Associate Director, Purchasing Contracts (Pullman, WA)

Washington State University; Pullman, Northern (WA, KY); Hybrid; USD 7,500 - 12,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid sick leave

Vacation leave

Paid holidays

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Life and disability insurance

Retirement plan

Tuition waiver

Job summary

Washington State University in Pullman, WA seeks an Associate Director of Purchasing Contracts to lead Contract Services, drafting and negotiating the University’s most complex agreements. You will oversee drafting, reviewing, and safeguarding the legal soundness of contracts and drive process improvements across procurement services.

The role focuses on policy development, staff training, and collaboration with departments to ensure compliant, timely contracting with significant strategic

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and five (5) years of progressively responsible experience, including at least two (2) years of management.
• Master’s degree may substitute for up to one year of experience.
• Demonstrated ability to draft, negotiate, and implement complex contracts and purchasing documents.
• Demonstrated knowledge of contractual issues in a complex organization.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Contract Services team and oversee the University’s most strategic contracts and related documents.
• Draft, review, negotiate, amendments, extensions, terminations, and renegotiations for contracts.
• Shape policies, procedures, and processes governing all contract types and conduct risk analysis.
• Advise on priorities for University contracts and strategic sourcing, ensuring quality, timeliness, and compliance.

Skills

Contract drafting

Contract negotiation

Team leadership

Communication skills

Problem solving

Computer proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree or Law degree

Job description

## Associate Director, Purchasing Contracts (Pullman, WA)Apply: Pullman, WA: Full time: Posted Yesterday: R-15509**Online applications must be received before 11:59pm on:**October 19, 2026If a date is not listed above, review the Applicant Instructions below for more details.**Available Title(s):**1158-NN\\_ADMINPRO - Associate Director**Business Title:**Associate Director, Purchasing Contracts (Pullman, WA)**Employee Type:**Admin. Professional**Position Details:****The Opportunity:**Washington State University **Finance & Operations** is now accepting applications for an **Associate Director of Purchasing Contracts**. As the Associate Director you will lead the WSU Contract Services team, overseeing the University’s most strategic and complex procurement, non-procurement, revenue-generating, and other contracting documents processed and signed within Finance & Operations. This university-wide responsibility is carried out by training and supervising the contracts team and directly drafting and negotiating the University’s most complex contracts requiring senior administrative oversight. You will be accountable for the quality, timeliness, and legal soundness of the contracts team’s work, including oversight of all contract work — drafting, review, negotiation, amendments, extensions, terminations, and renegotiations — that legally binds the University, while empowering the department to retain ownership of the underlying business decision and terms.As the Associate Director you will shape the policies, procedures, and process improvements that govern all contract types, and conducts risk analysis for contracts and related processes. As a member of the Procurement & Contract Services senior leadership team, you will advise the Director on priorities and goals for the University’s contracts, overarching agreements, and strategic sourcing agreements, and is accountable for implementing those priorities within Contract Services.As the incumbent, you will achieve enhanced customer service and compliance related to contracts processing through: 1) education and training; 2) development and deployment of model or template contracts to assist contract staff; 3) collaboration with University departments and colleges in the development and management of contracts; and 4) maintaining custody of contracts processed to ensure full execution and record-keeping for every contract. **Additional Information:**This is a **full time** (**100%** FTE), **permanent** position. This position is overtime **exempt.****Monthly Salary:** $7,541.56 to $11,795.78 | *Commensurate with experience and qualifications* In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate’s current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position. **Benefits:** WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation, optional supplemental retirement accounts; training and development; and employee tuition waiver. For additional information, please review the detailed Summary of Benefits offered by WSU for AP staff and Total Compensation.**Required Qualifications:*** Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in a related field which has included at least two (2) years of management experience. A Master’s degree in a relevant field may be substituted for up to one (1) year of the required experience. Any combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis.* Demonstrated ability to draft, negotiate, and implement complex contracts and purchasing documents.* Demonstrated knowledge of contractual issues and their application in a complex organization.**Preferred Qualifications:** * Master’s Degree/Law Degree* Excellent written and oral communication skills* Experience in problem solving* Computer proficiency**Position Sponsorship Eligibility:** Not eligible for work visa sponsorship **Area/College:** **Finance and Business Services** **Department Name:** **Procurement and Contract Services** **Location:** Pullman, WA **Application Instructions:** Applicants must upload the following required documents to their online application. Application materials should clearly communicate how the applicant meets all required qualifications and additional requirements. 1) Resume 2) Cover Letter **External candidates**, upload all documents in the “Application Document” section of your application. **Current WSU Employees (internal candidates)**, before starting your Workday application, please use these instructions to update your education and experience in your worker profile in Workday. Internal candidates, upload all documents in the “Resume/Cover Letter” section of your application. Documents may be submitted as one file or separate files. Applicants are encouraged to upload as a PDF, if possible. Reference contact information will be requested later in the recruitment process through Workday. **Background Check:** This position has been designated by the department to require a background check because it requires access to children or vulnerable adults as defined by RCW 74.34, engages in law enforcement, requires security clearance, interacts with WSU students in a counseling or advising capacity, has access to personal identifying and/or financial information, unsupervised access to university buildings/property, or other business-related need. A background check will not be completed until an initial determination of qualification for employment has been made.**Time Type:**Full time**Position Term:**12 MonthWashington State University encourages all qualified candidates to apply, including members of the military and veterans, and persons with disabilities.WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.WSU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource Services: 509-335-4521 (v), Washington State TDD Relay Service: Voice Callers: 1-800-833-6384; TDD Callers: 1-800-833-6388, 509-335-1259(f), or [e-mail].