Purchasing Agent

Gallaudet University•Washington, DC

About The Position

Gallaudet University, federally chartered in 1864, is a bilingual, diverse, multicultural institution of higher education that ensures the intellectual and professional advancement of Deaf and hard of hearing individuals through American Sign Language and English. Gallaudet maintains a proud tradition of research and scholarly activity and prepares its graduates for career opportunities in a highly competitive, technological, and rapidly changing world. Reporting to the Strategic Sourcing Manager, the Purchasing Agent purchases a variety of goods and services required to sustain institutional operations and research, which includes selecting suppliers, negotiating prices, soliciting quotations, approving purchase orders and contracts, expediting shipments, and monitoring contractor performance.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
A minimum of three years of professional experience with procurement, purchasing, contract administration, or a related field.
Strong communication, computer, and reporting skills.
Strong skills with Workday Strategic Sourcing or other procurement systems.
Strong knowledge of Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office applications.
Strong knowledge of best practices in procurement, contract management, or similar processes.
Demonstrated experience with managing grant-related purchase orders.
Demonstrated ability to work with and across university departments, outside constituents, and groups.

Nice To Haves

Ability to communicate in American Sign Language.
Professional purchasing certification (e.g., CPM, CPSM, CPPB, or CPPO).
Experience in a higher education setting.

Responsibilities

Reviews purchase requisitions for completeness and accuracy, including appropriate administrative authorization, funding availability, and adherence to procurement policy; and exercises delegated authority to approve requisitions and authorize transactions.
Prepares and negotiates contracts and amendments, including but not limited to Master Service Agreements, Professional Service Agreements, Non-Disclosure Agreements, Confidentiality Agreements, Federal Demonstration Partnership Subawards, Fixed-Price, Cost-Plus, Time and Materials, Unit Price, and Lease.
Secures written competitive quotations, when necessary, leveraging GSA prices and cooperative agreements when available.
Provides high-quality customer service by assisting employees and departments with procurement-related inquiries, guiding them through purchasing policies and procedures, resolving order and vendor issues in a timely manner, and ensuring clear communication throughout the procurement process to support efficient and compliant acquisition of goods and services.
Assists faculty and staff in defining requirements along with available alternatives based on specifications, quantity, quality, and required turnaround time.
Approves purchase and changes orders, and verifies supplier acknowledgment through written confirmation or delivery logistics.
Serves as a backup resource resolving ServiceNow tickets related to procurement processes and ensuring timely and accurate responses to campus stakeholders.
Provides support for supplier registration processes, including assisting suppliers with onboarding requirements and maintaining accurate supplier records within the system.
Trains and supports university staff on procurement processes, including requisition workflow, purchase orders, and general procure-to-pay procedures, to ensure compliance with institutional policies and promote efficient operations.
Ensures SLAs are appropriate, attainable, and aligned with departmental goals.
Establishes and maintains a positive and supportive working relationship with co-workers and supervisors.
Demonstrates a genuine commitment to belonging in the workplace and participates in activities and workshops to foster continuous learning.
Serves as a mandatory reporter under Title IX; and commits to completing Title IX training and other compliance requirements on an annual basis.
Prioritizes safety in the workplace as a collective responsibility for the well-being of employees and fosters a culture of safety that is integral to our success, including strict adherence to safety procedures and protocols, as well as promptly reporting any safety hazards or incidents.
Performs related and other duties as needed.