DescriptionThe University of Colorado's (CU) Procurement Service Center (PSC) is a nationally recognized procurement office dedicated to using technology to enhance the university's programs and create efficiencies within policies. PSC supports the entire CU community, which includes four campuses plus system administration. CU is a public research university serving Colorado, the nation and the world through leadership in high-quality and professional training, public service, advancing research and knowledge and leading-edge health care.
Position Summary:
The Senior Purchasing Agent performs complex purchasing duties in support of the research efforts of the University according to prescribed policies, procedures, and/or defined instructions in a cost effective, ethical, efficient, timely, professional manner within a customer-service oriented environment. Formal bidding and conduct of complex purchasing negotiations are anticipated for this role.

The Research Category includes direct support or enablement of the conduct of research defined as the systematic investigation into and study of materials in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions. The majority of this work may be sponsored via federal or grant funding sources and may be a subset of the larger Scientific category but not exclusively.

This Senior Purchasing Agent position exists to procure goods and services in a timely manner, by specifying delivery from the right source to the right place, at a price consistent with the quality and reliability required by the user. Based on professional experience, knowledge, and using the highest ethical conduct, this position makes procurement decisions for the university community by clarifying requirements, investigating sources of supply, interpreting and analyzing data and circumstances. This position provides procurement leadership to university campus departments and other Purchasing Agents by guiding them through the procurement process in order to obtain the best value for the organization. Judgment is used in the adaptation and skilled application of guidelines to solve the full range of problems related to each procurement. The Senior Purchasing Agent illustrates a subject matter level of expertise in the commodities they manage and campus departments they support.

This position reports to the Purchasing Manager and is exempt from the State of Colorado Classified Staff system.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Duties and responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

• Serves as a subject matter expert in public research procurement.
• Serves as an expert in all areas of research throughout the University for procurement and contracting needs.
• Collaborates with campus customers to plan upcoming needs, meeting campus department timelines and any special circumstances surrounding the research requirements.
• Determines the most appropriate method. Reviews the need for supplier master agreements, where appropriate, to expedite the purchase order processing.
  Develops and manages effective relationships with suppliers and internal campus departments and takes a leading role in representing the PSC in meetings and/or committees with suppliers, government agencies, professional associations, and other organizations.
  Collaborates with the Strategic Procurement team to share PSC information with campus research departments.
  May contribute to delivering process improvement initiatives.
  f acquiring goods and/or services by examining and evaluating the unique elements of each request, which may include:
• Understanding the campus department research needs
• Evaluating sole source requests
• Formulating cost/price analysis based upon professional purchasing experience
• Manages formal bidding and conduct of complex purchasing negotiations.
• Purchases common goods and services, custom products/services, as well as complex, difficult and highly technical transactions. Primary focus for this particular position is in supporting the research efforts of the University
• Provides proactive procurement consulting to campus departments, establishing themselves as a subject matter expert in procurement practices and collaborates with PSC management in developing policies, procedures, and guidelines. Proactively approaches the needs required to support the campus research departments’ success by understanding their needs and using professional judgment and procurement experience to determine the appropriate procurement path
• Researching sources of supply as well as commodity information required to deliver effective procurement results.
• Procures goods and services on a competitive basis supporting campus departments efforts to refining solicitation specifications, identifying potential sources, and prepare appropriate solicitation documents.
• Guides and assures the integrity of all aspects of the procurement process by researching and developing solicitation documents in collaboration with the requesting campus department(s).
• Interprets, explains, enforces, clarifies, counsels, and advocates appropriate courses of action, and advises the single or multi-campus evaluation committee of options and consequences by employing the University of Colorado Procurement Rules and University Fiscal Procedures,
• Provides guidance on navigating and adhering to the Federal Acquisition Regulations.
• Interprets and analyzes responses, communicates the results and collaborates with the campus department on selecting awarded supplier(s) and awards the contract.
• Coordinates with Contract Administrators to negotiate, create and/or amend, contracts with suppliers by interpreting the position of the University and State of Colorado on specific terms, nullifying unacceptable terms, proposing alternative terms, and/or writing amendments.
• Resolves contract or purchase order conflicts with reference to quality and/or payment discrepancies by using proven, as well as, unique and novel approaches to interpret contract terms and conditions.
• Reviews the need for supplier master agreements, where appropriate, to expedite the purchase order processing.
• Develops and manages effective relationships with suppliers and internal campus departments and takes a leading role in representing the PSC in meetings and/or committees with suppliers, government agencies, professional associations, and other organizations.
• Collaborates with the Strategic Procurement team to share PSC information with campus research departments.
• May contribute to delivering process improvement initiatives.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
To be successful in this position, candidates will need the following:

• Knowledge of procurement policies, regulations, and best practices.
• Knowledge of supplier environment research supporting needs.
• Knowledge of performance measures and standard contract terms and conditions.
• Ability to utilize professional judgment in the adaptation and skilled application of guidelines to solve the full range of challenges related to the assignment.
• Skilled in and ability to utilize the on-line computerized purchasing system and multiple software packages (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint) as tools in the procurement process.
• Ability to anticipate, analyze, and manage the impact and consequences of decisions.
• Exemplary communication skills including excellent writing skills.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, be very detail oriented, have strong organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain strong working relationships with co-workers, supervisors, other University personnel, and the public.
• Ability to work under stressful conditions and to successfully handle stressful situations efficiently and effectively.
• Skilled in organizational planning, responsibility, judgement, and initiative.
• Ability to meet critical deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and under pressure, to manage multiple concurrent tasks and responsibilities, and to deal with changing priorities, while maintaining effectiveness.

Who we are: System Administration, which also houses the Office of the President, is located in the uptown neighborhood of Denver with an office in Broomfield and a few smaller offices located on the campuses. However, this position is located in Denver. Many of our departments support the educational and research missions of the four University of Colorado campuses. We provide diverse opportunities for professional development, innovation, and collaboration with talented staff and faculty.

For full consideration completed applications must be submitted by December 1, 2019.

What we offer:
Salary: Salary for this position will commensurate with skill and experiences.

Benefits: The University of Colorado offers an excellent benefits package including:

• Medical: Multiple plan options
• Dental: Multiple plan options
• Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision and Wellness 
• Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10% of your gross pay
• Paid Time Off: Accruals over the year
• Vacation Days: 22
• Sick Days: 15
• Holiday Days: 10
• Tuition Benefit: System employees have the benefit on all campuses 
• ECO Pass: RTD Bus and light rail service
• Additional Perks & Programs: Click here to access a few more perks and programs. 

Click here to access our Total Compensation Calculator to see what your total rewards could be at CU. This position is a University Staff position.

For more information on benefits programs, including eligibility, is available at www.cu.edu/employee-services/.

QualificationsMinimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree from accredited institution of higher education or equivalent professional experience. (The educational requirement may be substituted by professional experience on a year for year basis).
• Must have five (5) or more years of professional experience procuring goods and services including a proven track record of successfully managed procurement projects or extensive project management experience with an emphasis in the supporting research efforts. Which must include:
  • Scientific or research related experience.
  • Experience with the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).
  • Experience with Federal Grants and Contracts

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional experience in a higher education institution.

Job Category: Business Services
Primary Location: Denver
Schedule: Full-time
Posting Date: Nov 8, 2019
Unposting Date: Ongoing