Buyer, Purchasing & Contract Services

University at Buffalo; Buffalo (NY); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement plan

Job summary

The University at Buffalo seeks a Buyer to support procurement across a broad range of commodities, equipment, and services, focusing on research needs. This role engages with researchers, technical staff, suppliers, and campus stakeholders to ensure compliant, efficient purchasing.

Responsibilities include strategic sourcing, guidance on policies, supplier education, spend analysis, and active use of the eProcurement platform to manage procurement activities, supplier relations, and compliance.

Qualifications

• Strong analytical, problem solving, and customer service skills.
• Proficiency with university eProcurement platform and procurement processes.
• Ability to communicate with researchers, technical staff, suppliers, and campus stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Strategic buying of assigned commodities and services
• Provide guidance and training to campus stakeholders on procurement policies, procedures, regulations, and best practices
• Identify potential suppliers for campus use and educate new suppliers on how to do business with the university
• Analyze purchasing requests, spending data, and supplier information to determine procurement strategies
• Utilize the university's eProcurement system to support sourcing, purchasing, and supplier management activities
• Collaborate with campus departments and suppliers to facilitate procurements and resolve purchasing issues

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Customer service

Communication

Tools

eProcurement system

Job description

The Purchasing and Contract Services department at the University at Buffalo seeks a Buyer to support the procurement of a wide range of commodities, equipment supplies and services, with a focus on the university's research community. This position works with multiple funding sources including Research Foundation, State, and UB Foundation funds, and plays a key role in ensuring purchases are completed efficiently and in compliance with applicable policies and regulations.

Requirements

The successful candidate must possess strong analytical, problem solving, and customer service skills, along with the ability to communicate effectively with researchers, technical personnel, suppliers, and campus stakeholders. The selected individual will become proficient in New York State, Research Foundation for SUNY, and university purchasing requirements and will utilize the university's eProcurement platform to facilitate purchasing transactions, manage strategic buying activities, enhance compliance, and provide exceptional service to the campus community. The ideal candidate must be highly organized, detail oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. This position performs a variety of procurement-related duties, including:

• Strategic buying of assigned commodities and services
• Provide guidance and training to campus stakeholders on procurement policies, procedures, regulations, and best practices
• Identify potential suppliers for campus use, educate new suppliers on how to do business with the university
• Analyze purchasing requests, spending data, and supplier information to determine appropriate procurement strategies
• Utilize the university's eProcurement system to support sourcing, purchasing, and supplier management activities
• Collaborate with campus departments and suppliers to facilitate procurements and resolve purchasing issues

Outstanding Benefits Package

Working at UB comes with benefits that exceed salary alone. There are personal rewards including comprehensive health and retirement plan options. We also focus on creating and sustaining a healthy mix of work, personal and academic pursuit – all in an effort to support your work-life effectiveness. Visit our benefits website to learn about our benefit packages.

About The University At Buffalo

The University at Buffalo (UB) #ubuffalo is one of America’s leading public research universities and a flagship of the State University of New York system, recognized for our excellence and our impact. UB is a premier, research-intensive public university dedicated to academic excellence. Our research, creative activity and people positively impact the world. Like the city we call home, UB is distinguished by a culture of resilient optimism, resourceful thinking and pragmatic dreaming that enables us to reach others every day. Visit our website to learn more about the University at Buffalo.

As an Equal Opportunity / Affineative Action employer, the Research Foundation will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin and veteran or disability status.