Procurement and Events Coordinator, Wireless Networking and Communications Group in Cockrell School of Engineering

The University of Texas at Austin • Austin, UT

10d • Onsite

About The Position

The Wireless Networking and Communications Group (WNCG) is an Organized Research Unit and interdisciplinary center for research and education with an emphasis on industrial relevance. The center is located within and works closely with the Chandra Family Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (Texas ECE), a top-ranked program and the largest department in the Cockrell School of Engineering. WNCG is home to more than 200 graduate students and 26 faculty. Our mission is to create a collaborative environment that supports research and provides highly relevant education and opportunities. WNCG and Texas ECE are committed to advancing the common good through every aspect of research, education, and outreach. We take pride in our values and achieve greater impact by promoting technical innovation, imagination, and entrepreneurship in wireless networking, communications, and data sciences. Join us in changing the world! The Procurement and Events Coordinator will provide purchasing, procurement, equipment, inventory, and operational support for WNCG, while coordinating major center events, meetings, workshops, affiliate-facing programs, and related activities for the large, high-functioning, multi-million-dollar research center.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant or related field.
• Three (3) years of related experience in purchasing and procurement, event coordination, business operations, inventory or asset management, or program coordination.
• Experience with event logistics, vendor relations, and customer or stakeholder engagement.
• Working knowledge of purchasing processes, procurement documentation, and compliance requirements.
• Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Proven ability to balance competing deadlines and collaborate across organizational levels.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment, identify urgent priorities, and follow through on time-sensitive administrative, purchasing, and event-related tasks.
• Detail-oriented and self-directed, with ability to deliver accurate results under changing priorities.
• Experience working collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team.
• Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Nice To Haves

• More than three (3) years of related experience in purchasing and procurement, event coordination, business operations, inventory or asset management, or program coordination.
• Experience with UT Austin business processes, policies, and procedures, or comparable university business processes.
• Prior experience in higher education, particularly in STEM or with a research operation.
• Experience processing competitive bids, subcontractor agreements, contracts, purchase orders, and related procurement documentation.
• Experience managing equipment inventory, property records, and audit inquiries.
• Experience using university financial, procurement, and administrative systems such as DEFINE, FRMS, UT Market, PointPlus, Workday, or comparable systems.
• Experience guiding faculty, staff, students, or other stakeholders on essential business workflows and procedures.
• Experience supporting events in a research center, university, conference, affiliate, or external-facing setting.
• Service-oriented mindset and a high level of emotional intelligence.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and execute research center and faculty purchasing, including purchase requests, bids, proposals, purchase orders, pre-purchase assessments, exception requests, and related procurement documentation in accordance with University, State, and Federal regulations.
• Engage with stakeholders, exercise regular problem-solving, and provide appropriate counsel and resources.
• Coordinate major center events and selected meetings, workshops, seminars, and affiliate-facing programs, including planning, logistics, vendor relations, communications, attendee support, on-site troubleshooting, and post-event follow-up.
• Administer, process, and reconcile the center procurement card program; maintain accurate financial documentation; resolve purchasing issues with vendors and institutional offices; and support timely processing of related expenditures and payments.
• Manage contract lifecycles, competitive solicitations, and selected center expenditures, including entertainment, subcontractor/vendor, equipment, supply, and event-related costs.
• Monitor and reconcile related financial activity to support fiscal accuracy, compliance, and timely processing.
• Administer center inventory control and property management, including asset tracking, reporting, annual certification, utilization, transfer, and retention.
• Coordinate the research equipment lifecycle, including shipping, receiving, troubleshooting, maintenance, disposal, and collaboration on assessment and deployment.
• Develop and execute event-related communication strategies, including content coordination for newsletters, agendas, invitations, attendee materials, and promotional assets.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to optimize operational processes and maintain documentation and instructional guides.
• Support coordination of center facilities, storerooms, mail, general access, and business backup support as needed.

Benefits

• Competitive health benefits (employee premiums covered at 100%, family premiums at 50%)
• Voluntary Vision, Dental, Life, and Disability insurance options
• Generous paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
• Teachers Retirement System of Texas, a defined benefit retirement plan, with 8.25% employer matching funds
• Additional Voluntary Retirement Programs: Tax Sheltered Annuity 403(b) and a Deferred Compensation program 457(b)
• Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses
• Robust free training access through LinkedIn Learning plus professional conference opportunities
• Tuition assistance
• Expansive employee discount program including athletic tickets
• Free access to UT Austin's libraries and museums with staff ID card
• Free rides on all UT Shuttle and Austin CapMetro buses with staff ID card

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level