Vendor Relations & Data Specialist, Purchasing Services, Administration & Finance

Current UC employees must apply internally via Success Factors

You are invited to apply to be considered for one of multiple vacancies of the same position.

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Founded in 1819, the University of Cincinnati ranks among the nation’s best urban public research universities. Home to more than 53,600 students, 12,000 faculty and staff, and over 360,000 living alumni, UC, a Carnegie 1 institution, combines research prowess with a physical setting The New York Times has called “the most ambitious campus design program in the country." UC's momentum has never been stronger as the anchor of the Cincinnati Innovation District, the oldest cooperative education (co-op) program in the country with students earning $94 million annually through paid experiences, an academic health system, and as a member of the Big 12 Conference.

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Job Overview

The Vendor Relations and Data Specialist provides entry‑level professional support for supplier maintenance and related purchasing activities within the University’s centralized purchasing shared services function. This role serves as the primary resource for maintaining supplier records in the PACE system to enable compliant and efficient purchasing and direct payment processes.

Essential Functions

• Maintain and update supplier records in PACE to support purchasing and direct payment activities, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and compliance with University requirements.
• Handle confidential supplier information, including PII and payment‑related data, in accordance with University policies, internal control standards, and applicable regulations.
• Support supplier onboarding and maintenance activities associated with requisition-to-PO purchasing processes.
• Serve as a functional subject matter resource for supplier maintenance within PACE, including understanding system capabilities, configuration limitations and known process challenges.
• Review supplier requests and supporting documentation to ensure required information is complete, accurate, and appropriately validated prior to system entry.
• Participate in supplier data validation, audit and cleanup efforts to improve data integrity, reduce risk and strengthen internal controls.
• Prepare requisitions for conversion into purchase orders for decentralized departments outside of Campus Services and Digital Technology, including ensuring appropriate documentation of supplier selection, payment requirements, and vendor instructions.
• Review requisitions submitted by decentralized units for completeness and accuracy related to supplier information and payment method; coordinate follow‑up or corrections as needed.
• Serve as a primary shared services contact for supplier‑related questions from campus units and external suppliers.
• Work closely with the Associate Buyer responsible for PACE supplier maintenance to support cross‑training, backup coverage, and consistent execution of supplier onboarding and maintenance processes across systems.
• Identify opportunities to improve and streamline supplier onboarding, maintenance, and communication processes; recommend enhancements to workflows, guidance, and documentation to improve efficiency and customer experience.
• Assume ownership of at least two defined purchasing or supplier maintenance work processes, including: responsibility for maintaining current job aids, step-by-step instructions, and reference materials; updating documentation to reflect policy, process, or system changes; and serving as a point of contact for questions related to assigned processes.
• Maintain organized supplier and purchasing records to support audit readiness, compliance review, and internal reporting.
• Collaborate with Accounts Payable, Strategic…