Senior Departmental Buyer

Job Posting Title:

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Hiring Department:

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Position Open To:

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

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FLSA Status:

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Earliest Start Date:

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Position Duration:

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Location:

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Job Details:

This is for an in-person position located at J.J. Pickle Research Campus in North Austin.

The Senior Departmental Buyer serves as the lead procurement specialist for the Bureau of Economic Geology, overseeing the acquisition of goods, services, equipment, and materials essential to the Bureau's research and operational activities. This position ensures that all purchasing activities comply with university, state, and federal procurement policies and procedures. The role requires a high level of autonomy, attention to detail, and the ability to manage complex purchasing transactions in support of scientific research and administrative functions.

The Senior Buyer acts as the primary liaison between the Bureau, the University Purchasing Office, vendors, and internal stakeholders. Responsibilities include processing purchase orders, managing vendor relationships, resolving procurement issues, and maintaining accurate purchasing records. The position also supports inventory management, contract negotiation, and contributes to the development of procurement strategies that align with the Bureau's mission and budgetary goals.

This role is critical in ensuring timely and cost-effective procurement that supports the Bureau's multidisciplinary research initiatives in energy, environment, and economics.

In addition to procurement duties, the Senior Buyer serves as the team lead for the Bureau's purchasing staff, providing guidance, training, and oversight to ensure consistent and compliant purchasing practices across the unit.

• Coordinate and execute the full procurement lifecycle for goods, services, and equipment, including vendor selection, bid solicitation, contract review, and purchase order processing. Performs purchasing, receiving, and reconciliation activities for the procurement of supplies, materials, equipment and services utilizing the Bureau's internal Purchasing System. Performs buying and purchasing activities using the UT ProCard, PointPlus and UT Market. Submit agreements to UT's Business Contracts Office and act as Senior Departmental contact for contract negotiations and final signature. Provide guidance on contract negotiation including basic review on contract terms. Ensure all purchasing activities adhere to UT Austin, UT System, and State of Texas procurement policies and procedures. Maintain accurate documentation and audit readiness.

• Assist in locating products and services required to meet contractual requirements. Provides pricing for contract cost estimates and planning. Provide advance planning and guidance concerning approvals and procedures. Collaborate with financial staff to align purchases with budgetary constraints and grant requirements. Monitor expenditures and assist with financial reporting.

• Serve as team lead for departmental purchasing staff. Provide training, mentorship, and oversight to ensure consistent application of procurement standards and best practices.

• Identify opportunities to streamline procurement processes. Generate reports and metrics to support operational efficiency and strategic planning.

• Education: Bachelor's degree in business administration, accounting, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• 3 years of purchasing experience in a complex organization.

• Knowledge of procurement policies and procedures.

• Experience with vendor negotiations and contract compliance.

• Proficiency in enterprise financial systems (e.g., UT Austin uses DEFINE, Contracts Plus and UT Handbook of Business Procedures.)

• Strong organizational and communication skills.

• Ability to interpret and apply state and university purchasing regulations.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

• Experience in higher education or state agency procurement.

• Familiarity with Texas state purchasing laws and HUB (Historically Underutilized Business) requirements.

• Experience managing complex or high-dollar procurements and vendor relationships.

$65,000+ depending on qualifications

• May work around standard office conditions

• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation

• Resume/CV

• 3 work references with their contact information

• Letter of interest

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Employment Eligibility:

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Retirement Plan Eligibility:

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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.