Center for Public Partnerships & Research · 7 hours ago
Procurement Officer
Topeka Metropolitan Area
Full-time
Onsite
Mid, Senior Level
$71K/yr - $85K/yr
5+ years expThe Center for Public Partnerships & Research supports the University of Kansas by coordinating purchasing activities for scientific equipment and a broad range of university goods and services. The Procurement Officer will assist with sourcing, competitive bidding, supplier communication, and procurement compliance while working closely with campus stakeholders to ensure timely and cost-effective purchasing.
Higher Education
Responsibilities
Assist with sourcing scientific equipment, laboratory instruments, research consumables, and related supplies
Support competitive bidding activities (RFQs, informal bids, supplier quote evaluations)
Conduct basic market research to compare pricing, product specifications, and supplier capabilities
Coordinate with suppliers to obtain quotes, product information, and lead‑time details
Help identify cost‑saving opportunities and value‑added alternatives
Maintain accurate procurement documentation in accordance with university policies
Draft contracts, renewals, and amendments with limited guidance from procurement leadership
Review supplier terms for alignment with KU policies and escalate issues as needed
Support supplier relationship management by monitoring performance concerns and facilitating communication
Track contract expirations and coordinate with stakeholders to ensure timely renewals or re‑bids
Serve as a procurement resource for research labs, academic departments, and administrative units
Help stakeholders understand procurement processes, requirements, and best practices
Clarify purchasing needs and ensure requests are routed appropriately
Support cross‑functional collaboration to streamline purchasing and reduce delays
Ensure purchases comply with university procurement policies and state regulations
Maintain accurate records and documentation for audit readiness
Identify opportunities to improve procurement workflows and recommend enhancements
Participate in training and professional development to strengthen procurement knowledge
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree and five (5) years of related experience OR Associates degree and seven (7) years of related experience OR high school diploma/GED and ten (10) years of related experience
Experience working in a customer‑service‑oriented environment as demonstrated in application materials
Experience that required managing multiple tasks, prioritizing work, and meeting deadlines as evidenced in application materials
Strong written communication and experience that required relationship‑building with internal and external stakeholders as shown in application materials
Experience with procurement principles, competitive bidding, or supplier management as evidenced in application materials
Experience using enterprise procurement systems, ERP tools, or purchasing platforms as shown in application materials
Preferred
Bachelor's degree in business, supply chain management, or related field
Experience purchasing scientific equipment, laboratory supplies, or research consumables as evidenced in application materials
Experience in higher education, government, or public‑sector procurement as shown in application materials
Professional certification (e.g., CPSD, CPSM, CPPB, or equivalent)
Company
Center for Public Partnerships & Research
At CPPR, we tackle complex issues challenging our communities by building and partnering with many dedicated public agency professionals, non-profit service providers, and family members living and working in communities.
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageLeadership Team
Meghan Cizek
Assistant Director, Center for Public Partnerships and Research
Sara Gardner
Assistant Director, Center for Public Partnerships & Research
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