Pending Retirement Of Purchasing Director Creates Opening In Fairfield

FAIRFIELD, CT — Fairfield is in the market for a new Purchasing Director.

The town has been advertising to fill the role for the past few weeks, due to the pending retirement of Gerald Foley, who has held the position since the spring of 2016. Foley was the Purchasing Agent in Norwalk for 15 years before he replaced Twig Holland, Fairfield's Purchasing Director for near two decades.

Foley is stepping down in January, and the town is well into the process of finding a replacement.

"We have begun interviews for the Purchasing Director [position], but there are no finalists/decisions yet," Jackie Bertolone, Chief of Staff for First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick, said in an email to Patch.

How many applications the town has received, and how many interviews have been conducted were not disclosed.

The salary range for the full-time job will be between $130,000 and $140,000 per year, and is described as follows:

Per Town Charter requirements, perform duties as Purchasing Authority (in conjunction with the First Selectperson) for the Town and Board of Education. Establish policy and systems for purchasing goods and services used by the Town and Board of Education. Direct the procurement of capital equipment and O&M goods and services essential to the operation of all Town departments, and all Board of Education functions.

The position carries a host of responsibilities, including:

• Direct and coach staff in reviewing/ writing product specifications, preparing bid documents, developing new sources and qualifying suppliers, analyzing bid I quote responses, selecting and awarding work based on best value;
• Review legal and business issues of all contracts; refer issues to legal counsel;
• Examine budgets and recommend opportunities for purchase consolidation I contract purchasing;
• Authorize all purchase requisitions after review for quantity, supplier, product specifications and cost;
• Monitor commodities markets and advise Town departments on budget and planning.
• Management of all annual capital budget purchases totaling roughly $35,000,000 for the Town and Board of Education; plus $30,000,000 in operating I maintenance purchases for the Town and Board of Education

The qualifications for consideration for the post, include:

Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Business, Public Administration or a related field, plus eight (8) years of progressively responsible purchasing, administrative support services experience, and five (5) years of supervisory experience, demonstrated familiarity and understanding with the Town’s internal departmental processes – or – an equivalent combination of education and professional purchasing experience deemed equivalent by the Director of Human Resources.

Additionally, the successful candidate will also possess, "considerable knowledge and understanding of modern procurement methods and practices and budgeting procedures," among a range of other criteria.