Senior Buyer / Contract Specialist

Key Responsibilities: Procurement & Sourcing Management End-to-End Solicitations: Independently develop, administer, and manage formal solicitations, including Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Invitations for Bids (IFBs), Requests for Quotations (RFQs), Sole Source, and Emergency Procurements. Portfolio Oversight: Manage low to high-dollar procurements across diverse categories such as IT, professional services, facilities maintenance, construction, and commodities. Evaluation Committees: Coordinate and facilitate evaluation committees to ensure absolute fairness, transparency, and regulatory compliance. Awards & Modifications: Evaluate vendor responses for technical merit and compliance, conduct negotiations, issue award recommendations, and process purchase orders, renewals, and change orders. Contract Administration Lifecycle Management: Administer contracts from implementation through performance management, amendment, and final closeout. Performance Monitoring: Review vendor deliverables to ensure strict alignment with contractual obligations and service-level agreements (SLAs).Dispute Resolution: Resolve vendor claims and disputes through professional negotiation and proactive relationship management. Compliance, Regulatory Oversight & Risk Mitigation Statutory Compliance: Ensure all actions strictly align with Maryland State Procurement Law, COMAR Title 21, USM policies, and Board of Public Works requirements. Audit Readiness: Maintain flawless procurement files and documentation that easily withstand public accountability reviews and financial audits. Ethical Stewardship: Review sole-source justifications and champion the ethical stewardship of public funds. Consulting & Strategic Support Stakeholder Advising: Guide faculty, staff, and administrators on sourcing strategies, contract vehicles, and procurement methodologies. Collaborative Sourcing: Participate in strategic sourcing initiatives and partner with other USM institutions on cooperative contracting opportunities.

Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

Experience: Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in procurement, purchasing, contracting, or contract administration. Solicitation Expertise: Proven hands-on experience independently conducting formal competitive public procurements, specifically RFPs and IFBs.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: Regulatory Knowledge: Working knowledge of Maryland State Procurement Law and COMAR Title 21 Regulations. Core Principles: Strong understanding of public-sector procurement, the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), and best-value purchasing. Communication & Writing: Exceptional technical and business writing skills with the ability to draft clear, airtight contract terms and complex solicitation documents. Systems & Tools: Proficiency with financial, procurement, or enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms. Project Management: Ability to balance multiple high-priority procurements simultaneously while meeting tight deadlines.

Industry Experience: Procurement experience within higher education, state government, or local government. Advanced Sourcing: Experience managing complex procurements specifically involving information technology or construction/facilities management. Systems Familiarity: Experience using modern ERP systems such as Stratus, People Soft, Workday, Banner, or similar platforms. Professional Certification: Highly desirable certifications include: CPPB (Certified Professional Public Buyer) or CPPO (Certified Public Procurement Officer)CMPA (Certified Maryland Procurement Associate)NIGP-CPP, CPSM, or C.P.M.