Senior Purchasing Agent

Towson University (TU) is one of the nation’s top 100 public universities. Located north of Baltimore, TU currently enrolls over 19,000 students and is the second-largest university in the prestigious University System of Maryland.  Towson University fosters a climate that is grounded in respect to cultivating the intellectual and personal growth of the entire university community.

The Senior Purchasing Agent is responsible for procuring specialized and complex goods and services involving the planning/preparation, solicitation, evaluation, awarding, and administering of contracts for a wide range of services. The position administers low to high-dollar-value procurements while ensuring vendor compliance with terms/conditions, and adherence, to University System of Maryland (USM) and State of MD requirements. This role may work with other USM campuses to source, award, and administer system-wide contracts. This role may also approve routine transactions and make other decisions in the absence of the Director/Associate Director and make procurement presentations to campus leadership and outside groups. Telework may be available for this position up to two days per week following the completion of 90 days of service in good standing.

• Solicit, evaluate, award, and exercise contracting officer authority for low to high-value contracts (including facilities maintenance, construction, equipment and other complex services) in a timely manner. Assist with scope preparation, determine procurement methodology, identify/screen new sources, conduct pre-bid/pre-proposal conferences, conduct/lead RFP evaluation committees, prepare Board of Public Work Agendas, validate sole-source justifications, furnish end users with source, price, delivery data as well cooperative contract resources. Process purchase orders, change orders, and contract modifications/amendments. Prepare and interpret spreadsheets to support bid and pricing contract analysis for awards, timely renewals of contract, and modifications.
• Provide proactive procedural/policy guidance and advice to Procurement customers to ensure fulfillment of the University's and the division's mission, goals, requirements, and schedules, and adherence to State of MD statues/regulations, Board of Public Works (BPW) advisories, USM Procurement Policies and Procedures, and best purchasing practices.
• Remain current on USM, State of MD, and other contracts available for use by TU clients, to optimize available resources
• Interpret contract/acquisition law and requirements, representing the University in vendor negotiations as necessary to resolve issues and ensure best value. Resolve procurement issues between customers and suppliers, including difficult and complex contract modifications, disputes, claims and terminations.
• Participate in Procurement Review Group (PRG) to identify as well as establish minority business enterprise (MBE) sub-contracting opportunities.
• Additional duties as assigned.

• Bachelor's Degree with at least two years of procurement related experience.
• Knowledge of Maryland procurement statues/regulations, Uniform Commercial Code, Towson University and USM Procurement Policies and Procedures, and public-sector/higher education purchasing practices.
• Skill in handling a variety of stakeholders, including campus customers, suppliers, elected/appointed officials, and the public. Skill in managing/resolving conflict and achieving consensus. Skill in technical writing, and public presentations--including persuasive writing/speaking.
• Ability to organize large amounts of data, and to quickly grasp/assess a wide variety of ma