"Senior Buyer"

The Senior Buyer plays a critical role in managing complex and strategic procurement activities for the institution. Operating within the framework of University System of Maryland (USM) policies, Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR), and applicable federal procurement guidelines, the Senior Buyer is responsible for competitive sourcing, contract administration, vendor management, and regulatory compliance throughout the procurement lifecycle. This role partners with departments across campus to procure goods, services, and maintenance in a timely, cost-effective, and compliant manner using the Workday ERP Platform.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct all procurement activities—requisitions, POs, change orders, contract tracking—in Workday, including sourcing and supplier onboarding (W-9 verification, insurance documentation), and ensuring data integrity, reporting accuracy, compliance, and timely processing.
• Manage complex procurement requests, routing those beyond your signature authority for further approval.
• Ensure procurement documentation is accurate, complete, and includes supporting justification and evaluation materials to maintain compliance and audit readiness.
• Review and negotiate purchase order terms and conditions using State and USM-approved clauses.
• Collaborate with academic and administrative departments to define procurement needs and develop sourcing strategies aligned with timelines and budgets.
• Serve as a liaison between vendors and university stakeholders, providing support on order status, pricing, invoicing, and compliance.
• Ensure full compliance with applicable State of Maryland procurement regulations, USM policies, and Board of Public Works (BPW) requirements.
• Leverage cooperative purchasing contracts and public sourcing agreements (e.g., E&I, OMNIA, Sourcewell, GSA) as appropriate.
• Maintain procurement documentation and records in accordance with retention schedules and audit requirements.
• Provide training to end users on procurement policy, procedures, and Workday functionality, advancing user proficiency and compliance.
• Review requisitions submitted by departments on a daily basis for processing.
• Research existing cooperative agreements.
• Review all requisition attachments for processing and/or follow-up. Process Purchase Orders and Change Orders daily in the Workday ERP platform in a timely manner to meet departmental procurement needs.
• Assist in resolving requisition issues that may impact timely PO processing for assigned departments.
• Assist vendors and departments with PO inquiries, directing invoice payment issues to and interfacing with Accounts Payable staff for successful resolution.
• Conduct vendor research, analyze pricing structures, and collaborate with the evaluation committee.
• Work with peers to establish master agreements and enhance procurement processes.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant field from a four-year accredited institution in the United States.
• Minimum of three (3) years of progressive purchasing experience required. Demonstrate proficiency in Microsoft Office 360, personal computers, and standard office equipment such as a phone, fax machine, and copier.
• Demonstrate effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to organize and prioritize projects effectively and efficiently to meet deadlines.
• Detail-oriented in reviewing requisitions, quotes, contracts, and purchase orders to ensure accuracy.
• Demonstrate strong customer service skills with a professional and solution-oriented approach to vendor and department interactions.
• Ability to work well in a team environment and collaborate with departments to achieve goals.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Purchasing experience in a public institution.
• Professional procurement-related certification (e.g., CPPB, CPPO, or CPSM).
• Knowledge and/or experience with COMAR/State, and federal procurement laws, regulations, and industry best practices.
• Experience with cooperative purchasing agreements.

Conditions of Employment: Not Currently Available

Additional Job Information: Benefits include medical, dental, prescription, long-term disability, accidental death and dismemberment insurance and life insurance; paid time for paid sick leave, annual leave, and personal leave; 12 paid holidays per year, tuition remission; employer-funded pension and supplemental retirement accounts.