Procurement Specialist

University of Redlands-posted 11 days ago

$17 - $26/Yr

Full-time • Entry Level

Redlands, CA

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The Procurement Specialist serves as a key contributor to the University of Redlands’ procurement operations by delivering advanced analytical support, strategic reporting, and operational insights that enhance the efficiency, accountability, and transparency of the procurement lifecycle. Reporting directly to the Director of Procurement, this position is responsible for interpreting and transforming complex procurement data into actionable intelligence to support supplier evaluation, contract negotiation, spend forecasting, category management, and cost-reduction initiatives. This role ensures data integrity and visibility across the University's purchasing functions and drives value creation through data-informed decisions, scenario modeling, and performance metrics. The Procurement Specialist partners closely with Buyers, Finance, and departmental stakeholders to improve sourcing outcomes, monitor procurement KPIs, and support long-term planning. The position also plays a pivotal role in identifying risks, consolidating spend opportunities, and aligning procurement practices with institutional goals, regulatory compliance, and sustainability objectives.

Conduct in-depth analysis of supplier proposals, market data, and historical spend to support vendor selection, contract terms, and negotiation strategy.
Analyze University-wide purchasing behavior to identify cost-saving opportunities, demand patterns, and areas for strategic sourcing
Collaborate with Buyers and internal departments to develop supply plans and forecast procurement needs based on institutional priorities and service level requirements.
Translate complex procurement challenges into structured models and scenarios to aid decision-making and category planning
Build and maintain dynamic cost models for high-value or strategic goods and services.
Compare supplier cost structures against internal benchmarks to evaluate pricing competitiveness
Track actual costs versus estimated pricing and analyze variances to support continuous improvement and contract enforcement.
Assist in the preparation of annual procurement budgets and long-term financial forecasts by integrating pricing trends and industry insights.
Design and maintain dashboards and reports to monitor procurement activities, supplier performance, and key metrics such as on-time delivery, contract utilization, and savings realized.
Monitor departmental compliance with purchasing policies and identify opportunities for improvement or training.
Provide reports and summaries for institutional leadership, audits, and internal reviews, ensuring transparency in procurement practices.
Support spend data audits and supplier usage tracking to support diversity, equity, and sustainability reporting.
Maintain data accuracy within procurement modules of the ERP system and procurement tracking tools.
Collaborate with IT and Finance to enhance reporting capabilities, integrate data sources, and implement new procurement technologies.
Support configuration and documentation of procurement-related systems, workflows, and digital forms.
Research emerging analytics tools and procurement software solutions to improve data visibility and reporting efficiency.
Conduct gap analyses and root cause evaluations to propose process enhancements for purchasing workflows and interdepartmental communication.
Participate in cross-functional projects involving contract lifecycle management, e-procurement implementation, or category strategy development.
Support the evaluation of procurement best practices and benchmark performance against peer institutions.
Serve as a resource on procurement policy interpretation and compliance with institutional guidelines and legal requirements
May travel to various locations to attend meetings and conduct work
Performs Other Duties and Special Projects as Required/Assigned

High school diploma or equivalent supplemented with two years of additional course work in related fields such as business, purchasing, procurement, finance and accounting or a related analytical field or an equivalent combination of education and experience
Two plus years of analytical support experience or related experience including the ability to use Microsoft Office software programs such as excel and word
A valid California Class C driver's license with a with a good driving record is required
Demonstrated experience working with large data sets, procurement analytics, or enterprise-level information systems.
Strong analytical and quantitative reasoning skills with the ability to distill complex data into accessible reports and insights.
Ability to manage competing priorities while meeting deadlines with high accuracy and minimal supervision.
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to present findings to technical and non-technical audiences.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and fluency with data management tools.
High degree of integrity, sound judgment, and ability to maintain confidentiality.
Commitment to fostering inclusive procurement practices and engaging with a culturally and ethnically diverse campus community.
Ability to work independently with interruptions and prioritize to meet deadlines
Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
Aptitude to learn new technology, methods, and procedures.
Ability to develop, maintain, and strengthen partnerships with others inside or outside the university
Ability to use appropriate judgment when making decisions and recommendations.
Must be able to competently interact with a culturally and ethnically diverse population of students, faculty, and staff

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Finance, Economics, Data Analytics, or a related field is preferred
Progressively responsible experience in procurement, supply chain operations, financial planning is preferred
Experience with ERP systems (e.g., Workday, Oracle, SAP) and procurement or finance modules.
Familiarity with data visualization platforms (e.g., Power BI, Tableau) and proficiency in Excel (pivot tables, lookups, modeling).
Experience in higher education, public sector procurement, or grant-funded procurement environments is a plus.
Procurement certifications (e.g., CPSM, CPPB) or Lean Six Sigma exposure are desirable.

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