Purchasing Specialist

Purchasing Specialist

Benefits of Working at UNCW:
Want to become a soaring UNCW Seahawk and work at one of the best universities on the East Coast? Want to put your toes in the sand after a day of work? The University of North Carolina Wilmington offers a wonderfully vibrant university community along with a beautiful location just miles from the beach. Employees of UNCW are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other programs, resources, policies, and practices that help to support a work/life balance. Our programs have been designed to provide a variety of choices to best fit your needs and the needs of your family. Full time employees are eligible for dental, vision and health insurance plans. Health insurance benefit 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. Full time employees are also eligible for the tuition waiver program which covers the cost of tuition and fees for up to three (3) undergraduate or graduate courses per academic year at UNCW or any other university within the UNC System. In addition, UNCW covers the cost of tuition and fees for one UNCW course each summer session. As a full time employee, UNCW also offers a free membership to the Campus Recreation Center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, meditation and yoga sessions, voluntary supplemental insurance coverages, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays, 24 hours of paid community service leave time, paid vacation and sick leave accrual and family medical leave after 12 months of continuous service. We also offer an abundance of training and development programs through our Dare to Learn Academy, and the employee assistance program, many of which are offered free of charge.

Recruitment Range: $67,707 - $72,191
Vacancy Number: E1538
Competency Level:
Location of Workplace: Main UNCW Campus
Home Department: Purchasing - 35110
Division: Business Affairs - 35000 Division

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit:
The Purchasing Department plays a crucial role in supporting the University's educational mission by helping departments acquire high-quality goods and services at the best possible prices and within the required timeframes.

Our team is responsible for generating and managing contracts and leases, overseeing asset management from acquisition to disposal, and processing requisitions efficiently while adhering to state purchasing requirements, UNCW policies, and the highest ethical standards. Our primary focus is to meet the needs of the University community.

Brief Summary of Work for this Position:
The Purchasing Specialist position is responsible for managing the procurement of assigned commodities, ensuring the best value and quality for our institution. The ideal candidate will have strong research skills, excellent communication abilities, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

This position largely works independently with clients across campus to identify and contract for scientific equipment and supplies, IT hardware, IT Software, offices supplies and office equipment. Provides recommendation on contracts and contract verbiage with vendors.

This position will develop and administer request for quotes; request for proposals, and invitation for bids along with processing requisitions and purchase orders.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct thorough research on assigned commodities, including gathering descriptive literature and pricing information.
• Maintain and update contracts in the Contract Tracker system, and develop electronic catalogs to support the university's mission.
• Collaborate with departments to understand product applications, make plant visits, and assist in preparing specifications.
• Refer to the state contract directory to ensure compliance with state contracts, and seek competitive quotes for items not covered.
• Engage in high-volume daily interactions with colleagues, internal and external stakeholders, educational institutions, state agencies, and vendors.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:
Bachelor's degree; or Associate's degree and two years of related experience; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

• Three or more years of procurement experience
• The ability to comprehend and interpret NC general statutes as it relates to purchases and contracts
• Experience using e-procurement systems such as Jaggaer, SAP Ariba, Oracle Procurement Cloud, etc.
• Ability to develop scopes of work for Request for Proposals and/or Invitations for Bid
• Nationally recognized procurement certification is preferred (i.e., CPPO, CPPB, CPSM, etc.)

Required Certifications or Licensures:
While no certifications or licensures are required at the time of hire, candidates should be prepared to obtain the following within specified timeframes:

Within one year of employment:
North Carolina Contract Manager certification

Within three years of employment, one of the following certifications:
Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB)
Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM)
NIGP-Certified Procurement Professional (NIGP-CPP)

FTE: 1.0 FTE (40 hours per week)
Months Per Year: 12 Months
Type of Position: Permanent
Position Number: E1538
Job Posting Date: 05/05/2026
Posting Close Date: 5/22/2026
Number of Openings: Single Incumbent