Strategic Public Procurement Lead

George Mason University; Chantilly (VA); Hybrid; USD 94,000 - 98,000; Full time

Job summary

George Mason University in Virginia seeks a Senior Buyer to independently manage complex procurements from planning through contract administration. You will lead competitive solicitations, negotiate terms, and collaborate with stakeholders to balance cost, quality, and risk in a fast-paced environment.

The role reports to the Director of Purchasing and offers a hybrid on-site schedule with remote eligibility for highly qualified out-of-state candidates.

Qualifications

• Minimum of seven years of full-time professional procurement experience in a public-sector or private-sector environment serving in senior procurement roles.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Business, Public Administration, Supply Chain Management, Finance, Contract Management, or related field.
• Professional procurement, purchasing, acquisition, sourcing, or contracting certification preferred.
• Ten or more years of progressively responsible senior buyer, contracting officer, procurement officer, acquisition, strategic sourcing, or public purchasing experience strongly preferred.
• Experience as a warranted contracting officer or equivalent delegated procurement authority strongly preferred.
• Experience independently managing complex procurements from planning through award and contract administration strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Independently plans, develops, administers, evaluates, negotiates, awards, and administers complex procurement contracts and high-value purchasing actions in accordance with applicable law, policy, and delegated authority.
• Conducts complex procurement activities frequently in excess of $200,000 per procurement, including high-visibility or high-importance procurements.
• Applies advanced public procurement knowledge to determine method and manage competitive bids, sole source procurements, emergency procurements, and contract renewals.
• Reviews purchase requisitions for accuracy, advises departments on strategy, and identifies appropriate procurement approaches.
• Leads RFPs, IFBs, and other solicitations from planning through award, including drafting documents and evaluating responses.
• Prepares contract documents, negotiation records, and procurement files; ensures timely and legally defensible actions.
• Executes contracts and PO's within signature authority and routes documents for approvals as required.
• Maintains complete procurement files and reviews pricing changes and related matters.
• Conducts strategic sourcing activities within assigned categories and reviews spending to improve compliance and leverage contracts.
• Leads sourcing in partnership with stakeholders to balance service, quality, price, risk, and operations.
• Provides vendor support, contract administration, order expediting, receiving coordination, and invoice-resolution assistance.
• Advises university customers and vendors on procurement processes and best practices to improve cycle time and compliance.
• Acts as liaison between suppliers and the university on procurement matters and assists SWaM vendors with certification as appropriate.
• Provides contract administration to confirm delivery and resolves delivery or payment issues.
• Encourages use of SWaM vendors and develops alternative sources through market research and supplier engagement.
• Encourages participation by minority-owned businesses and assists with certification information.

Skills

Procurement strategy

Negotiation

Public procurement knowledge

Strategic sourcing

Contract administration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business/ Public Administration/ Supply Chain/ Finance/ Contract Management

Tools

eVA

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Job description

George Mason University in Virginia seeks a Senior Buyer to independently manage complex procurements from planning through contract administration. You will lead competitive solicitations, negotiate terms, and collaborate with stakeholders to balance cost, quality, and risk in a fast-paced environment.

The role reports to the Director of Purchasing and offers a hybrid on-site schedule with remote eligibility for highly qualified out-of-state candidates.