Purchasing Supervisor - Procurement

University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB)•Webster, TX

8h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Supervisor, Purchasing provides operational leadership, procurement oversight, and technical guidance for an assigned team of buyers, ensuring the timely and compliant acquisition of goods and services. This role is responsible for managing daily purchasing workflows, prioritizing workloads, resolving procurement issues, and upholding institutional, state, and federal compliance standards. A key focus of the role is ensuring a high level of customer satisfaction by aligning procurement activities with department needs, responding promptly to inquiries, and maintaining consistent service delivery standards. The Supervisor actively monitors team performance, identifies process improvement opportunities, and promotes accountability through coaching and performance management. This position works closely with the Supply Chain Purchasing Manager to drive operational consistency, implement best practices, and cultivate a customer-focused, high-performing purchasing team that supports the mission and goals of the institution.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Health Care Administration, Supply Chain, or a relevant field and three (3) years of related experience with two (2) years at a lead/supervisory level.
An equivalent combination of education and experience relevant to the role may be considered for this position.
Must obtain C.P.S.M., C.P.P.B, C.P.P.O, C.T.C.M., or an equivalent nationally recognized certification of professional credentials as deemed acceptable to UTMB within 18 months of appointment in title.
Demonstrates strong knowledge of business acumen related to the Purchasing field.
Comprehensive understanding of purchasing processes, policies, and best practices to efficiently acquire goods and services.
Good negotiation skills and understanding of negotiation strategies and tactics.
The ability to read, interpret, and apply concepts to develop and execute purchase order terms and conditions to minimize institutional risk.
Good technical writing skills and ability to read and communicate specifications.
Good organizational and project management skills.
Maintain high accuracy in data entry, record keeping, and purchase order preparation.
Anticipate and address immediate and future needs of internal customers, providing responsive and consultative procurement assistance.
Good verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to plan, organize, and lead meetings or conduct presentations.
Basic accounting and data analysis skills.
Result-oriented, decisive, team builder, customer-oriented, analytical, strong communicator, and innovative leader.

Responsibilities

Lead daily operations of the assigned purchasing team(s), ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant processing of requisitions and purchase orders.
Oversee requisition reviews and approvals, validating alignment with contracts, policies, and institutional standards before execution.
Monitor team workload, prioritize tasks, and allocate resources to maintain procurement continuity and meet service expectations.
Ensure customer needs are met through prompt communication, proactive support, and resolution of purchasing-related issues.
Develop and maintain a culture of service excellence and continuous improvement within the purchasing team.
Identify, recommend, and implement process improvements to enhance procurement efficiency, reduce waste, and increase customer satisfaction.
Maintain, update, and enforce purchasing standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure process consistency and compliance.
Conduct audits, spot checks, and performance reviews to monitor procurement accuracy, policy adherence, and service quality.
Maintain buyer competency checklists; provide coaching, feedback, and training to support staff development and performance.
Coordinate PTO schedules and adjust workload assignments as needed to ensure uninterrupted procurement operations.
Collaborate with the HUB and Federal Small Business teams to support supplier diversity goals and related reporting requirements.
Serve as a liaison between purchasing, end users, and other departments to ensure clear communication and responsive service.
Support internal and external audits by ensuring accurate documentation and participating in audit response efforts.
Assist in the development and delivery of internal policies, training materials, and compliance documentation.
Participate in hiring, onboarding, and performance evaluations for purchasing team members.
Represent the purchasing function in cross-functional meetings and institutional projects as needed.
Approve purchase orders in accordance with delegated authority; ensure justification and documentation are complete and compliant.
Assist customers with procurement-related planning and supply needs, offering guidance to optimize order accuracy and efficiency.
Maintain standard work instructions and internal controls to ensure operational integrity and alignment with institutional policies.
Track and report key performance indicators (KPIs) to Supply Chain leadership and assist in operational planning initiatives.
Support the preparation of procurement reports for internal stakeholders, audits, and regulatory entities.
Adhere to UTMB internal controls, procurement policies, and reporting structures.
Performs related duties as required.