Photo: Janice and her family pose for a photo on her son, Aaron's, wedding day. Fun fact: Aaron also works for Yuba Water as a hydro engineer.
Yuba Water Agency's procurement specialist, Janice Taylor, is part of the team responsible for helping and guiding the agency with its buying needs, purchase orders, contract management, bid packages for projects and more. Scroll to learn more about Janice, her background and more.
What is your background/formal education that led to where you are in your career today?
I’ve lived in this area most of my life and went to school locally, earning three different associate degrees. After getting married and becoming a mom, I found being a licensed realtor was the perfect job while having a young family. After my daughters, Brittany and Ashlee, and son, Aaron, grew older, I landed in procurement at a manufacturing company. I’ve been mostly in procurement ever since. Procurement is not a career you can just study for and get a degree in. It’s a field people often grow into through hands-on experience.
How did you get involved in your current career path?
After becoming a wife and having children, I started a career in the finance department with a local large manufacturing company. I was quickly promoted to a buyer where I procured most of the plant’s commodities, equipment, supplies and established strong vendor relationships. I now have over 15 years of experience in the private and public sector.
Photo: Janice and her husband, Tim, attend a University of Oregon Ducks football game with their youngest daughter, Ashlee.
What does your average day look like? Or what are some of your essential duties?
There really isn’t an “average” day in procurement, which I really enjoy. Things can change quickly depending on the needs of the agency and the complexity of the different projects. My day mostly consists of staying informed on the projects that are being planned and providing procurement guidance to successfully complete those projects.
Do your duties differ throughout the year? And if so, how?
My duties definitely shift throughout the year based on procurement demands and the agency’s project timelines. Fiscal year end is always busy, finalizing purchase orders, contracts and accounts.
What do you enjoy most about working for Yuba Water?
I’ve grown up in this area since the sixth grade. Not only do I love living in here, but I love working here, too. There are a lot of things I enjoy about working for the agency, so that is a hard one for me. I mostly like helping others, team members, coworkers, even people outside Yuba Water. I am privileged to work with such a talented and dynamic group of people. I also love how the agency is committed to the community and how they pay it forward. It's bee a great experience. I am proud to be a part of it.
Tell us something about yourself that most of us don't know.
This past fall, I harvested my second buck with my 82-year-old dad. I'm also a brand new Gigi and love every minute of it!
Before working here, what was the most interesting job you had?
Working as a 911 operator and dispatcher for the Yuba County Sheriff's Office. It was interesting and challenging.