Senior Buyer for Procurement

Berklee College of Music; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 112,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and dental packages

403(b) retirement with matching

Generous PTO and tuition assistance

Paid winter break

Job summary

Berklee College of Music seeks an experienced Senior Buyer to manage end-to-end purchasing across administrative and academic departments. You will act as a strategic consultant and vendor liaison, balancing compliance with cost efficiency to keep operations running smoothly.

Ideal candidates bring 8–10+ years in purchasing and contract administration, plus strong analytical and negotiation skills. Proficiency with Workday Financials is highly desirable, and the role emphasizes customer service

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
• Experience: 8-10+ years in purchasing, strategic sourcing, and contract administration.
• Technical Expertise: Proficiency with computer software; direct Workday Financial System experience is highly desirable.
• Core Competencies: Analytical, project management, and contract negotiation skills.
• Independent work style with ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Customer-service orientation with strong interpersonal and communication habits.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Sourcing & Contract Management: Bid specifications, RFPs, RFQs, and purchase orders; evaluate bids and negotiate terms.
• Vendor Strategy & Relations: Identify quality sources, establish institution-wide contracts, maintain vendor relationships.
• Risk Mitigation & Compliance: Review contracts for terminology, minimize liability, monitor vendor compliance.
• Operational Oversight & Financial Automation: Expedite orders, monitor PO through goods receipt, invoicing, and payments.
• Systems Optimization: Leverage Workday and modern tools to streamline workflows and service levels.
• Internal Advisory & Training: Advise campus stakeholders, assist with sourcing, disputes, returns, and training staff on policies.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Project management

Contract negotiation

Customer-service orientation

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Workday Financial System

Job description

Job Description: Procurement and Campus Business Services is seeking an experienced, analytical, and customer-focused Senior Buyer. Reporting to the Senior Director of Procurement and Campus Business Services, you will manage the end-to-end purchasing lifecycle for goods, equipment, and services across all administrative and academic departments. Operating as an internal strategic consultant and principal supplier liaison, you will balance regulatory compliance and cost efficiency to keep operations running seamlessly. At Berklee, your work directly supports the next generation of creative leaders.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Sourcing & Contract Management: Bidding & RFP Execution: Prepare detailed bid specifications, Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Requests for Quotes (RFQs), and purchase orders. Evaluate supplier bids to negotiate favorable pricing and contract terms.

Vendor Strategy & Relations: Identify quality sources of supply, establish institution-wide commodity contracts, and maintain active vendor relationships to ensure high product and service standards.

Risk Mitigation & Compliance: Review college contracts to ensure clear terminology, minimize institutional liability, protect physical and financial resources, and monitor vendor compliance.

Operational Oversight & Financial Automation: Lifecycle Order Management: Expedite ordering and delivery processes. Monitor transactions from PO initiation through goods receipt, invoice auditing, and vendor payment reconciliation.

Systems Optimization: Leverage automated procurement systems - specifically Workday Financials and modern technology tools to streamline purchasing workflows and enhance departmental customer service.

Internal Advisory & Training: Serve as a trusted consultant to campus stakeholders, assisting with item sourcing, dispute resolution, returns for credit, and training staff on procurement policies.

What You’ll Bring

Education: Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience.

Experience: 8-10 or more years of progressive experience in purchasing, strategic sourcing, and contract administration.

Technical Expertise: Advanced proficiency with computer software; direct experience using the Workday Financial System is highly desirable.

Core Competencies: Demonstrated analytical, project management, and contract negotiation skills.

Ability to work independently with minimal supervision in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities.

Mindset: A strong customer-service orientation, excellent interpersonal and communication habits, and absolute discretion when handling complex financial information.

Why Choose Berklee?

Mission-Driven Impact: Build the operational foundation that equips world-class faculty, staff, and students with essential tools and resources.

Cultural Access: Enjoy nightly, unrivaled access to world-class music, theater, and dance performances across our campus venues.

Total Rewards: Outstanding health and dental packages, a 403(b) retirement system with matching contributions, generous PTO, tuition assistance, and a paid winter break to rest and recharge.

Hiring Range: $95,000 to $112,000; salary dependent on experience and education.

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Equal Employment Opportunity at Berklee: We support an inclusive workplace where everyone excels based on personal merit, qualifications, experience, ability, and job performance. Berklee affirms that inequality is detrimental to our faculty, staff, students, and the communities we serve. Our goal is to make lasting change through our actions. Berklee is committed to providing fair and equitable consideration of all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, place of birth, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, or status as a member of the armed forces or veteran of the armed forces, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

As part of this commitment, Berklee will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact the Human Resources Team at [e-mail] or call 617-747-2375.

Employee Type: Staff

As the premier destination for the study of contemporary music and the performing arts, Berklee stands as the culmination of two pioneering institutions - Boston Conservatory and Berklee College of Music - each recognized for its global reach and cultural impact. Berklee is a place where artists come together to innovate, and where artistic and cultural diversity is embraced and celebrated. We strive to reflect these values in our inclusive hiring practices, creating a welcoming and equitable process that embraces diverse perspectives and fosters equity and opportunity for all. Guided by our fundamental values, our unified mission and vision define Berklee’s core purpose and help us envision the positive influence we can have on each other, our students, our communities, and the broader world. Berklee is proud to offer a comprehensive benefits program to help our employees achieve their personal, professional, and financial goals. Learn more.