Procurement Specialist

We are looking for an experienced Procurement Specialist to support procurement operations through a contract opportunity with potential for a permanent role. This role partners closely with internal teams to strengthen purchasing practices, improve process consistency, and help ensure compliant, efficient sourcing and contracting activities. The ideal candidate brings a practical, hands-on approach to daily procurement support while also identifying opportunities to improve workflows, documentation, and overall value.

Responsibilities:
• Advise departments on routine procurement matters and help move purchasing activities forward from initial request through completion.
• Coordinate requisitions, sourcing approaches, and supplier interactions to support timely and effective purchasing outcomes.
• Contribute to the drafting, review, and negotiation of agreements while promoting sound commercial terms and policy alignment.
• Lead or support competitive sourcing events, including solicitation development, evaluation planning, and supplier selection activities.
• Review existing procurement procedures, identify bottlenecks, and introduce practical improvements that increase consistency and efficiency.
• Create and refine standardized tools such as bid templates, contract documents, and evaluation materials to support repeatable procurement practices.
• Monitor procurement activity for adherence to applicable organizational, state, and federal requirements and recommend corrective actions when gaps are identified.
• Partner with stakeholders across business units to understand purchasing needs, provide guidance on procurement processes, and strengthen cross-functional communication.
• Prepare status updates, track key performance measures, and highlight opportunities for savings, risk reduction, and continuous improvement.• Background in procurement, purchasing, or sourcing with experience supporting end-to-end buying activities.
• Knowledge of public sector procurement practices, with higher education or state environment experience preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competitive bid processes such as RFPs, RFQs, and related supplier solicitations.
• Experience negotiating contracts and working with vendors to achieve favorable business outcomes.
• Familiarity with compliance standards, policy adherence, and documentation practices that support audit readiness.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with internal stakeholders and suppliers.
• Proficiency in corporate procurement processes, purchase orders, and core procurement functions.
• Ability to work independently in an embedded support role while balancing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.