Senior Buying Specialist, Purchasing and Contract Services

Position Information

Position Title: Senior Buying Specialist, Purchasing and Contract Services
Department: Purchasing and Contract Services

Position Summary

The Purchasing and Contract Services department at the University at Buffalo seeks a Senior Buying Specialist to support and execute strategic buying initiatives across campus. The Senior Buying Specialist will leverage Jaggaers Source-to-Pay system to manage the full RFx lifecycle, develop category strategies, and drive supplier engagement and performance, ensuring compliance with Federal, State, SUNY, Research Foundation (RF), and UB standards and regulations. Working closely with campus stakeholders, end users, suppliers, and internal partners, this role will prepare and administer complex contracts to achieve operational efficiencies. The Senior Buying Specialist will also contribute to continuous process improvement by analyzing spend and market conditions, promoting strategic buying best practices, and supporting supplier relationship management to strengthen service, quality, and value. This position is a critical strategic role that delivers value, mitigates risk, and supports research and operational excellence.

Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities

In this position, the Senior Buying Specialist Performs a variety of duties, including but not limited to:

• Lead buying strategy development for various categories by analyzing spend, usage, and market trends to inform buying decisions and identify opportunities for value creation.
• Utilize the Jaggaer system to manage informal processes (RFQ) and manage the supplier lifecycle. Work to educate campus departments on procurement policies, Jaggaer functionality and strategic buying practices.
• Deliver cost savings through strategic buying, cost avoidance, and supplier negotiations. Ensure adherence to all applicable State, SUNY, UB and Research Foundation procurement regulations and guidelines.
• Utilize the Jaggaer system to manage contract lifecycle including drafting, negotiating, and executing complex expenditure and revenue agreements.
• Collaborate with University Business Services leadership, legal counsel and SUNY representatives to mitigate risk and ensure compliance. Interact with the Office of the State Attorney General and Office of the State Comptroller to secure required agreement preapprovals.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders across research, academic departments, operations, and administration.
• Engage in proactive supplier relationship management for key suppliers across categories and promote supplier diversity and local business inclusion in all sourcing activities.
• Serves as a change agent by supporting continuous improvement initiatives that enhance procurement processes, systems adoption, and stakeholder engagement across the University.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Business, Supply Chain, or related field with 2 years of responsible experience.
• Strong communication, analytical, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and e-procurement systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• 1 or more years experience managing RFx processes and contract negotiatiions.
• Advanced degree in Business related Studies or certification (e.g., CPSM, CPPO).
• Experience in higher education or NYS agency procurement.
• Familiarity with Jaggaer or similar procure-to-pay platforms.
• Demonstrated success in strategic sourcing and category management.

Salary Range
$65,000 - $72,000