Procurement Buyer / Buyer

Working/Functional Title

Procurement Buyer

Position Summary

The Buyer will support the procurement team in sourcing, purchasing, and managing suppliers and services. This role is responsible for purchasing various commodities requiring a moderate level of knowledge and expertise. The Procurement Buyer negotiates and executes moderately complex, low-risk purchases that are less than the University’s Large Purchase Threshold. 

Position Duties:

• Collaborates with university stakeholders and subject matter experts to obtain the best value on non-complex, low-risk commodities in support of world-class research and education at Michigan State University.
• Participates in a team of procurement professionals who provide the MSU community expertise and financial stewardship while maintaining high-level performance on individual work assignments.  
• Uses procurement experience and technical knowledge to evaluate purchase requisitions for appropriateness, content, compliance, and clarity.
• Manages the procurement process by writing, issuing, and soliciting requests for information, proposals, and/or quotations (RFIs, RFPs, and/or RFQs). Assembles stakeholder specifications for non-complex orders not exceeding the Large Purchase threshold, determines suppliers to be solicited, evaluates proposals, prepares bid analyses, and approves vendor selection.
• Sources suppliers by selecting the appropriate procurement methodology (such as strategic contracts, bid solicitations, sole source) in alignment with UPL Procurement department and university business policies and procedures.
• Reviews and approves purchasing transactions and issues purchase orders to suppliers.
• Demonstrates negotiation skills, while partnering with MSU legal and procurement leadership to negotiate supplier contracts and agreements and determines/records cost savings/avoidances.
• Employs procurement experience and analytical skills to assess supplier performance using measurement tools and decision modeling practices.  
• Partners with the Accounts Payable department to resolve invoice discrepancies in order to preserve positive supplier and stakeholder relationships.  
• Demonstrates flexibility by covering other commodities and duties as needed to provide the highest level of service to university stakeholders.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

This position is "remote-friendly", with the expectation of on-campus presence periodically. This is typically referred to as "Hybrid", with the flexibility of regular remote work mixed with in-office work as mutually agreed upon with the supervisor.

Minimum Requirements

Knowledge equivalent to that which would normally be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in General Business or Communications with relevant coursework in Marketing, Purchasing or Materials Management and Inventory Control; six months to one year related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in retailing, commodities purchasing and general business and accounting; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Desired Qualifications

• Willingness to learn, grow and be collaborative with a team of Procurement professionals.
• Eager to provide outstanding customer service while holding values of compliance and risk mitigation. 

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Application Materials

Resume, cover letter, and three professional references.

Work Hours

STANDARD 8-5

Website

https://upl.msu.edu/

Remote Work Statement

MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.

Bidding eligibility ends July 15, 2025, 11:55 PM