Procurement Agent III

University of Florida•Gainesville, FL

1d•$75,000 - $85,000

About The Position

This position analyzes requisitions/contracts for compliance with regulations, directives, policies, and Florida Statutes, ensuring proper information and approvals, including insurance. The role involves reviewing and editing vendor contracts, negotiating terms with vendors, and consolidating requisitions for like items to achieve economies of scale and maximize competition. The Procurement Agent III approves change requests as needed and assists with purchases exceeding the University's bid/solicitation limit. This includes determining the appropriate acquisition method (solicitation, sole source, etc.), facilitating specification development for public solicitations (ITB, RFP, ITN), and evaluating vendor responses. The role also involves engaging stakeholder participation, facilitating negotiations, and managing contract implementation, including internal UF business processes and campus communication. Additionally, the position participates in vendor business reviews and handles vendor requests for contractual changes. A high level of customer service is maintained for UF departments regarding requirements, specifications, and bid results through open communication, training, and department visits. The role promptly answers inquiries from vendors and UF employees about the public and UF purchasing processes and resolves vendor disputes. It also contributes to external training development and assists in documenting internal processes.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in an appropriate area and five years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Nice To Haves

Certified Purchasing Supply Management (C.P.S.M.), Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPP) or equivalent certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Analyzes requisitions/contracts for compliance with BOG, UF and Foundation regulation, directives, policies and Florida Statutes, proper information and approvals to include insurance.
Reviews and edits vendor contracts.
Works with vendors to negotiate terms.
Consolidates requisitions for like items to obtain economies of scale and the benefits of maximum competition.
Approves change requests as necessary.
Assists in identification of, and works on, purchases exceeding University bid/solicitation limit.
Determines appropriate acquisition method – solicitation, sole source or other methods.
Facilitates and assists with specification development for public solicitations: Invitation to Bid (ITB), Request for Proposal (RFP) and Invitation to Negotiate (ITN).
Solicits and evaluates vendor responses to solicitations.
Engages stakeholder participation.
Facilitates negotiation process.
Works on contract implementation including internal UF business processes and communication to campus (web pages, listserv emails).
Participates in vendor business reviews and vendor requests for contractual changes.
Maintains a high level of customer service to UF departments regarding current and future requirements, specifications, results of price quotations and bids, etc. through open lines of communication, providing and developing training and periodic department visits.
Promptly answers inquiries from vendors and UF employees concerning public purchasing process and UF purchasing process.
Works to resolve vendor disputes.
Contributes to development of external training including review of resources educating campus about contracts related to areas of commodity/service concentration.
Assists in documentation of internal processes.
Maintains expertise in assigned commodity/service areas, product cost trends, market conditions and purchasing techniques by attending professional purchasing association meetings, courses, workshops, reading trade publications and journals, participating in webinars, listservs, reading web sources, visiting vendors’ facilities to continuously improve and broaden knowledge of products and services.
Develops a network for assigned commodity areas, consisting of technical and manufacturer’s representatives, salespersons and customers/stakeholders, to keep current on new products, mergers, ideas, etc.
Stays current with existing and new policy matters of the State and University regarding the procurement of needed goods and services.