The Senior Buyer/Planner is responsible for the procurement of a variety of commodities, materials, supplies, equipment, and services, many of which are highly technical and require the application of complex procurement standards and procedures, including negotiation. The Senior Buyer/Planner prepares detailed bid specifications, requests for quotations for commodities and services, requests for proposals for commodities and services, and purchase orders; the Senior Buyer/Planner employs advanced critical thinking and writing skills in the development and evaluation of the more complex requests for proposals for commodities and services. The Senior Buyer/Planner identifies varied sources of commodities and services, evaluates bids, awards purchase orders, maintains contact with vendors, and maintains comprehensive descriptions of available products and current prices. The Senior Buyer/Planner expedites the ordering and delivery process for commodities or services through the use of automated procurement systems and assures invoice payment by monitoring the process from initiation of a purchase order through the receipt of the goods or services and billing from the vendor or supplier. This role has greater responsibility and accountability than a Buyer/Planner and includes some people management responsibility. The job holder may take responsibility for a specific project or hold a larger remit in terms of purchasing responsibility.