Purchasing Buyer

Position Announcement

Under the direction of the Director of Purchasing, the Purchasing Buyer is responsible for procuring equipment, goods, and services in compliance with the Utah State Procurement Code and Utah Tech University procurement policies and procedures. This position manages a variety of procurement activities including formal and informal solicitations, supplier relationship management, contract coordination, purchase order processing, and strategic sourcing initiatives.

The Buyer works collaboratively with faculty, staff, vendors, and campus stakeholders to support operational and academic needs while ensuring compliance, fiscal responsibility, and efficient procurement practices. This position also assists with procurement training, supports the University Purchasing Card (PCard) program, and contributes to process improvements and campus-wide procurement education.

Additional information about the Purchasing Office can be found online at https://employees.utahtech.edu/business-services/purchasing/.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with University departments to identify and support procurement needs for goods, services, equipment, and construction-related purchases.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with internal departments, project managers, and campus stakeholders to promote communication, trust, and effective coordination throughout the procurement process.
• Review requisitions for accuracy, compliance, funding, and completeness; create and process purchase orders in a timely manner.
• Prepare, issue, evaluate, and award formal and informal solicitations including Requests for Quotes (RFQs), Invitations for Bids (IFBs), Requests for Proposals (RFPs), and sole source justifications.
• Develop specifications and scopes of work in collaboration with campus departments to ensure competitive and compliant procurements.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with vendors and suppliers while promoting fair and ethical procurement practices.
• Evaluate supplier performance and assist in resolving vendor concerns, discrepancies, or contract-related issues.
• Assist in administering the University Purchasing Card (PCard) program, including application review, cardholder support, training, compliance monitoring, and audit assistance.
• Provide guidance and training to faculty and staff regarding procurement procedures, State code requirements, and University policies.
• Research and identify cost-saving opportunities, cooperative contracts, and process improvements that provide added value to the University.
• Coordinate purchasing activities with departments such as Accounts Payable, Budget, Finance, Legal Affairs, Information Technology, Facilities, and Internal Audit.
• Maintain accurate procurement records, contracts, supplier documentation, and purchasing data for reporting, audit, and compliance purposes.
• Analyze purchasing trends and spending data to improve operational efficiency and support strategic sourcing efforts.
• Assist with year-end purchasing activities and ensure deadlines and procurement timelines are met.
• Support implementation and utilization of procurement systems and technologies, including electronic sourcing and contract management platforms.
• Represent the Purchasing Office in a professional and service-oriented manner while maintaining confidentiality and ethical procurement standards.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Accounting, Public Administration, Finance, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of two (2) years of professional purchasing, procurement, contracts, or related experience required.
• Working knowledge of procurement principles, contract administration, competitive solicitation processes, and vendor management.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and priorities simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly explain policies and procedures to a variety of audiences.
• Demonstrated customer service and interpersonal skills with the ability to establish effective working relationships across campus and with external vendors.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, and Adobe Acrobat.

Preferred Qualifications

• Higher education, government, or public procurement experience preferred.
• Experience with procurement and financial systems such as Ellucian Banner, Chrome River/Emburse, Jaggaer/SciQuest, or similar ERP and eProcurement platforms.
• Knowledge of Utah State Procurement Code and public procurement practices.
• Experience drafting solicitation documents, specifications, and contract language.
• Familiarity with purchasing card administration, auditing, and compliance monitoring.