Senior Procurement Officer - Construction & Capital Projects

University of Kansas•Lawrence, KS

About The Position

The Senior Procurement Officer – Construction & Capital Projects serves as the University of Kansas's strategic procurement lead for construction, capital improvement, infrastructure, and major facilities-related projects. The position oversees sourcing, contracting, supplier management, procurement compliance, and advisory services for the University's capital project portfolio, working closely with Facilities Planning & Development, Operations, General Counsel, Risk Management, and university leadership. The role leads procurement activities for construction and design services, including architect, engineer, construction manager, general contractor, specialty contractor, and related professional service engagements. It supports a portfolio encompassing new construction, renovations, deferred maintenance, infrastructure improvements, utilities, building systems, furniture, fixtures and equipment, and other capital-related procurements. The position is responsible for competitive solicitations, supplier evaluation, contract drafting and negotiation, stakeholder consulting, supplier relationship management, reporting, and process improvement. The successful candidate will advise stakeholders on appropriate construction procurement and project delivery strategies, balancing schedule, cost, quality, risk, project objectives, and compliance. The role administers procurement under the University's approved construction procurement framework, Kansas Board of Regents requirements, and applicable state law, and maintains related expertise, documentation, reporting, and governance obligations. The position also monitors regulatory and industry changes and supports long-term capital planning objectives. The position requires occasional travel to other campuses, affiliated facilities, and project sites. Most trips are single-day trips, with occasional overnight travel for conferences or professional development. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The University may be unable to hire fully remote workers outside Kansas and currently cannot offer employment to candidates residing in California, Delaware, Idaho, or Minnesota.

Requirements

A master's degree and five years of related experience, or a bachelor's degree and seven years of related experience.
Experience managing procurement, contracting, or sourcing for construction, capital projects, facilities services, architecture/engineering services, or other complex technical categories.
Experience leading competitive solicitation processes, such as RFPs, RFQs, or IFBs.
Experience negotiating complex contracts and achieving favorable business outcomes through supplier negotiations.
Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously and working independently in a deadline-driven environment.
Experience collaborating with stakeholder groups and facilitating decisions among stakeholders with competing priorities.
Experience interpreting and applying procurement policies, contractual requirements, regulatory requirements, or compliance standards.
Experience with enterprise procurement systems, contract management platforms, or related business systems.
Experience with construction procurement, capital project contracting, or project delivery methods, including applying procurement policies, regulatory requirements, governance frameworks, or public procurement requirements.
Occasional travel to other campuses, affiliated facilities, and project sites, including occasional overnight travel.

Nice To Haves

Experience in higher education, government, public-sector, or capital project procurement environments.
Experience supporting construction, infrastructure, facilities management, or major capital improvement projects.
Knowledge of public procurement regulations and competitive sourcing practices applicable to construction and professional services.
Experience with modern construction delivery methods such as Design-Bid-Build, CMAR, Design-Build, JOC, P3, IPD, or similar approaches.
Professional certification such as CPSM, CPPO, CPPB, PMP, CCM, DBIA, or equivalent.
Experience developing procurement policies, procedures, training programs, governance frameworks, or stakeholder education initiatives.
Experience with supplier performance management, category management, and strategic sourcing methodologies.

Responsibilities

Lead procurement activities for the University's capital improvement, infrastructure, renovation, and new construction projects.
Develop, issue, and manage competitive solicitations, including RFPs, RFQuals, RFIs, and other appropriate sourcing methods for construction and professional design services.
Advise stakeholders on construction delivery methods, contractor selection, procurement strategy, and public-sector procurement requirements.
Provide strategic guidance on delivery models such as Design-Bid-Build, CMAR, Design-Build, JOC, P3, and IPD.
Procure architects, engineers, construction managers, general contractors, specialty contractors, commissioning services, environmental consultants, owner's representatives, and related professional services.
Administer construction procurement in accordance with University, Kansas Board of Regents, and applicable state requirements; maintain procurement records, project documentation, compliance metrics, and reporting.
Draft, negotiate, and administer construction, professional services, consulting, and capital project-related agreements.
Partner with General Counsel, Risk Management, Environmental Health & Safety, Finance, and project stakeholders on contract terms and risk mitigation.
Negotiate pricing, scope, insurance requirements, performance standards, indemnification, scheduling commitments, and other commercial terms.
Develop contractor, consultant, and supplier relationships; monitor supplier performance and help resolve disputes, claims, performance concerns, and project issues.
Support contract lifecycle management, including amendments, renewals, closeout documentation, supplier evaluations, and performance reviews.
Develop sourcing and category strategies supporting capital planning and facilities management; use market intelligence, benchmarking, and spend analysis to identify savings, risk mitigation, and value opportunities.
Analyze market trends, contractor capacity, labor conditions, material pricing, and industry practices to inform procurement decisions.
Serve as the primary procurement liaison to Facilities Planning & Development, Operations, KU Medical Center, KU Edwards Campus, and other departments involved in capital projects.
Participate in project planning, facilitate evaluation committees and stakeholder groups, and provide procurement guidance and training.
Help stakeholders navigate procurement requirements and facilitate decisions among groups with competing priorities while maintaining compliance.
Ensure compliance with University procurement policies, Kansas Board of Regents requirements, state regulations, and industry best practices.
Develop and maintain construction procurement documentation, templates, procedures, guidance materials, and required governance and regulatory reporting.
Recommend and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency, transparency, compliance, and stakeholder experience.
Monitor changes in legislation, regulations, and industry practices; recommend updates to University processes and procedures.
Support audits, public records requests, governance reviews, procurement reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives.