Senior Buyer
Procurement
Exempt Regular 3.1
Location: Adelphi, MD (Hybrid)
Under administrative direction, the Senior Buyer serves as a subject-matter expert and functional lead for the organization's most complex, high-value, or high-risk procurements, including, but not limited to all levels of formal competitive sealed bidding, complex service including professional and managed service contracts, strategic sourcing, and contract negotiation initiatives. The Senior Buyer operates with a high degree of independence, shapes procurement strategy, and may formally lead or mentor a team of Buyers.
The Senior Buyer exercises broad independent judgment on complex, precedent-setting, or sensitive procurements, interprets and helps develop procurement policy, and represents the procurement function to leadership, internal customers, suppliers, auditors, and external agencies.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Independently leads procurement strategy and execution for the organization's most complex, highest-value, or highest-risk acquisitions, including the use of competitive sealed bids or proposals, leading evaluation teams and negotiating contracts.
- Responsible for completing purchase orders, change orders, contract modifications, amendments, and contract lifecycle tracking within Workday or related systems.
- Negotiate complex contract terms, pricing structures, and risk-allocation provisions with vendors, legal counsel, and other stakeholders.
- Provide technical and policy guidance and advice to client departments, interpret procurement regulations and advise departments on complex or ambiguous procurement matters.
- Develop and recommend improvements to procurement policies, procedures, and systems, and may lead process-improvement or strategic-sourcing initiatives.
- Manage vendor relationships at a strategic level, including performance management, contract renewals, and dispute resolution for major suppliers.
- Lead or coordinate cross-functional sourcing teams for enterprise-wide or multi-department procurement initiatives.
- Prepare and present complex procurement analyses, board/committee materials, and audit responses to senior leadership.
- Ensure compliance with required policies and procedures.
- Leads procurement strategy and execution in accordance with applicable policies and procedures.
- Perform all other duties as assigned and as needed.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Expert knowledge of procurement statutes/regulations, public-sector/higher education purchasing practices, including but not limited to, competitive sealed proposals, and contract negotiation.
- Demonstrated ability to lead complex, high-value sourcing initiatives from strategy through execution.
- Skill in managing a variety of stakeholders across various department positions and suppliers.
- Analytical skills in researching new contract vehicles, including evaluation and negotiation of terms and conditions.
- Strong communication and presentation skills, including persuasive speaking and influence without authority, and ability to create executive summaries and agenda items.
- Sound, independent judgment on ambiguous, sensitive, or precedent-setting procurement matters.
- Ability to lead through sustained ambiguity and competing demands, keeping team output and vendor commitments on track under pressure.
Education & Experience Requirements:
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in business, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.
- Experience: Five years of progressively responsible procurement experience, including demonstrated success at the Buyer II level or equivalent, with a track record of managing complex or high-value procurements
- Experience in state and local procurement, and in higher education is a plus.
- Exceptional customer service skills with both internal and external customers.
- Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks and projects effectively.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365.
Preferred Experience Requirements:
- Excellent analytical and communication skills, and proven ability to manage a high-volume workload with strong prioritization, setting and managing stakeholder expectations.
- Procurement experience in higher education, K-12, or public-sector environments, including applicable bidding, cooperative/consortium purchasing (e.g., E&I, Sourcewell, NASPO ValuePoint), and compliance regulations.
- Experience sourcing enterprise software, software as a service, and cloud infrastructure, including EULA/SLA negotiation, software licensing models, and data security/privacy/accessibility requirements (SOC 2, DPAs, WCAG, Section 508, ADA)
- Experience sourcing across diverse categories including Marketing, Communications, Facilities, Academic and Instructional Services, Legal, HR, Government Relations, and Institutional Advancement.
- Skilled in complex contract negotiation and redlining, including pricing, renewal/termination terms, liability, indemnification, and total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis.
- Ability to synthesis large amounts of complex information and present in simple to follow concise and articulate ways for purposes of briefing client departments, leadership, drafting agenda items.
- Ability to lead multi-party enterprise category research and sourcing events to reduce risk while addressing spend.
- Firsthand experience with Workday Financials procurement/sourcing modules.
- National or state procurement certification (e.g., CPPB, CPPO, CPSM) a plus.
All submissions should include a cover letter and resume.
The University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination. UMGC is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, ancestry, political affiliation or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.
Workplace Accommodations:
The University of Maryland Global Campus Global Campus (UMGC) is committed to creating and maintaining a welcoming and inclusive working environment for people of all abilities. UMGC is dedicated to the principle that no qualified individual with a disability shall, based on disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of the University, or be subjected to discrimination. For information about UMGC’s Reasonable Workplace Accommodation Policy or to request an accommodation, applicants/candidates can contact Employee Accommodations via email at employee-accommodations@umgc.edu.
Benefits Package Highlights:
Generous Time Off: Enjoy 22 days of paid vacation, 15 days of sick leave, 3 personal days, and 16 paid holidays (17 during general election years). For part-time employees, time off rates will be prorated based on the number of hours worked.
Comprehensive Health Coverage: Access to health care, medical with vision, dental, and prescription plans for both individuals and families, effective from the 1st of the month following your hire date.
Insurance Options: Term Life Insurance, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, and Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance. Part-time employees working less than 0.5 FTE are not eligible for LTD.
Flexible Spending Accounts: Available for medical and dependent care expenses.
Retirement Plans: Choose between the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) or the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System (MSRPS).
Supplemental Retirement Plans: include 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), and various Roth options. The university does not provide matching funds.
Tuition Remission: Immediate availability for Regular Exempt Staff. Spouses and dependent children are eligible for undergraduate tuition remission after two years of service. NOTE: For part-time employees (at least 50 percent of the time), tuition remission benefits are prorated.
Hiring Range:
$80,000.00 - $95,000.00
