Procurement Specialist III - 996846

Nova Southeastern University; Fort Lauderdale (FL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition waiver

Retirement plan

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Job summary

Nova Southwestern University in Florida is seeking a seasoned Procurement Specialist to manage complex purchasing for university-wide initiatives. You will review requisitions, source products and services, negotiate contracts, and ensure compliance with university policy.

The role requires strong negotiation, market analysis, and vendor management skills, plus knowledge of AV/IT products and government regulations. This is an on-site position with opportunities for professional growth.

Qualifications

• Solid knowledge of AV and IT products, services, and agreements.
• Advanced knowledge of MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel).
• Customer service principles and delivery of user-focused support.
• Strong English language skills, grammar, and writing.
• Knowledge of laws, regulations, and university policies.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate contracts to obtain lowest price and best value for the University.
• Review catalogs and sources to locate needed products and services.
• Research suppliers based on price, quality, service, and reliability.
• Monitor market conditions and price trends to inform purchasing decisions.
• Prepare and review requisitions, specs, and sourcing events.
• Ensure compliance with university policies and vendor requirements.

Skills

Active Listening

Speaking

Reading Comprehension

Writing

Decision Making

Problem Solving

Negotiation

Persuasion

Social Perceptiveness

Active Learning

Education

Associate's degree / 60 credits

Tools

SAP Ariba

ERP systems

Job description

We are excited that you are considering joining Nova Southwestern University!

Nova Southwestern University (NSU) was founded in 1964, and is a not-for-profit, independent university with a reputation for academic excellence and innovation. Nova Southwestern University offers competitive salaries, a comprehensive benefits package including tuition waiver, retirement plan, excellent medical and dental plans and much more. NSU cares about the health and welfare of its students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors and is a tobacco-free university.

We appreciate your support in making NSU the preeminent place to live, work, study and grow. Thank you for your interest in a career with Nova Southwestern University.

Primary Purpose:

Performs complex procurement functions to competitively acquire products, services, and equipment in support of university wide initiatives to include, but not limited, the review of purchase requisitions, preparations of sourcing events, analysis of proposals, negotiation of price, terms, and conditions in partnership with the internal stakeholders.

Job Category:

Exempt

Pay Basis:

Annually

Subject to Grant Funding?

No

Essential Job Functions:

1. Negotiates contracts including but not limited to, group purchasing organizations, State of Florida, privately negotiated pricing, etc. to purchase at the lowest possible price and overall value to the University.
2. Reviews catalogs, industry periodicals, directories, trade journals, and Internet sites and consults with other department personnel to locate necessary products, services, and equipment.
3. Researches and evaluates suppliers, based on price, quality, selection, service, support, availability, reliability, production and distribution capabilities, and the supplier's reputation and history.
4. Monitors changes affecting supply and demand, tracking market conditions, price trends, or futures markets.
5. Studies usage records and inventory levels of current stock to develop strategic purchasing programs that facilitate employee access to supplies.
6. Analyzes market and delivery systems to assess present and future material availability.
7. Prepares reports regarding market conditions and merchandise costs.
8. Maintains knowledge of all organizational and governmental rules affecting purchases and provides information about these rules to organization staff members and to vendors.
9. Participates in the development of specifications scope of work for products, services, and equipment.
10. Writes and reviews product specifications, maintaining a working technical knowledge of products, services, and equipment to be purchased.
11. Prepares sourcing events for Rfx.
12. Reviews purchase requisitions to verify accuracy, terminology, and specifications.
13. Analyzes price proposals, financial reports, and other data and information to determine reasonable prices.
14. Negotiates, renegotiates, and administers contracts with suppliers, vendors, and other representatives.
15. Prepares and processes purchase requisitions and purchase orders for products, services, and equipment.
16. Reviews purchase order claims and contracts for conformance to university policy.
17. Responds to customer and supplier inquiries about order status, changes, or cancellations.
18. Tracks the status of purchase requisitions, contracts, and orders.
19. Contacts suppliers to schedule or expedite deliveries and to resolve shortages, missed or late deliveries, and other problems.
20. Monitors shipments to ensure that goods come in on time, and resolve problems related to undelivered goods.
21. Confers with staff, users, and vendors to discuss defective or unacceptable goods or services and determine corrective action.
22. Compares suppliers' bills with bids and purchase orders to verify accuracy.
23. Maintains records of goods ordered and received.
24. Maintains and reviews computerized or manual records of purchased items, costs, deliveries, product performance, and inventories.
25. Evaluates and monitors contract performance to ensure compliance with contractual obligations and to determine the need for changes.
26. Monitors contractor performance, recommending contract modifications when necessary.
27. Arranges for disposal of surplus materials.
28. Monitors and follows applicable laws and regulations.
29. Formulates policies and procedures for bid proposals and procurement of products, services, and equipment.
30. Attends meetings, trade shows, conferences, conventions, and seminars to network with people in other procurement professions.
31. Completes special projects as assigned.
32. Performs other duties as assigned or required.

Job Requirements:

Required Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

Knowledge:

1. Solid knowledge of audio-visual products and services, and information technology products, services, equipment, and agreements.
2. Advanced knowledge of MS Office Suite (Outlook, Word, and Excel).
3. Customer and Personal Service - Thorough knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of user satisfaction.
4. English Language - Thorough knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
5. Law and Government - General knowledge of laws, government regulations, and university policies and procedures.

Skills:

1. Active Listening - Advanced skills in giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
2. Speaking - Advanced skills in talking to others to convey information effectively.
3. Reading Comprehension - Advanced understanding of written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
4. Writing - Advanced skills in communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
5. Critical Thinking - Proficient skills in using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
6. Judgment and Decision Making - Advanced skills in considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the appropriate one.
7. Complex Problem Solving - Proficient skills in identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
8. Negotiation - Proficient skills in bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
9. Persuasion - Proficient skills in persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
10. Social Perceptiveness - Proficient skills in being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
11. Active Learning - Proficient skills in understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision‑making.

Abilities:

1. Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
2. Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (including finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
3. Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

1. Speech Recognition - Must be able to identify and understand the speech of another person.
2. Speech Clarity - Must be able to speak clearly so others can understand you.
3. Near Vision - Must be able to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
4. May be required to work nights or weekends.
5. Travel - Must be able to travel on a daily and/or overnight basis.
6. May be exposed to short, intermittent, and/or prolonged periods of sitting and/or standing in performance of job duties.
7. May be required to accomplish job duties using various types of equipment/supplies, to include but not limited to pens, pencils, mobile devices, and computer keyboards.

Required Certifications/Licensures:

Certified Public Procurement Professional (CPPP), or ability to obtain within one (1) year from the date of employment.

Required Education:

Associate's degree or 60 completed college credits hours

Required Experience:

1. Associate’s degree or 60 completed college credit hours or combination of education and experience.
2. Six (6) to eight (8) years’ experience in procurement, preferably in audio visual, information technology, sourcing and negotiation.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Bachelor’s degree in Business, Management, Public Administration, or related field.
2. Experience with e-commerce tools.
3. Professional procurement certification such as Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM), Certified Public Purchasing Buyer (CPPB), Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO).
4. FEMA Certifications.
5. Experience with SAP (Ariba) or other ERP systems.

Is this a safety sensitive position?

No

Background Screening Required?

Yes

Pre-Employment Conditions:

Sensitivity Disclaimer:

Nova Southwestern University is in full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and does not discriminate with regard to applicants or employees with disabilities and will make reasonable accommodation when necessary.

NSU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status or any other legally protected status.