Procurement Specialist III - 991959

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Nova Southeastern University (NSU) was founded in 1964, and is a not-for-profit, independent university with a reputation for academic excellence and innovation. Nova Southeastern University offers competitive salaries, a comprehensive benefits package including tuition waiver, retirement plan, excellent medical and dental plans and much more. NSU cares about the health and welfare of its students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors and is a tobacco-free university.

We appreciate your support in making NSU the preeminent place to live, work, study and grow. Thank you for your interest in a career with Nova Southeastern University.

Primary Purpose:

Performs complex procurement functions to competitively acquire products, services, and equipment in support of university wide initiatives to ensure procurement strategies aligned with operational needs, project goals and university standards. This role involves the review of purchase requisitions, preparation of sourcing events, analysis of proposals, negotiation of price, terms, and conditions in partnership with the internal stakeholders.

Job Category: Exempt

Hiring Range:  67,300

Pay Basis:  Annually

Subject to Grant Funding? No  

Essential Job Functions: 

1. Negotiates contracts, including but not limited to group purchasing organizations, the State of Florida, and other private vendors to secure the lowest possible prices and maximize overall value for the University.

2. Reviews catalogs, industry publications, directories, trade journals, and online resources, and collaborates with other department personnel to identify required products, services, and equipment.

3. Researches and evaluates suppliers based on factors such as price, quality, product selection, service and support, availability, reliability, production and distribution capabilities, as well as the supplier’s reputation and track record.

4. Monitors changes impacting supply and demand by tracking market conditions, price trends, and futures markets.

5. Analyzes usage records and inventory levels to develop strategic purchasing programs that ensure employees have timely access to necessary supplies.

6. Evaluates market conditions and delivery systems to determine current and future availability of materials.

7. Prepares reports on market conditions and the costs of merchandise.

8. Maintains up-to-date knowledge of organizational and government regulations affecting purchases and communicates these requirements to staff and vendors regarding the scope of work for products, services, and equipment.

9. Drafts and reviews product specifications while maintaining practical technical knowledge of the products, services, and equipment being procured.

10. Prepares sourcing events for RFx processes.

11. Reviews purchase requisitions to verify accuracy, proper terminology, and correct specifications.

12. Analyzes price proposals, financial reports, and other data and information to determine reasonable prices.
13. Negotiates, renegotiates, and manages contracts with suppliers, vendors, and other representatives.

14. Prepares and processes purchase requisitions and purchase orders for products, services, and equipment.

15. Reviews purchase order claims and contracts to ensure compliance with university policies.

16. Responds to customer and supplier inquiries regarding order status, changes, or cancellations.

17. Monitors the progress of purchase requisitions, contracts, and orders.

18. Contacts suppliers to schedule or expedite deliveries and resolve issues such as shortages, late shipments, or other delivery problems.

19. Monitors shipments to ensure timely delivery and addresses issues related to delayed or undelivered goods.

20. Confers with staff, users, and vendors to discuss defective or unacceptable goods or services and determine corrective action.

21. Compares suppliers' bills with bids and purchase orders to verify accuracy.

22. Maintains records of goods ordered and received.

23. Maintains and reviews computerized or manual records of purchased items, costs, deliveries, product performance, and inventory levels.

24. Evaluates and monitors contract performance to ensure compliance with obligations and assess the need for modifications.

25. Monitors contractor performance and recommends contract modifications as needed.

26. Coordinates the disposal of surplus materials.

27. Ensures compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

28. Formulates policies and procedures for bid proposals and procurement of products, services, and equipment.

29. Participates in meetings, trade shows, conferences, conventions, and seminars to network with professionals in the procurement field.

30. Completes special projects as assigned.

31. Performs other duties as assigned or required.

Job Requirements: 

Required Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities: Knowledge:
1. Knowledge of products and services utilized by building, grounds maintenance, construction projects, furniture, fixture, and equipment (FF&E), maintenance, repairs, operations (MRO), athletic equipment, supplies, and sports apparel.
2. Proficient knowledge of spreadsheet preparation for data analysis, presentations, and project management purposes.
3. Expert knowledge of MS Office Suite (Outlook, Word, and Excel).
4. Customer and Personal Service - Thorough knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of user satisfaction.
5. English Language - Thorough knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Skills:
1. Negotiation - Proficient skills in bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
2. Persuasion - Proficient skills in persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
3. Active Listening - Advanced skills in giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
4. Reading Comprehension - Advanced understanding of written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
5. Speaking - Advanced skills in talking to others to convey information effectively.
6. Writing - Advanced skills in communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
7. Critical Thinking - Proficient skills in using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
8. Judgment and Decision Making - Advanced skills in considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the appropriate one.
9. Complex Problem Solving - Proficient skills in identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
10. Social Perceptiveness - Proficient skills in being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
11. Active Learning - Proficient skills in understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Abilities:
1. Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
2. Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
3. Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
4. Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
5. Ability to effectively present strategies and progress updates to clients, stakeholders, and senior leadership.
6. Ability to build and maintain positive working relationships through effective communication, active listening, empathy, and collaboration with individuals at all levels.
7. Ability to work with both internal departments and outside organizations to achieve project goals.
8. Ability to understand and follow detailed university, state, and federal rules that govern purchasing and contracts.
9. Ability to analyze problems, identify and consider potential solutions and make timely recommendations.
10. Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
11. Speech Clarity — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
12. Fluency of Ideas — The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
13. Written Comprehension — The ability to read/understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:
1. Speech Recognition - Must be able to identify and understand the speech of another person.
2. Speech Clarity - Must be able to speak clearly so others can understand you.
3. Near Vision - Must be able to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
4. May be exposed to short, intermittent, and/or prolonged periods of sitting and/or standing in performance of job duties.
5. May be required to accomplish job duties using various types of equipment/supplies, to include but not limited to pens, pencils, mobile devices, and computer keyboards.
6. May be required to work nights or weekends.

Required Certifications/Licensures: Certified Public Procurement Professional (CPPP) or ability to obtain within one (1) year from the date of employment.

Required Education: Associate's degree

Major (if required: 

Required Experience: Associate's degree and a minimum of six (6) years’ experience in procurement, preferably with construction, building maintenance, athletic equipment, sports apparel, project management, sourcing, and negotiation,

-OR-

Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of four (4) years’ experience in procurement, preferably with construction, building maintenance, athletic equipment, sports apparel, project management, sourcing, and negotiation.

Preferred Qualifications: 

1. Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Information Management, or closely related field.
2. Experience with e-commerce tools.
3. Professional procurement certifications such as Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM), Certified Public Purchasing Buyer (CPPB), and/or Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO).
4. FEMA Certifications.
5. Experience with SAP (Ariba) or other ERP systems.

Is this a safety sensitive position? No  

Background Screening Required?  Yes  

Pre-Employment Conditions: 

Sensitivity Disclaimer: Nova Southeastern University is in full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and does not discriminate with regard to applicants or employees with disabilities and will make reasonable accommodation when necessary.

NSU considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status or any other legally protected status.