Director of Procurement

Bowie State University; Bowie (MD); On-site; USD 150,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Bowie State University seeks a Director of Procurement to lead daily Purchasing operations and ensure adherence to State and USM procurement policies. The role oversees contracts, requisitions, and POs, conducting complex negotiations and reporting for compliance.

As the BSU liaison for Small and Minority Business Enterprise, you will engage stakeholders, develop procurement strategies, and drive timely delivery while training staff and aligning with the university's mission and DEI commitments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or related field is required; Master's degree preferred.
• Ten years of experience leading procurement activities including purchasing, contracts, and vendor relations.
• Experience with State Procurement regulations as well as USM and Maryland policies.
• Expert knowledge of procurement statutes, regulations, directives and procedures; familiarity with higher education procurement.
• Ability to influence contract terms and achieve timely delivery at reasonable prices.
• Expert understanding of Contract Administration and RFP processes.
• Ability to train and develop staff; manage a purchasing unit within policy frameworks.
• Strong presentation and negotiation skills; ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 and procurement-related technology.

Responsibilities

• Leads the University's daily Purchasing operations.
• Assists with development and administration of BSU and USM procurement policies and procedures.
• Approves contracts, requisitions, and purchase orders ensuring compliance with laws and policies.
• Oversees preparation, reporting, analysis, and approvals for procurement and related USM/state reports.
• Directs day-to-day internal operation of the Procurement Department and staff training.
• Responds to complex inquiries from vendors and staff; develops new procurement strategies.
• Develops and executes strategy for complex vendor negotiations and contract clauses.
• Acts as BSU Small and Minority Business Enterprise Liaison to promote procurement opportunities.
• Engages stakeholders to raise awareness and buy-in for procurement projects.

Skills

Procurement leadership

Contract negotiation

Policy adherence

Vendor management

USM/state procurement knowledge

Communication

Team supervision

Presentations

Microsoft Office 365

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office 365

Job description

Job Posting: JR101880 Director of Procurement (Open)

Department: Budget Office, PM

Position Type: Regular

Open Date: 06-02-2026

Close Date: $150,000 - $160,000

Job Description:

The Director of Procurement will provide direction and support to the procurement efforts for Bowie State University and report to the Associate Vice President for Administration & Finance.

Responsibilities:

• Leads the University's daily Purchasing operations.
• Assists with the development, offers recommendations, and administers Bowie State University (BSU) and University System of Maryland (USM) Procurement Policies and Procedures.
• Approves contracts, purchase requisitions, and purchase orders, ensuring accuracy, consistency and clarity; ensures documents are in compliance with State of Maryland, USM, and Federal procurement law, regulations and policies, and procedures.
• Oversees the preparation, reporting, analysis, form submission, documentation, and approvals related to the procurement function, as well as manage special and/or reoccurring reports for the USM and State of Maryland.
• Directs the day-to-day internal operation of the Procurement Department; coordinates University procurement planning and execution, trains and develops direct reports, determines work priorities, plans schedules, assigns and reviews work.
• Responds to complex inquiries from vendors, clients, and/or staff. Resolves complex problems by developing new procurement strategies or providing information that requires research or interpretation.
• Develops and executes strategy for complex vendor negotiations to include; the development and interpretation of contract clauses, specifications, purchase descriptions, and other special requirements.
• As the chief BSU Small and Minority Business Enterprise Liaison, works with the Small and Minority business community to promote procurement opportunities at Bowie State University.
• Engages key stakeholders of Bowie State University (BSU) and University System of Maryland (USM) to raise awareness and solicit buy-in for procurement related projects.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or related field required, Master's degree preferred.
• Ten (10) years of experience leading procurement-related activities such as purchasing construction, maintenance, commodities, services, information technology, etc.
• Ten (l 0) years of experience leading procurement activities such as selecting sources of supply; preparing purchase orders, bid proposals, contracts, and similar instruments.
• Experience with State Procurement regulations
• Expert knowledge and understanding of procurement statutes, regulations, decisions, directives and procedures; of University System of Maryland, State Government, business and industry practices and Higher Education.
• Ability to interact with representatives from various business industries to positively influence contract terms and assure fulfillment to obtain timely delivery of goods and performance of services at the most reasonable price.
• Expert understanding of Contract Administration and ability to manage and develop Request for Proposal (RFP) process.
• Ability to select and apply procurement regulations in a wide range of contractual action; coordinate work with non-procurement units; select, hire, and train professional and nonprofessional personnel; direct a purchasing unit establishing revised and new procedures under general established policy.
• Excellent presentation and negotiation skills.
• Ability to network, build relationships, and effectively manage people.
• Strong understanding of and commitment to Bowie State University's mission.
• Strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office 365, and other procurement-related technology

Conditions of Employment:

• Offer of employment is contingent upon successful completion of due diligence background check and verification of credentials. Proof of US citizenship or eligibility for U.S. employment will be required prior to employment (Immigration Control Act of 1986).

Additional Job Information:

Benefits include medical, dental, prescription, long-term disability, accidental death and dismemberment insurance and life insurance; paid time for paid sick leave, annual leave, and personal leave; 12 paid holidays per year, tuition remission; employer-funded pension and supplemental retirement accounts.

Bowie State University shall not discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, age, ancestry or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, marital status or veteran status. All policies, programs, and activities of Bowie State University are and shall be in conformity with all pertinent Federal and state laws of nondiscrimination including, but not limited to: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the Age Discrimination Act, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Federal Executive Order No. 11375, and Article 49B of the Annotated Code of Maryland. This commitment applies in all areas and embraces faculty, staff, and students.Equal opportunity of access to academic and related programs shall be extended to all persons. Bowie State University shall have as its firm objective equal opportunity in recruitment and hiring, rate of pay, all other promotions, training, retention and dismissals, for all employees and applicants for employment. The University will stress equal access for employees and applicants for employment to all programs and services provided by the University both on and off campus. The University will also provide equal opportunity and an atmosphere of nondiscrimination with respect to women and members of minority groups in all its operations. In addition, the University shall promote equal opportunity and equal treatment through a positive and continuing Affimative Action Program.The University makes, and will continue to make, reasonable accommodations to promote the employment of qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans, unless such accommodations would impose an undue hardship on the University's business. In addition, employees and applicants will not be subjected to harassment, intimidation, threats, coercion, or discrimination because they have engaged in, or may have engaged in, activities such as filing a complaint, assisting or participating in an investigation, compliance review or hearing, or opposing any act or practice made unlawful, or exercising any other right protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended or the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, as amended.