Senior Procurement Officer (Salary)

The University of Texas at Austin•Austin, UT

5d•$57,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Chandra Family Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is the largest department in the Cockrell School of Engineering with more than 2,500 students and 80 faculty. Our outstanding faculty bring state-of-the-art research, development, and design experience into the classroom, ensuring that our students and alumni are amongst the best in their fields and that our research advances the scientific community as well as society and business. Purpose The Senior Procurement & Inventory Specialist provides advanced administrative and operational support for departmental purchasing, inventory management, and financial processing. This role ensures compliance with University and State purchasing policies, supports faculty and student program needs, and serves as a key liaison between the department, central purchasing units, and external vendors.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and a year of experience in purchasing, procurement, inventory management, accounting, or administrative operations; or high school graduation/equivalent and five years of related experience.
Demonstrated knowledge of UT Austin or State of Texas purchasing policies, or the ability to learn them quickly.
Experience using enterprise resource systems (e.g., Workday, PointPlus, FRMS, UT Market, document repositories, or comparable procurement/financial platforms).
Proficiency in recordkeeping, documentation, and compliance‑driven workflows.
Strong communication and customer service skills with the ability to interact effectively with faculty, staff, students, vendors, and central administrative units.
Ability to interpret and apply policies, resolve issues independently, and manage time‑sensitive tasks with accuracy and attention to detail.
Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast‑paced environment.
Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree and more than two years of experience in purchasing, procurement, inventory management, accounting, or administrative operations.
Experience working in a higher‑education procurement or inventory environment, particularly within the UT System.
Advanced knowledge of UT Austin purchasing systems, including UT Market, Workday Procurement, eInvoice, and ProCard reconciliation processes.
Experience negotiating pricing, supporting bid processes, or working with contracted vendors.
Experience with asset management, annual inventory workflows, surplus transfers, or audit support.
Familiarity with laboratory, engineering, or technical equipment purchasing.
Experience training staff or end users on procurement processes or financial systems.
Strong analytical skills, including the ability to track budgets, monitor expenditures, and interpret financial data.

Responsibilities

Performs procurement of supplies, materials, equipment, software, and services using approved University purchasing methods.
Coordinates purchasing activities for departmental teaching laboratories and special project teams, including Capstone Industry, Entrepreneur, FYDE, IoT, and Honors teams; monitors and maintains budget balances as requested.
Serves as a resource to faculty, staff, and students regarding purchasing procedures, order status, and policy requirements.
Researches and resolves issues related to outstanding orders, exchanges, returns, and vendor credits.
Collaborates with end‑users and vendors to ensure accuracy of orders, and negotiates pricing when appropriate.
Acts as liaison between the department, the University Purchasing Office, and external vendors to fulfill procurement needs.
Prepares purchase orders and related correspondence, including requests for bids, order modifications, and cancellations.
Maintains accurate and complete purchasing documentation in compliance with UT Austin and State regulations.
Processes invoices for purchase orders and services that fall outside standard delivery or traditional Accounts Payable methods.
Maintains and reconciles departmental ProCards; completes monthly VP7 documentation for assigned cards.
Ensures accuracy and compliance with University financial policies and audit requirements.
Oversees departmental inventory processes, including annual physical inventory and reconciliation of assets.
Coordinates the transfer and disposal of surplus equipment in accordance with University policies.
Responds to auditor inquiries and prepares documentation related to inventory records.
Manages departmental phone inventory and annual phone‑related ordering processes.
Maintains accurate inventory records and ensures compliance with asset management guidelines.
Trains departmental personnel on purchasing procedures, procurement systems, and compliance requirements.
Provides guidance and assistance to resolve procurement and financial process issues.
Performs shipping and mailroom‑related duties as assigned.
Completes other related functions as assigned.