Senior Buyer, HR and Professional Services

Procurement And Contracting Specialist This role will be responsible primarily for the procurement and contracting of HR and professional services and other commodities as assigned. Candidates for this position must be experienced working in a fast paced environment where they must manage multiple complex projects concurrently and have an aptitude for communicating with diplomacy. Responsibilities Effectively communicates and provides specialized procurement advice, coordination, direction and service to University departments that are involved in the planning of procurement activities. Negotiates favorable contract terms, pricing, and delivery following established University protocols and procedures. Drafts and develops statement of works for solicitations, analyzes quotations/proposals, including price and cost analysis; selects or recommends suppliers; and interviews prospective suppliers. Performs the analysis, documentation, and recommendation of large dollar purchase requests. Reviews and revises simple to moderately complex contracts. Performs final commitment action for procurements under standard procedures of University practices including requirements and guidelines imposed by city, state, and federal regulations. Exercises authority to perform discretionary judgment decisions based upon competitive analysis and sole source decisions up to the dollar threshold of $250,000; may award, following signature approval by the Assistant Vice President or Category Lead, those contracts and orders assigned at higher dollar levels. Evaluates and processes contract requests, examining the request for clarity, appropriateness of purchase, and bid specifications. Determines client expectations, develops timelines that satisfy the purchase requirements and clarifies scope of work documents. Negotiates contracts including business, legal, commercial terms and conditions including volume rebates for services and products including special events, marketing, public relations, creative services, financial services, HR services, benefits, and other commodities as assigned. Advises and directs departments as appropriate to the use of University preferred supplier contracts. Works closely with procurement leadership and colleagues to develop and implement procurement initiatives that improve procurement processes, increase contract compliance, and reduce purchase and invoice transactions. Analyzes commodity spend to identify industry and/or procurement trends. Promotes and participates in diversity supplier development initiatives related to assigned commodity and socially responsible purchasing initiatives. Identifies and solves purchasing and associated invoice and contract issues. Develops and drafts a scope of work. Reviews and modifies supplier terms and conditions of an agreement and its quotations. Evaluates and recommends approvals for utilization plans. Implements the evaluation process which includes a desk audit review of documentation submitted by contractors. Works independently with internal and external clients. Uses best practices and in-depth knowledge to review and monitors the goals and objectives of the Finance and Administration department to ensure the monthly, quarterly, and annual goals are achieved. Performs other related work as needed. Minimum Qualifications Education: Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field. Work Experience: Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline. Certifications: None required. Preferred Qualifications Five years of procurement or supply chain experience in a buyer, senior buyer, sourcing, or equivalent role. Indirect procurement category sourcing experience. Demonstrated negotiation skills with experience in dealing directly with suppliers, consultants, manufacturers, distributors, and sales agents or representatives. Demonstrated customer service orientation in a support or service department. Supplier contract negotiations experience. Background in a higher education institution. Familiarity with administrative processes, procedures, and systems within a university or non-profit setting. Technical Skills or Knowledge Prior experience with an ERP system such as Oracle Fusion. Strong computer skills with competency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. Demonstrated ability to use analytical techniques and tools. Proficiency in the use of spreadsheet and database software. Preferred Competencies Attention to detail in documentation and transaction accuracy. Manage multiple projects simultaneously. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Openness to change, ability to work independently and effectively in a variety of situations. Application Documents Resume/CV (required) When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application. Job Family Financial Management Role Impact Individual Contributor Scheduled Weekly Hours 37.5 Pay Range $78,000.00 - $99,000.00 The included pay rate or range represents the University's good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting. Benefits Eligible Yes The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook. Posting Statement The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination. Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form. All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position. The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

Created: 2026-03-04