IT Sr Purchasing Agent | Senior Purchasing Agent

Job no: 676696
Work type: Support Staff
Pay Grade: 14
Major Administrative Unit / College: Finance
Department: Purchasing 10074704
Salary: Salary Commensurate with Experience
Location: East Lansing
Categories: Full Time (90-100%), Administrative Professionals- AP, Information Technology, Union
Working/Functional Title

IT Sr Purchasing Agent

Position Summary

The IT Sr Purchasing Agent is part of a team of Buyers responsible for purchasing information technology, including software, hardware, SaaS, services and related commodities.

The IT Sr Purchasing Agent reports to Senior Purchasing Agent/Supervisor that reports to the Assistant Director of Procurement and uses extensive knowledge and expertise to execute or negotiate complex, large dollar purchases that support multiple operations. The procurement assignments frequently contain sensitive, critical, or enterprise-wide components with broad impact.

The IT Sr Purchasing Agent employs advanced analytics to evaluate spend and activity data to determine sourcing strategies; formulates specifications for complex and unique items; develop and reviews enterprise level RFPs; conduct public bid openings, evaluate proposals, prepare bid analyses; and negotiate large dollar orders. The IT Senior Purchasing Agent develops and maintains awareness of changing commodity-related business trends in the market and their impact to the university and serves as a professional resource to campus Stakeholders and Purchasing Department staff.

The Senior Purchasing Agent assesses current and future suppliers’ capacity, capability and overall supplier health, evaluating for compliance and risk, utilizing performance measurement tools and decision modeling practices. The individual in this position will have a role in establishing supplier health measures in the IT space. This position develops and manages supplier relationships that ensure contract compliance. Partnership with MSU IT Security, General Counsel and Risk Management offices occurs as a component of supplier assessment and when negotiating supplier contracts and agreements. Periodic business reviews ensure that both technical needs and regulatory requirements are met.

Communication, collaboration, and interaction are frequent with management, key stakeholders, and current/potential suppliers. The Senior Purchasing Agent may lead task forces or project teams formed to accomplish unique or high-impact purchases. This function involves high levels of collaboration and skilled facilitation for project management and decision-making. The Senior Purchasing Agent builds effective relationships to meet the objectives of both the Purchasing Department and campus customers. This position actively promotes the Purchasing Department diversity/inclusion and sustainability programs.

Unit Specific Education/Experience/Skills

Knowledge equivalent to that which would be acquired by completing a four-year university degree in Business Administration with relevant coursework in marketing, business law, finance, public relations and computer science; five to eight years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in sales, purchasing/buying and accounting, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Desired Qualifications

The successful candidate will have five years of IT Procurement, including Cloud Software Procurement, and three years of recent supervisory experience; demonstrate results in sensitive, high-dollar procurement negotiations and/or contract management, along with the use of ethical and regulatory-based decision-making skills; effective interpersonal skills to facilitate and resolve situations with differing objectives; experience leading project teams; ability to design and apply data analytics to purchasing decisions; and breadth in supply chain knowledge of logistics, compliance/risk management, and import/export regulations. An advanced degree in supply chain management, business, or law is desirable.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Application Materials

Resume and cover letter.

Work Hours

STANDARD 8-5

Bidding and Eligibility Ends on 10/13/2020 at 11:55 PM

Advertised: Oct 7, 2020 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: Oct 20, 2020 Eastern Daylight Time