"Director, Purchasing"

Director, Purchasing

Requisition Number: S02263P
Position Category: Staff
Hours Per Week: 40
Months Per Year: 12
Pay Grade: E35
FLSA: Exempt

Job Summary/Basic Function:

The Director of Purchasing is the Universitys agent for acquiring all materials, services, supplies and equipment and provides leadership and direction through management of a comprehensive and coordinated program of procurement, materials control activities including purchasing, receiving accounts payable, purchasing card and contract administration. The Director is responsible for planning and directing the activities of the Universitys purchasing program to support University users and develops policies and procedures to establish and maintain legal compliance, financial accountability, physical control and effective resource utilization for assigned programs. The Director represents the University in negotiations or awarding contracts with authority to obligate physical and financial resources. The Director ensures a customer-centered approach is used to provide services.

Required Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelors degree
• 7 years of higher education procurement and/or public procurement experience
• 5 years of management/supervisory experience

Preferred Qualifications:

Preferred:

• Masters degree
• Demonstrated ability to manage and develop a team including workforce management, staff development, training and onboarding
• Demonstrated ability to lead and work in a fast-paced, highly complex business environment
• Demonstrated ability to oversee process improvement
• Strong oral and written communications skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex topics appropriate to various audiences
• Technical experience with Utah Procurement Code
• Understanding of federal and state laws and university policies and procedures
• Experience in card services, travel and payment services
• Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) or Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO)
• Strong negotiation and contract law knowledge
• Possesses strong strategic, operations and systems thinking skills

Background Check? Yes

Benefits Summary:

WSU offers a generous benefits package that includes medical, dental, long-term disability, life insurance, retirement, a wellness program with release time and paid incentives, tuition benefits, free tickets to athletic and performing arts events, and paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave.

Job Open Date: 01/20/2026
Review Date: 02/03/2026
Open Until Filled: Yes

Notes to Applicant:

If you are passionate about what you could offer and accomplish here at WSU, we would love to hear from you. The annual salary for this position starts at $110,000 and may go up from there depending on candidate qualifications. The position comes with a generous benefits package.

To apply, please complete the online application and attach a cover letter, current resume, transcripts, and the names and contact information for three professional references. Application materials should address the required and preferred qualifications.

For qualification determination, your application and/or resume must address the required and preferred qualifications and must contain average number of hours worked per week and the dates of employment (i.e., month/year to month/year or month/year to present). If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be considered incomplete.

Screening of applications will begin February 3, 2026. Position will remain open until filled.

Criminal background check required as a condition of employment.

Physical Activity of this position:

Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction., Moving about to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another., Expressing or exchanging ideas. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important instructions to other workers accurately or quickly. , Ability to receive detailed information with or without assistance., Repetitive motion. Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.

Physical Requirements of this position:

Light work. Exerting up to 20 lbs of force occasionally and/or up to 10 lbs of force frequently and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Use of arm and/or leg controls exerting forces greater than that for sedentary work.

Visual Acuity Requirements including color, depth perception and field of vision:

Required to perform activities such as preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; using a computer terminal; extensive reading.

The conditions the worker will be subject to in this position:

None. The worker is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions (such as in typical office or administrative work).