Associate Director of Purchasing - 000050

About WCU:

Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes Best Employers lists each year. Including:
2025 - Ranked 1st in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes Americas Best Employers by State list.
2024 - Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes Americas Best Midsize Employers list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
2023 - Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes Americas Best Midsize Employers list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
2022 - Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes Americas Best Employers by State list.
Western Carolina University is the UNC systems westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.
Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans - eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.
Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.
WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences - many of which are offered free of charge.

Position Summary:

The primary location of this position is on-site in Cullowhee, NC. This position is designated as being exempt from the State of North Carolina Human Resources Act.

The Associate Director of Purchasing supports the Director in leading and managing all aspects of the Universitys procurement operations, overseeing a purchasing budget of approximately $40 million. This position maintains full charge of the purchase order process and daily workflow, while providing buying expertise across a broad range of commodities - including information technology, furniture, athletics equipment and apparel, and various facilities-related goods and services - ensuring compliance with state statutes, university policies, and ethical procurement standards.

The Associate Director supervises a clerical support staff of three, coordinating operational activities, workload prioritization, and performance development in alignment with departmental goals. This position also carries responsibility for contract lifecycle management, advising campus stakeholders on contractual compliance and working to standardize and negotiate agreements that align with the Universitys financial and operational objectives. Additionally, this position is responsible for campus-wide training and communications related to purchasing systems and procedures, as well as for recommending, developing, and implementing improvements to policies, programs, and processes that advance the efficiency, effectiveness, and service-oriented mission of the Purchasing department. The Associate Director acts on behalf of the Director in their absence.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required for this position:

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelors degree; or Associates degree and two years of related experience; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

Preferred Qualifications:

Position Type:

Permanent Full-Time

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Application materials must be submitted online. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until a candidate has been selected for hire.

Please include a cover letter, current resume, and a list of three professional references with complete contact information.

For questions or additional information please contact Tamrick Mull at tmull@email.wcu.edu