Senior Buyer / Contract Specialist

We are seeking a highly skilled and analytical Senior Buyer / Contract Specialist . In this mid-level role, you will act as a procurement subject matter expert and trusted advisor to campus stakeholders. You will independently manage complex, high-dollar procurement and contracting activities, ensuring strict compliance with Maryland State Procurement Law, COMAR Title 21, and University System of Maryland (USM) requirements. From initial solicitation planning through final contract closeout, you will play a vital role in securing the best value to advance our university's mission.

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.

Minimum Qualifications

• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• 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 , PeopleSoft , 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.