5584 Course Materials Buyer

POSITION IDENTIFICATION

TITLE Course Materials Buyer

CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 5584

GRADE 13

CLASSIFICATION Nonexempt

IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Course Materials Manager

GENERAL FUNCTION

The Course Materials Buyer processes book adoptions and determines the number of textbooks to be purchased from publishers, wholesalers, and end-of-the-semester buyback operations and the mix of new and used textbooks to be purchased. Buyer will be responsible to work in collaboration with the Course Materials Manager to confirm pricing and duration, coordinate and set-up digital content for the campus Digital Access program(s). The Course Materials Buyer prepares want-lists and buyback lists, processes purchase orders for textbooks, reviews and adjusts the open-to-buy calculation, and places the orders. The Course Materials Buyer oversees the production of coursepacks and obtains copyright clearances. The Course Materials Buyer provides customer service, processes returns of damaged or incorrectly shipped books, resolves shortages and overages, prepares shelf tags, monitors expiring invoice returns, oversees the book return process, and initiates sending book adoption forms to faculty each semester.

MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Education: A high school diploma or its equivalent is required.

Experience: Two years of experience in buying and inventory control is required.

Skills: An understanding of inventory control is required. Familiarity with word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications is required.

Other: Occasional lifting of up to fifty pounds is required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Assures that the bookstore has the correct “print” textbooks in the correct quantities obtained in the most cost-effective manner by initiating the book adoption process with faculty, processing book adoptions, monitoring and preparing shelf tags, and compiling want-lists and buyback lists.

2. Assumes responsibility for purchasing all “print” academic textbooks and materials by utilizing open-to-buy figures, generating purchase orders, checking book availability with the publishers, processing pre-pay forms as needed, and working with the publisher’s and bookstore’s accounting departments to resolve discrepancies.

3. Communicates with faculty to identify format options, determine product duration and platform needs, and secure the pricing with the publishers. Works with the Course Materials Manager to recommend Digital products for review by the Disability Resource Center. Supports efforts to manage and implement digital content set-up for the campus Digital Access program(s). 

4. Coordinates the production of custom coursepacks by obtaining information from the instructor about the contents and preferred packaging of the coursepack, whether the content is on file, new, or revised, and whether it is original or copyrighted, obtaining copyright clearance when necessary, determining the quantity needed, arranging for printing and assembly, and calculating the price to be charged.

5. Helps to ensure the efficient management of textbook inventory by understanding publishers return policies, identifying damaged or incorrectly shipped books and shortages or overages, monitoring the expiring invoice report to determine the titles that have potential for return, verifying quantities to be returned, and obtaining return authorization.

6. Assists customers in locating and purchasing books by working on the sales floor during peak times and assisting customers to locate textbooks, helping customers obtain books they are unable to find, investigating the status of books, and assisting customers complete special orders.

7. Supports the overall operation of the bookstore by providing store opening duties and Customer Service counter coverage on an intermittent basis, participating in annual storewide inventory as well as end-of-semester textbook inventory, assisting with Buyback periods, shipping books to students, and maintaining and initiating Distance Learning materials, and Missouri State Online materials.

8. Maintains competency in current skills and develops new skills as the job requires by attending training and/or courses as required by the Course Materials Manager or Director of the Bookstore.

9. Contributes to the overall success of the bookstore by performing all other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISION

The Course Materials Buyer is supervised by the Course Materials Manager and regularly supervises part-time and student workers.

OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES

REVISED JANUARY 2025

JOB FAMILY 1

Factor 1: Educational/Experience Requirements of the Job

Level 4.0 - 500 Points: A combination of education and experience equivalent to a Level 4 as indicated by the Equivalencies Chart, when permitted by the Minimum Acceptable Qualifications.

Factor 2: Complexity and Technical Mastery

Level 3.0 - 220 Points: Considerable skill in oral and written communication, the ability to make basic mathematical calculations, the ability to understand and follow instructions, knowledge of moderately complex or other work procedures, and the ability to work independently and coordinate a variety of activities and events are required.

Factor 3: Responsibility for the Work of Others

Level 4.0 - 110 Points: Some supervision and training of small numbers of student or part-time workers is required where the nature of supervision is largely confined to scheduling work and assigning tasks. Supervision at this level may also involve directing the work assignments of one or more permanent, full-time employees. Supervisory tasks may include providing input into hiring and employee evaluation processes, but the final decisions are made by other supervisors. The incumbent typically does not perform a full range of supervisory responsibilities, and supervisory duties typically involve relatively little time during the work day.

Factor 4: Guidelines

Level 2.0 - 130 Points: The work generally involves sequential steps and methods explained by the supervisor and/or described by specific guidelines such as standard operating procedures, handbooks, and/or reference manuals exist. Tasks are relatively clear-cut and involve related steps, processes, and methods. The employee may be required to recognize differences in a variety of situations, but those differences are normally clear and require the selection of standard processes to resolve. The number and similarity of guidelines and work situations requires the employee to use judgment in locating and selecting the most appropriate guidelines, references, and procedures for application and in making minor deviations to adapt guidelines in specific cases. Situations to which the existing guidelines cannot be applied or proposed deviations from the guidelines are referred to a supervisor.

Factor 5: Contacts

Level 4.0 - 205 Points: The purpose of interactions is to solve recurring and structured problems, to provide specialized or technically precise information to others, and/or to plan or coordinate work efforts with other employees. Contacts involve cooperation and coordination and may involve the organization of activities of programs requiring working relationships among several parties. While contacts may require some level of persuasion, potential for conflicts and disputes are relatively minor. Interactions are moderately structured and routine and may involve employees in different functions, students, and/or the general public.

Factor 6: Work Impact

Level 3.0 - 300 Points: Work activities normally address conventional problems or situations with established methods to supply other employees with information, services, or products they use to perform their work. Work products or services facilitate the work of other employees and directly affects the ability of other employees to timely complete specific tasks or processes. Work activities may affect the quality of services provided to moderate numbers of employees, students, or the public, but the services, information, or products provided have relatively minor effects on the welfare of the affected groups.

Factor 7: Physical Effort and Work Environment

Level 2.0 - 50 Points: The work may include limited but regular exposure to uncomfortable physical conditions and/or variable weather. The work may require periodic handling, carrying, or lifting of moderately heavy objects. Alternatively, the work may require standing and/or walking for long periods of time and/or the use of hands or arms in the same position for long periods of time.