Strategic Research Contracts & Purchasing Specialist

University of Kansas; Lawrence (KS); On-site; USD 50,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Kansas seeks a Research Contracts & Purchasing Specialist to support contract drafting, intake, and compliance within the Fiscal Affairs team at KUCR. The role emphasizes accuracy, template-based drafting, and meticulous records management across contracts, amendments, and related communications.

You will coordinate procurement for sponsored research, review requisitions for funding and budget allocation, and work with KU Purchasing and suppliers to ensure timely, compliant

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required with 1 year of procurement/purchasing/contract administration experience OR 3 years with an Associate's degree OR 5+ years with a HS diploma.
• Experience using Oracle or similar enterprise financial systems.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word).
• Proven history of delivering accurate work in high-volume environments.
• Excellent written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Strong customer service orientation.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive contract support across the processing lifecycle of research-related agreements using templates.
• Perform preliminary compliance checks and flag missing information.
• Ensure submissions align with KU contracting and procurement requirements before review.
• Draft agreements with meticulous attention to terms and dates.
• Manage and track agreements through internal workflows and records.
• Provide guidance on processes, timelines, and system usage; escalate complex issues.

Skills

Procurement

Contract administration

Microsoft Office

Attention to detail

Communication

Independent work

Customer service

Overall high-quality work

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or related field

Associate's degree

High school diploma / GED equivalency

Tools

Oracle

Microsoft Office Suite

Procurement systems

Job description

The University of Kansas seeks a Research Contracts & Purchasing Specialist to support contract drafting, intake, and compliance within the Fiscal Affairs team at KUCR. The role emphasizes accuracy, template-based drafting, and meticulous records management across contracts, amendments, and related communications.

You will coordinate procurement for sponsored research, review requisitions for funding and budget allocation, and work with KU Purchasing and suppliers to ensure timely, compliant