Senior Procurement Buyer (13334)

Summary/Objective

Purchases a wide range of goods and services including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), furniture, office supplies, printing and shredding services, catering, hotels, group travel, promotional items and other commodities as required. Develops and revises a wide range of complex contracts. Reviews and identifies commodities from the preferred and strategic supplier list to best service the University. This individual is required to keep open communication with all related departments throughout the campus and be integral in decision making with those individuals.

Essential Functions

1. Procurement – Lead responsibilities include managing competitive RFP process of assigned commodities in the timeliest and most cost effective manner possible. Developing bid summary sheets with pricing matrices to share with internal customers. Investigate and identify new projects of various sizes. Coordinate with end users to establish specifications, vendor sources, sole-source justifications and/or acceptance/rejection of alternate items, or terms and conditions. Writes and distributes highly technical bid invitations or requests for proposal. Manage one or more complex term contracts. Establishes blanket purchase agreements with vendors setting dollar limitations and period of performance limitations. Specific cost savings targets. This role also manages various transactional activities as related to systems and process, and is responsible for learning, understanding and communicating AU policies and procedures as part of the overarching and developing Procurement & Contracts governance model. Acts as mentor to other buyers on the team.
2. Sourcing new and existing supplier base - Mainly responsible for preferred and strategic vendor list, maintaining and re-evaluating (and rebidding) as necessary. Working with the Director, revises the list and updates pricing and schedules as necessary. Develop sourcing plans for major commodities and vendors in coordination with customer needs and share or re-direct commodity purchases or leads from meetings with customers. Performs spend and market analysis for additional departmental categories. Receives and analyzes quotes, bids, and proposals, and awards contracts. Develop market and industry analysis of existing categories of spend and put in place new vendors as necessary based on strategic sourcing. Monitors the maintenance of records regarding pricing and ordering of materials; prepares reports, analysis, and recom­mendations.
3. Contract creation and amendments –Ability and Expertise to draft, evaluate, negotiate and execute contracts and modifications as needed in coordination with the contracts team. The goal is to do this in the timeliest and most cost effective manner possible. Prioritize current projects and daily activities to ensure that end user departmental needs are met in a timely manner. Develop and maintain exceptional customer relations with both external vendors and internal stakeholders. Familiarity with NDAs, sales/purchase agreements, consulting and master agreements. On all standard and nonstandard contracts, provide redlined recommendations and often negotiate directly with customer attorneys or fellow purchasing staff. Monitor transaction and service level compliance.

Work Environment

• This position reports to the Director - Procurement.
• The Director of Procurement reports directly to the Associate VP of Finance & Assistant Treasurer.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• Full time
• Project Leader/Advisor B
• Exempt

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree required, or equivalent in education, training or experience.
• Six years work-related experience in a high energy purchasing environment including experience with an educational financial system, and ability to manage people’s expectations regarding work timelines, Purchase Orders, Contracts, and other related duties.
• RFP or proposal writing experience is required.
• Negotiating experience required.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Master’s Degree in business preferred.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

• Internal Stakeholder Collaboration
• Ability to adapt to change
• Business Process Design and Continuous Improvement
• Oral and Written Communication
• Sourcing Strategy Formulation and Implementation
• Data Analysis
• Industry and Marketplace Understanding
• Strategic Planning
• Supplier Relationship Management & Development
• Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Understanding
• Product and Category knowledge
• Hiring offers for this position are contingent on successful completion of a background check.
• To ensure the health and safety of our community AU requires COVID-19 vaccinations for faculty and staff. Click here to learn more about our health and safety directive.

Benefits

• Click here to learn about American University's unique benefit options.
  
  

Others

• Ongoing professional training and/or certifications annually are encouraged. Attend annual conferences as PCD budget allows.
• Two-way communication with upper administration and end users is essential.

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