Senior Departmental Buyer

University of Texas at Austin; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 59,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% employer-paid basic medical

Free Capital Metro bus rides

Retirement contributions

Paid vacation, sick time, and holidays

Career growth & professional dev

Job summary

University of Texas at Austin in Austin, TX seeks a Senior Departmental Buyer to manage advanced purchasing and procurement for University Housing and Dining. The role involves vendor relations, contract administration, and guidance to departmental buyers across UHD functions.

The successful candidate will have a bachelor's degree and 3+ years of purchasing experience, with preferred 4+ years in higher education and familiarity with UT policies and UT Austin financial systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum 3 years of purchasing or relevant experience.
• Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
• Preferred: 4+ years purchasing experience in higher education; familiarity with UT policies; experience with UT Austin financial systems (DEFINE, FRMS, Point Plus, UT Market).

Responsibilities

• Performs highly advanced purchasing and procurement work for UHD; oversees procurement of supplies, materials, equipment, and services.
• Manages contracts from drafting to final execution; communicates with requesters, vendors, and contracts offices.
• Provides guidance and support to Departmental Buyers; works with multiple UHD departments to ensure compliance with policies.
• Develops training for staff on purchasing practices and policies.

Skills

Purchasing experience

Contract administration

Vendor management

Training staff

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Power Automate

Power BI

Smartsheet

Job description

Job Posting Title:

Senior Departmental Buyer

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Hiring Department:

University Housing and Dining

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Exempt from FLSA

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Earliest Start Date:

Sep 18, 2026

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue

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Location:

UT MAIN CAMPUS

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Job Details:

General Notes

BENEFITS: UT Austin offers a competitive benefits package that includes:

• 100% employer-paid basic medical coverage

• Free Capital Metro bus rides

• Retirement contributions

• Paid vacation, sick time, and holidays

• Career growth & professional development

Please visit our Human Resources (HR) website at to learn more about the total benefits offered when you join our team!

Purpose

Responsible for executing advanced purchasing and procurement duties in support of University Housing and Dining (UHD). This position processes requisitions, and solicits bids in compliance with University and State guidelines. Develops and maintains vendor relationships to ensure competitive pricing and quality service. Performs highly advanced procurement work with minimal supervision and extensive latitude for initiative and independent judgment. Communicates purchasing details, status updates, and resolves order discrepancies with requesters and suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Performs highly advanced purchasing and procurement work. Oversees purchasing activities for the procurement of supplies, materials, equipment, and services following established University and State guidelines. Serves as departmental buyer and procurement resource for University Housing and Dining (UHD), including Facilities Maintenance, Building Services, Dining Operations, Apartments, Business Services, Residence Life, IT, and Human Resources. Establishes program goals and objectives related to purchasing and procurement activities. Reviews processes regularly to ensure efficiency and identifies opportunities for improvement. Continuously evaluates emerging technologies and tools to enhance purchasing workflows and drive operational effectiveness.

• Performs advanced contract administration work and participates in the execution and administration of contracts. Demonstrates substantial knowledge of University and State of Texas contract management and execution. Works with requestors to source vendors and manages the contract process from drafting to final execution. Provides clear and consistent written and verbal communication to requestors, vendors, and University purchasing and business contracts offices. Works under minimal supervision, with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

• Supports all purchasing functions as needed with primary responsibility for processing routine purchasing requests from UHD departments such as Business Services, Human Resources, Residence Life, Maintenance, Building Services, IT, and Dining Operations. Works independently and collaboratively with other Senior Departmental Buyer on purchasing functions to determine priorities, set timelines, and ensure compliance with University and State purchasing policies. Assists in providing guidance and support to Departmental Buyer as needed.

• Coordinates and/or develops and provides training to staff regarding purchasing and procurement practices and policies. Performs related functions as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.

• Minimum 3 years of purchasing or relevant experience.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• 4 or more years of purchasing experience.

• Experience working in a higher education setting.

• Experience using technologies to automate processes and process automation (Power Automate, Power BI, Smartsheet).

• Familiar with UT purchasing and accounting policies and procedures and/or State of Texas procurement laws.

• Experience with UT Austin financial systems (DEFINE, FRMS, Point Plus, and UT Market) and/or similar.

• Experience reviewing processes and workflows, and recommending and implementing improvements to drive efficiency.

• Experience in creating and maintaining documentation and training materials.

• Certified Texas Contract Developer or Certified Texas Contract Manager.

Salary Range

$65,000+ depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

• May work in all weather conditions.

• Standard office environment.

• Repetitive use of keyboard at a workstation.

• Use of manual dexterity.

Work Shift

• Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM (hours may vary based on business needs).

Required Materials

• Resume/CV

• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor

• Letter of interest

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Employment Eligibility:

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

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Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

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Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

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Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer,complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

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Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information.

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Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

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E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university's company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

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Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.