Procurement Buyer — Buyer

MSU Careers Details•East Lansing, MI

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

MSU Procurement is seeking a collaborative, service-focused Buyer to support purchasing activities across Michigan State University. The role supports sourcing, purchasing, and supplier and service management for commodities requiring a moderate level of knowledge and expertise. The Buyer negotiates and executes moderately complex, low-risk purchases below the University’s Large Purchase Threshold. The position collaborates with university stakeholders and subject matter experts to obtain value on non-complex, low-risk commodities in support of research and education. It evaluates requisitions for appropriateness, content, compliance, and clarity; manages procurement processes and solicitations; identifies suppliers and evaluates proposals; and reviews and approves transactions and purchase orders. The Buyer also negotiates supplier contracts with MSU legal and procurement leadership, assesses supplier performance, tracks cost savings or avoidance, and works with Accounts Payable to resolve invoice discrepancies. The position is remote-friendly within Michigan, with a regular on-campus presence. Remote and in-office work are arranged with the supervisor. Work hours are standard 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Salary is commensurate with experience.

Requirements

Knowledge equivalent to a four-year college degree in General Business or communications, with relevant coursework in Marketing, Purchasing, or Materials Management and Inventory Control; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Six months to one year of 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.

Nice To Haves

Willingness to learn, grow, and collaborate with a team of procurement professionals.
Eagerness to provide outstanding customer service while upholding compliance and risk-mitigation values.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with university stakeholders and subject matter experts to obtain the best value on non-complex, low-risk commodities.
Contribute to a team of procurement professionals while maintaining high performance on individual work assignments.
Evaluate purchase requisitions for appropriateness, content, compliance, and clarity.
Write, issue, and solicit requests for information, proposals, and/or quotations (RFIs, RFPs, and/or RFQs).
Assemble stakeholder specifications for non-complex orders below the Large Purchase Threshold, determine suppliers to solicit, evaluate proposals, prepare bid analyses, and approve vendor selection.
Select appropriate procurement methods, such as strategic contracts, bid solicitations, or sole source, in accordance with department and university policies and procedures.
Review and approve purchasing transactions and issue purchase orders to suppliers.
Negotiate supplier contracts and agreements in partnership with MSU legal and procurement leadership, and determine and record cost savings or avoidance.
Assess supplier performance using measurement tools and decision-modeling practices.
Partner with Accounts Payable to resolve invoice discrepancies and maintain positive supplier and stakeholder relationships.
Cover other commodities and duties as needed to provide service to university stakeholders.
Perform other duties as assigned.