Procurement Specialist

Cornell University•Ithaca, MI

21h•$26 - $30•Remote

About The Position

The Division of Student and Campus Life (SCL) at Cornell University is seeking a Procurement Specialist to serve as the primary point of contact for procurement questions from all SCL units (excluding Dining) and to support the procurement function for SCL Student Organizations and Affiliates. This role is crucial for ensuring the effective financial and operational support within the division, which includes managing approximately $22M in annual spending for Cooperative Living Units, Greek Housing, Religious Affiliates, and Student Organizations. The position involves analyzing purchase requisitions, initiating orders, verifying compliance with policies and contracts, and utilizing procurement cards for various purchases. The Procurement Specialist will also support special initiatives and act as backup for the Purchasing Assistant for Dining. This position is primarily remote but requires occasional travel to the Cornell Campus. Success in this role involves fostering a culture of belonging, providing exceptional customer service, maintaining strong communication skills, adapting to changing priorities, and developing inclusive working relationships.

Requirements

Associate’s degree and 2 to 4 years relevant experience or equivalent combination.
Experience in processing financial transactions relating to accounts payable, cash handling and general ledger.
Demonstrated experience with Microsoft Office software tools.
Possess well-developed oral and written communication skills and be customer service oriented.
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
Ability to work quickly and effectively under pressure in an environment where change in processes and procedures is the norm.
Successful completion of the University Supply Management Certificate program in the first year of employment and every 3 years thereafter.
Experience working directly with people from various socioeconomic backgrounds.
Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s degree in Business field with 3-5 years experience or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
Experience and knowledge in university financial account structure, transaction systems and reporting tools.
Experience in Student Services areas such as athletics, dining, housing, health services and student organizations.

Responsibilities

Analyze purchase requisitions for policy adherence and initiate orders in KFS.
Determine appropriate actions required to issue purchase orders, including review for proper signature authority, purchase against existing contracts, verifying terms, documentation for sole-source orders, adequate insurance coverage, independent contractor compliance, review of supplier terms and conditions, and obtaining required approvals.
Initiate requisitions for customer areas.
Utilize SCL procurement card for student organization purchases identified in Campus Groups system.
Pay for one-time purchases and recurring charges with P-Card.
Support special initiatives of the Director of SCL Strategic Procurement and Inventory Management.
Act as backup support for the Purchasing Assistant for Dining.