Procurement Specialist II

University of Wisconsin; Menomonie (WI); On-site; USD 49,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic invites applications for a Procurement Specialist II to support campus procurement needs and negotiate contracts with suppliers. This on-site, fixed-term position reports to the Director of Purchasing and Materials Management.

Key duties include developing complex solicitations, maintaining bid records, guiding staff on procurement policies, and ensuring regulatory compliance. Prior higher education or government procurement experience is valued.

Qualifications

• Experience providing customer service or administrative support in a professional environment.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Experience using office productivity software (Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Apple iWork, or similar).
• Experience in purchasing, accounts payable, finance, accounting, business operations, office administration, or a related area.
• Experience using financial, purchasing, enterprise, or other complex business software.
• Experience interpreting or applying policies, procedures, contracts, regulations, or other established guidelines.
• Experience processing or reviewing purchase orders, invoices, contracts, quotes, bids, or other business documents.
• Experience working in a higher education, government, the public-sector, or another regulated environment.

Responsibilities

• Processes requisitions and purchase orders in accordance with policies and procedures
• Assists faculty and staff with an online e-procurement system (e.g., Jaggaer One Procurement or Workday)
• Provides guidance to faculty and staff in interpreting procurement policies and procedures
• Develops and manages solicitations (simplified bid, RFB, and RFP) in compliance with regulatory requirements
• Reviews and negotiates terms and conditions of campus purchases with external suppliers
• Serves as the main point of contact for internal and external stakeholders
• Other duties as assigned

Skills

Customer service

Administrative support

Written & verbal communication

Organizational skills

Tools

Microsoft 365

Google Workspace

Apple iWork

Jaggaer One

Workday

Job description

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Position Title

Procurement Specialist II

Job Category

Academic Staff

Employment Type

Terminal (Fixed Term)

Job Profile

Procurement Specialist II

Job Duties

Official UW Title (Code) / Job Description: Procurement Specialist II

The University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic’s Purchasing and Materials Management department invites qualified candidates to apply for the position of Procurement Specialist II. The Procurement Specialist II supports campus

procurement needs and acts as a liaison between the University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic, the State of Wisconsin Department of Administration, the Universities of Wisconsin, and the supplier community. This position requires the

interpretation and application of complex state and university administrative policies and procedures.

This is a full-time professional academic staff position. This position reports directly to the Director of Purchasing and Materials Management. This is an on-campus position, with work performed 100% on-site.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Leads the development of complex solicitations requiring creative approaches to evaluation of third party sourcing options in compliance with regulatory requirements
• Establishes and maintains bid and proposal records to comply with record-keeping requirements
• Answers questions and provides guidance regarding specific commodities and service areas to various individuals and groups based on set material or standards
• Implements required reporting protocols with suppliers to allow measurement of cost savings, reduction, avoidance, supplier management, and risk mitigation programs and strategies
• Leads and executes the research of suppliers to understand available products and services, assesses market conditions, identifies supply options, and makes recommendations
• Serves as primary point of contact for external stakeholders, maintains contracts, and negotiates purchase prices to obtain timely and meaningful contract sourcing results
• Prepares and disseminates business cases to appropriate audiences, proposes strategic sourcing, and authors programs to stakeholders and institutional leadership
• Drafts, submits, and communicates outcomes of procurement requests to suppliers, stakeholders, and institutional leadership

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum / Required

• Experience providing customer service or administrative support in a professional environment.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Experience using office productivity software (e.g. Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Apple iWork, or similar) to create, enter, maintain, review, or analyze information.

Highly Desired/Preferred

• Experience in purchasing, accounts payable, finance, accounting, business operations, office administration, or a related area.
• Experience using financial, purchasing, enterprise, or other complex business software.
• Experience interpreting or applying policies, procedures, contracts, regulations, or other established guidelines.
• Experience processing or reviewing purchase orders, invoices, contracts, quotes, bids, or other business documents.
• Experience working in a higher education, government, the public-sector, or another regulated environment.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Processes requisitions and purchase orders in accordance with policies and procedures
• Assists faculty and staff with an online e-procurement system (e.g., Jaggaer One Procurement or Workday)
• Provides guidance to faculty and staff in interpreting procurement policies and procedures
• Develops and manages solicitations (simplified bid, RFB, and RFP) in compliance with regulatory requirements
• Reviews and negotiates terms and conditions of campus purchases with external suppliers
• Serves as the main point of contact for internal and external stakeholders
• Other duties as assigned

DEPARTMENT INFORMATION

The Purchasing and Materials Management department is committed to providing excellent customer service to the campus community. The department provides support to campus in Purchasing, Mail Services, Central Receiving, University Stores, Printing, and Surplus. The department is committed to creating an inclusive work environment.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Starting salary range of $49,000-$53,000 commensurate with qualifications and experience.

University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic does not offer H-1B or other employment-based visa sponsorship for this position.

In addition, UW-Stout is not an E-Verify employer and, therefore, cannot support employment authorization under the STEM OPT extension program. A successful applicant will be responsible for ensuring eligibility for employment in the United States on or before the effective date of the appointment and for maintaining valid work authorization throughout the employment term. If you have questions regarding employment eligibility, please contact Human Resources at 715-232-2149.

• Applicants must complete all required fields and attach all required application materials.
• Within your cover letter address each of the Minimum/Required Qualifications specified for this position. For each required qualification, describe your relevant experience, using specific examples from your work history to illustrate how your experience satisfies the requirement.

It is the policy of UW-Stout Polytechnic to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance, or accommodation in applying because of a disability, please contact us using the information below. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodation for a qualified individual's disability.

The Universities of Wisconsin provides an excellent benefits package including participation in the Wisconsin State retirement plan, demonstrating our commitment to the diverse needs of our employees.

• Employee Benefits: https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/
• To calculate the estimated value of your total compensation, use the Health & Retirement Contributions Estimator | Employee Benefits (wisconsin.edu)

Employment is contingent upon the final candidate’s completing a criminal background check and being cleared to work by the Human Resources Office. Employment is also contingent upon the final candidate passing reference checks and an essential job function test, as applicable. The reference check process includes asking the final candidates’ professional references questions regarding employee misconduct, sexual violence, and sexual harassment. Reference checks must be conducted at a minimum with three professional references, at least one of which must be a prior supervisor.

Final candidates with previous employment within the Universities of Wisconsin and State of WI agencies will be subject to additional reference checks.

In response to a public records request, the Universities of Wisconsin will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in their online application, except that the identity of the successful final candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).

UW-Stout Polytechnic is committed to providing safety and security of all members of our community in accordance with the Clery Act. For campus safety information and crime statistics visit: https://www.uwstout.edu/life-stout/police-and-parking/clery-information

UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.