Purchasing Coordinator

Job

Location:

Twin Cities;
Crookston;
Duluth;
Morris;
Rochester;
All Other
-See Job Description

Job Family: LR-Clerical

Full/Part Time:
Full-Time

Regular/Temporary:
Regular

Job Code: 1888

Employee Class: AFSCME Unit 6 - Clerical

This is a PEAK position.

Work environment:
Hybrid (minimum three days in the office). This hybrid position is based on the Twin Cities campus for those located in the metro area. Applicants located near other UMN system campuses or working remotely from home may also be considered, and we encourage all interested candidates to apply. Occasional travel to the Twin Cities campus may be required for events and all-staff meetings.

The University of Minnesota seeks a (PEAK) Purchasing Coordinator to support our Financial Operation Center department within the Controller's Office. The Purchasing Coordinator is responsible for receiving, evaluating, processing, and coordinating a variety of requests for general and routine purchasing services in support of a portfolio of Resource Responsibility Centers (RRCs) in the Finance Operations Center (Fin Ops). The Purchasing Coordinator communicates with other Fin Ops teams as needed, finance professionals across the University, and suppliers outside the University to ensure appropriate and timely support for RRCs.

To succeed as a Purchasing Coordinator, you should be professional, a team player, and attentive while being detail-oriented. You must be comfortable with using technology such as Team Dynamix (TDX) and Google Suite and excel at both verbal and written communication. Most importantly, a Purchasing Coordinator should have a genuine desire to meet the needs of others across the institution.

You will report to the Purchasing Supervisor.

• Under general supervision, uses information and requests received from a portfolio of RRCs to complete the entry of data into the Enterprise Financial System (EFS) for purchasing functions following University standard processes and procedures for U Market shopping and order completion, requisition entries, and supplier set up.
• Understands, strictly adheres to, and can explain University purchasing policies and procedures and applies policies to various purchasing scenarios appropriately.
• Conducts research on potential vendors, products, and services. Escalates requests as needed to ensure competitive sourcing is pursued whenever practicable.
• Identifies when legal terms and conditions apply and, following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), ensures contracts are routed to OGC for appropriate review.
• Follows University policy to identify, collect, and draft documentation as required to support a wide variety of purchases.
• Following strict SOPs, works with the Purchasing unit in the Controller's Office to assist collecting required documentation for purchases.
• Identifies transactions, policy, or system challenges that require escalation to ensure successful resolution and accurate transaction entry.
• Follows established business procedure to identify, collect, and draft required documentation to request a new supplier or request changes to an existing supplier and submits the request for approval.
• Enters and monitors requisitions to ensure approvals and budget checks have occurred in accordance with established business processes.
• Think critically about need, funding source, and cost. Applies knowledge of standard processes and University purchasing methods to ensure the most cost efficient and expeditious outcome of purchasing activity for the University.
• Understands key concepts for purchasing such as price reasonableness, competitive sourcing, and applicable University policies.

• Contributes to documentation of and participates in training for procedures for the Finance Operations Center.
• Identifies and participates in opportunities for cross-training across Finance Operations Center functions to maintain adequate coverage of all functions.
• Completes professional development, education, and training activities,…