SR. PROCUREMENT SPECIALIST

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley; Edinburg (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is seeking a Sr. Procurement Specialist in Edinburg, TX. You will manage complex procurements, lead bid processes, evaluate supplier responses, and ensure compliance with state and university policies.

You will partner with multiple departments, oversee supplier relations, and drive cost reductions while maintaining governance and documentation standards. This role requires strong analytical and negotiation skills and experience with ERP systems.

Qualifications

• Advanced procurement advisory and technical skills in the procurement process.
• Experience with competitive bids and evaluation for best value.
• Knowledge of procurement regulations and contract administration.

Responsibilities

• Administers strategic procurements and competitive bids, conducts evaluations and prepares award recommendations.
• Prepares procurement reports to support management strategies.
• Coordinates with departments and Contractors to ensure best value and compliance.
• Provides guidance on procurement terms and contract renewals and modifications.
• Interprets policies and ensures compliance with federal, state and local rules.

Skills

Strategic procurement

Bid evaluation

Vendor relations

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration

Four years experience in procurement

Tools

JAGGAER

CONCUR

Bonfire Sourcing

PeopleSoft Query

Job description

SR. PROCUREMENT SPECIALIST

Posting Number: SRGV9181

Number of Vacancies: 1

Location: Edinburg, Texas

Department: Procurement Office

FLSA: Exempt

Scope of Job:

To provide advanced professional advisory and technical skillsnecessary in the procurement process to acquire supplies,equipment, and services required by the institution in compliancewith all applicable laws, rules, regulation, policies andprocedures. Primarily responsible for performing various tasksrelated to the Procurement Cycle from procurement planning throughorder fulfillment for complex procurements including institutionalmaster supply/service agreements and licensing and leasingagreements. Assist in the operational planning and administrationof an assigned service area(s).

Description of Duties:

• Administers and directs strategic procurements and discretionaryand nondiscretionary competitive bids, including conductingpre-proposal and/or pre-bid conferences, conducting evaluations anddetermining best value, analyzing supplier responses, creatingtabulations and related procurement documentation, and makingrecommendations for award.
• Prepares, reviews, and analyzes procurement reports to assistwith development of procurement management strategies.
• Directly coordinates with appropriate staff, various Universitydepartments, UT System (as applicable) and pertinent contractors atall stages of the procurement process to ensure best value issecured in accordance with all applicable State, System, andUniversity procurement regulations, polices, and procedures.
• Provides guidance and support to staff, program managers,principal investigators and faculty in the area of procurementincluding, but not limited to, reviewing the financial terms andconditions of agreements; ensures appropriateness documents forsolicitation, contract renewals, extensions and modifications inaccordance with Customer requests and purchasing management.
• Interprets and ensures departmental compliance with federal,state, and local policies including internal UTRGV policies andprocedures.
• Prepares statements, reports, projects, estimates, and/orprojects as requested.
• Resolves issues/problems that arise with the campus communityand/or vendors.
• Functions as an effective liaison between University departmentsand related contracting entities, and provides direction toUniversity representatives in purchase order negotiations.
• Reviews University spend reports for assigned commodities andidentifies potential strategic sourcing initiatives or spend trendsand patterns.
• May leads or supports internal teams and task forces, providingfunctional expertise and guidance on the procurement systems andbusiness processes that may include training purchasing staff asrequired.
• Maintains supplier and/or supply e-catalogs; creation of andmaintenance of item master database records.
• Maximizes usage of contractual item(s) or supplier opportunities;identify possibilities for process improvement, service enhancementand/or cost reductions.
• Reviews and analyzes a range of contracting scopes of work and/orspecifications, and researches, redrafts, and develops scopedocuments as necessary to establish clarity and to secure the bestinterests of the University; provide direction and leadership toUniversity departments in developing scopes ofwork/specifications
• Ensures opportunities in university contracts to HUB firms whenexpected value is of at least $100,000 including commodities,professional services, and construction.
• Coordinates with the Contracts Office and applicable departmentson procurement solicitations that will result in formal agreementsto ensure appropriate terms are included in the solicitation, andthe scope of work will effectively transfer to the agreement;develop resulting agreements.
• Coordinates and oversees purchase order execution and providesUniversity departments with guidance on purchase orderadministration as necessary
• Promotes and develops end-user understanding of procurementprocedures and processes through training and direct interaction;assists with, and conducts if necessary, University procurementtraining.
• Provides leadership, direction, and training to the differentlevel of financial stakeholders within the university.
• Participates in testing and process validation, and serves onteams responsible for upgrades and enhancements to the ERPsystem.
• Modifies custom queries utilizing PeopleSoft Query or otherreporting tools in collaboration with departmental staff. Preparequeries in response to open records requests and University ofTexas (UT) System requests.
• Based on specialized area of assignment, may also perform the following duties:
• Meets with salespeople to review products or service offeringsand also serves as a liaison between vendor community and end userdepartments on product updates.
• Assists in the preparation of statutorily required HUBreports.
• Provides assistance with basic coordination and marketing of HUBoutreach events and represents UTRGV HUB Program Office at outreachevents.
• Assists with promoting contracting and subcontracting tocertified HUB firms.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervision Received:

General supervision from assigned supervisor.

Supervision Given:

May supervise assigned staff.

Required Education:

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or a related fieldfrom an accredited University, or Bachelor's degree from anaccredited University with four (4) years of the requiredexperience.

Preferred Education:

Master's degree in Business Administration or a closely relatedfield from an accredited University.

Licenses/Certifications:

Attainment of Professional Procurement Certification within 18months of hire.

Required Experience:

Three (3) years of purchasing experience.

Preferred Experience:

Purchasing experience in a state agency, school, or University.Knowledge of State Purchasing Policies and Guidelines. Experiencein Implementation of Procurement software experience, including ERPsystems. Experience with State Reporting (Legislative Budget Board)and HUB Program.

Equipment:

Use of standard office equipment Proficiency in procurement relatedsoftware, such as JAGGAER - eProcurement Platform, CONCUR + (TravelManagement System), Bonfire Sourcing Software

Working Conditions:

Needs to be able to successfully perform all required duties. Usualoffice conditions.

Other:

Strong attention to detail.

Physical Capabilities:

N/A

Employment Category:

Full-Time

Minimum Salary:

Commensurate with Experience

Posted Salary:

Commensurate with Experience

Position Available Date:

10/08/2026

Grant Funded Position:

No

EEO Statement:

It is the policy of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley topromote and ensure equal employment opportunities for allindividuals without regard to race, color, national origin, sex,age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity orexpression, genetic information or protected veteran status. Inaccordance with the requirements of Title VII of the Civil RightsAct of 1964, the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972,Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americanswith Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, our University iscommitted to comply with all government requirements and ensuresnon-discrimination in its education programs and activities,including employment. We encourage women, minorities anddifferently abled persons to apply for employment positions ofinterest.

Additional Information:

UTRGV is a distributed location institution and working location issubject to change based on need.

All UTRGV employees are required to have a criminal backgroundcheck (CBC). Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Substitutions to the above requirements must have prior approvalfrom the VP of Human Resources.