Senior Purchasing Agent - (2400013O) | Towson University - Military Veterans

Towson University (TU) is one of the nation’s top 100 public universities. Located north of Baltimore, TU currently enrolls over 19,000 students and is the second-largest university in the prestigious University System of Maryland. Towson University values diversity and fosters a climate that is grounded in respect and inclusion to cultivate the intellectual and personal growth of the entire university community.

The Senior Purchasing Agent is responsible for procuring specialized and complex goods and services involving the planning/preparation, solicitation, evaluation, awarding, and administering of contracts for a wide range of services. The position administers low to high-dollar-value procurements while ensuring vendor compliance with terms/conditions, and adherence, to University System of Maryland (USM) and State of MD requirements. This role may work with other USM campuses to source, award, and administer system-wide contracts. This role may also approve routine transactions and make other decisions in the absence of the Director/Associate Director and make procurement presentations to campus leadership and outside groups. Telework may be available for this position up to two days per week following the completion of 90 days of service in good standing.

Responsibilities and Duties

Solicit, evaluate, award, and exercise contracting officer authority for moderate to high-value contracts (including information technology hardware/software, IT consulting, and other complex services) or any other goods and services as assigned by the Procurement Director and Associate Procurement Director. Identify/screen new sources, validate customer sole-source justifications, and furnish end users with source, price, and delivery data. Lead RFP evaluation teams. Process purchase orders, change orders, and contract modifications/amendments. Prepare and review bids/contract awards, including contract renewals.

Provide proactive procedural/policy guidance and advice to Procurement customers to ensure fulfillment of the University's and the division's mission, goals, requirements, and schedules, and adherence to State of MD statues/regulations, Board of Public Works (BPW) advisories, USM Procurement Policies and Procedures, and best purchasing practices.

Advise end-users on new technology and services on the markets, etc. as appropriate. Consult on tactical issues (e.g., project planning, choice of contracting method, optimal source, term, and contract language, etc.). Remain current with USM, State of MD, and other contracts available for use by TU clients, to optimize available resources.

Interpret contract/acquisition law and requirements, representing the University in vendor negotiations as necessary to resolve issues and ensure best value. Resolve procurement issues between customers and suppliers, including difficult and complex contract modifications, disputes, claims and terminations)

Support the Manager of Business Diversity and Supplier Inclusion as directed by the Procurement Director or Associate Director regarding social economic programs such as MBE, VSBE and SBR, including reports for GOSBA

Additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Skills

Bachelor's Degree with at least two years of procurement related experience.

Knowledge of Maryland procurement statues/regulations, Uniform Commercial Code, Towson University and USM Procurement Policies and Procedures, and public-sector/higher education purchasing practices.

Skill in handling a variety of stakeholders, including campus customers, suppliers, elected/appointed officials, and the public. Skill in managing/resolving conflict and achieving consensus. Skill in technical writing, and public presentations--including persuasive writing/speaking.

Ability to organize large amounts of data, and to quickly grasp/assess a wide variety of markets and industries. Ability to be attentive to detail despite distractions/interruptions, to work under pressure, and manage competing priorities.

Ability to represent the University effectively in a variety of public settings, and to subordinate personal feelings/preferences to group goals.

Preferences

Two years’ experience procuring information technology, IT consulting and services related procurement preferred.

Experience in higher-education or public-sector procurement strongly preferred.

Salary and Benefits 

Salary range at $82k-85K annually and full University benefits that include 22 days of annual leave, up to 15 holidays, personal and sick days; excellent health, life, and retirement plans; and tuition remission. To learn more about our benefits, click here . TU also offers a variety of great perks and discounts, which can be found here .

This position will be open for a minimum of 14 days. For consideration, please submit a cover letter and resume with your online application. 

The safety of our students, faculty, staff, and neighbors has been our top priority and the focus of every one of our decisions since the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the University System of Maryland (USM) has strongly encouraged full COVID vaccination and up-to-date booster shots (when eligible) for all faculty, staff, and students at all schools in the USM as both a reasonable and necessary means of protecting our health and safety.