Purchasing &
Warehouse Section of the Fiscal Services Division. The Purchasing & Warehouse
operations are located offsite at the General Services Corporation Yard on Superior
Avenue. Due to their physical location, the supervisor for this section must be highly
professional and able to lead their team independent of direct supervision. This staff
member provides immediate supervision to the Inventory Analyst and Buyer positions.
We reviewed job descriptions and salaries from other cities in Orange County, and this
new title and minimum qualifications (three years experience and a Bachelor's Degree)
are consistent with classification titles in other cities with comparable responsibilities.
The new salary recommendation places Newport Beach slightly lower than the median
of other cities with comparable positions and fits well within our internal salary
comparisons.
Reclassification of Senior Buyer
May 13, 2008
Page 2
This item has been placed on the agenda for approval, so that we may open the
recruitment at the higher level and fill the vacancy as soon as possible. If we open the
recruitment at the current Senior Buyer level, we feel that we would not attract quality
candidates because of the information we collected regarding comparable positions in
other cities.
Human Resources has consulted with representatives from the Professional and
Technical Association and they concur with the recommendation to reclassify the
position. The City Manager has reviewed the complete report and approved the
proposed change.
Funding Availability:
There will most likely be no additional cost for FY 08 -09 because the previous
incumbent was receiving the top step of Senior Buyer which is $6574. That amount is
equivalent to the mid -range of the new salary schedule. It would take a new employee
several years to reach the top of the range, which is an increase of approximately
$19,000, top step to top step.
Prepared &C40J_O� Submitted by:
B arbara Ramsey
Human Resources Director