Strategic Sourcing Specialist

• Work with University departments to utilize preferred, on-contract vendors
• Explore, evaluate and recommend new vendor opportunities to align with institutional needs
• Work with strategic suppliers to integrate on-line order management services
• Provide contract assistance to departments for Director’s review and signature
• Perform periodic category reviews including bidding and negotiation to ensure University departments have access to excellent preferred vendors
• Monitors and evaluates supplier performance relative to contract specifications, and helps in resolving vendor issues

Procurement Process Ownership and Project Management:

• Provides procurement support services by performing a wide variety of standard and specialized procurement activities
• Responsible for the administrative processes of vendor set-up and management, p-card management, COI management and contract storage and management
• Fully cross-trained to act as a back-up in requisition and purchase order processing, p-card and bid/RFP management
• Responsible for data integrity of document processing and purchasing transactions including year-end procedures

Analysis of SLU Buying Behavior, Processes and Data:

• Review, evaluate, recommend and create and/or simplify Purchasing Services processes for the broader University community
• Analyze purchasing opportunities with internal departments, vendors, consortiums and Purchasing Manager/Executive Director of Business Services to support the selection of vendors and implementation and use
• Analyze trends in data to recommend changes in vendor management, system usage, bidding and other SLU purchasing processes
• Follows market developments and manages supply base to ensure competitive pricing strengthening overall value proposition

Customer Service:

• Demonstrate a high level of customer service to internal customers and external vendors representing Purchasing Services, Finance, and Administration’s vision and strategic initiatives in a professional manner
• Respond to customers and vendors via phone, fax, mail, and/or e-mail in an acceptable timely manner
• Uses good judgement and initiative with projects that improve purchasing services, customer service, vendor relations and the welfare of the SLU community

Communication & Training:

• Determines customer needs and expectations through open communication with stakeholders utilizing appropriate needs assessment techniques
• Prepares specifications and bid documents based on stakeholders’ needs assessment.
• Develop, write and effectively communicate Purchasing Services related content via an e-mail, newsletter, website update, verbally, etc.
• Provide assistance, training and advice to stakeholder on Colleague, vendor punch-out’s, p-card’s, e-procurement systems with compliance to department and University policies and procedures

Supervisory Responsibilities:
No direct supervisory responsibilities, will coordinate timely execution of purchase orders with purchasing coordinator position.

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or related field from an accredited College or University and at least 5 years of procurement experience; Equivalent combinations of education and work experience will be considered
• Proficient with Microsoft Excel, Outlook and Word skills
• Ability to assess and demonstrate working knowledge of common procurement principles, best practices and procedures
• Strong problem solving and business analysis skills
• Skilled in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships
• Excellent verbal and written communication (ability to interpret, identify, and restate customer needs, present solutions, and provide information)
• Detail oriented with proven follow-up skills
• Skilled in planning, organizing, and managing multiple projects
• Strong customer service skills with a commitment to meet or exceed customer requirements