Senior Departmental Buyer

University of Texas at Austin•Austin, TX

6d•$65,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Departmental Buyer serves as the lead procurement specialist for the Bureau of Economic Geology, overseeing acquisition of goods, services, equipment, and materials that support research and operations. The position ensures purchasing activities comply with university, state, and federal procurement policies and procedures, and requires autonomy and attention to detail in managing complex transactions. The Senior Buyer is the primary liaison among the Bureau, the University Purchasing Office, vendors, and internal stakeholders. The role processes purchase orders, manages vendor relationships, resolves procurement issues, maintains purchasing records, supports inventory management and contract negotiation, and contributes to procurement strategies aligned with the Bureau’s mission and budget. The position also leads the Bureau’s purchasing staff by providing guidance, training, and oversight. This is an in-person role at the J.J. Pickle Research Campus in North Austin. It is expected to continue.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting, or a related field, with at least three years of experience; relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
Several years of purchasing experience in a complex organization.
Knowledge of procurement policies and procedures.
Experience with vendor negotiations and contract compliance.
Proficiency in enterprise financial systems; examples listed include DEFINE, Contracts Plus, and the UT Handbook of Business Procedures.
Strong organizational and communication skills.
Ability to interpret and apply state and university purchasing regulations.

Nice To Haves

Experience in higher education or state agency procurement.
Familiarity with Texas state purchasing laws and HUB (Historically Underutilized Business) requirements.
Experience managing complex or high-dollar procurements and vendor relationships.

Responsibilities

Coordinate and execute the full procurement lifecycle, including vendor selection, bid solicitation, contract review, and purchase order processing.
Perform purchasing, receiving, and reconciliation activities for supplies, materials, equipment, and services using the Bureau’s internal Purchasing System.
Conduct buying and purchasing activities using the UT ProCard, PointPlus, and UT Market.
Submit agreements to UT’s Business Contracts Office and act as the senior departmental contact for contract negotiations and final signature.
Provide guidance on contract negotiation, including basic review of contract terms.
Ensure purchasing complies with UT Austin, UT System, and State of Texas procurement policies and procedures; maintain accurate documentation and audit readiness.
Assist in locating products and services needed to meet contractual requirements.
Provide pricing for contract cost estimates and planning, and offer advance guidance about approvals and procedures.
Collaborate with financial staff to align purchases with budgets and grant requirements, monitor expenditures, and assist with financial reporting.
Lead departmental purchasing staff by providing training, mentorship, and oversight to ensure consistent procurement standards and practices.