Senior Procurement Officer - Information Technolog

at University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas, United States

Position Overview

The Senior Procurement Officer - Information Technology (IT) is responsible for leading strategic sourcing, contract negotiation, and procurement execution for the University's IT categories. This role serves as one of two procurement resources for software/SaaS, IT professional services, IT hardware, cloud storage, cybersecurity tools, and related maintenance and support agreements.

The position will manage complex, high-risk technology acquisitions; lead competitive sourcing and supplier evaluations; negotiate detailed licensing and data-security terms; and ensure contract compliance with university policy, state requirements, and industry best practices. The incumbent will work closely with KU Information Technology, Information Security, Office of General Counsel, and campus stakeholders to develop procurement strategies that optimize value, manage institutional risk, and support KU's digital transformation and academic mission.

This role requires strong analytical skills, comfort with complex contract structures and technical requirements, and the ability to facilitate decisions among all stakeholders with competing priorities. The ideal candidate will excel in a fast-paced environment with shifting timelines, tight deadlines, and rapidly evolving technology needs.

This position is available as a fully remote position. Due to complex state employment laws, the University of Kansas may be unable to hire fully remote workers for this position outside of Kansas. Specifically, we cannot currently offer employment to candidates residing in the following states:
California, Delaware, Idaho & Minnesota. We appreciate your understanding and invite interested individuals from eligible states to apply.

• Develop and manage strategic sourcing initiatives for IT categories, aligning procurement strategies with institutional goals and technology roadmaps.
• Conduct market research, benchmarking, and total cost of ownership analysis to ensure competitive pricing and high-value solutions.
• Identify and implement cost-saving, risk-reducing, and value-added procurement strategies in technology categories.
• Lead competitive bidding processes (RFPs, RFQs, renewals, and vendor evaluations) for IT systems, software, and service engagements.
• Negotiate complex IT contracts, including SaaS agreements, licensing terms, warranties, cybersecurity and data-privacy requirements, and service level agreements (SLAs).
• Draft, negotiate, and manage contracts in alignment with KU policies, state regulations, and data-security frameworks.
• Collaborate with KU IT, Information Security, Office of General Counsel, Risk Management, and Finance to ensure procurement outcomes support institutional priorities.
• Develop and maintain strong supplier relationships to enhance service delivery and optimize long-term contract performance.
• Manage contract lifecycle activities including renewals, amendments, compliance monitoring, and supplier performance evaluations.
• Analyze IT supplier trends and market developments to support strategic planning and sourcing decisions.
• Serve as a primary procurement liaison for KU IT and technology stakeholders across academic and administrative units.
• Facilitate cross-functional meetings to align technical, financial, legal, information security, and operational requirements.
• Educate internal stakeholders on procurement best practices, technology contract standards, and strategic sourcing principles.
• Collaborate across departments to reduce procurement silos, improve transparency, and support enterprise-wide planning and decision-making.
• Ensure compliance with university procurement policies, state regulations, data-security standards, and other relevant regulations.

Ensure compliance with university procurement policies, state regulations, data-security standards, and other relevant regulations. Collaborate across departments to streamline processes and enhance contractual outcomes.

The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university's programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and procedures and is the Title IX Coordinator for all KU and KUMC campuses:
Associate Vice Chancellor for the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX, civil rights, Room 1082, Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, , 711 TTY.

Reports can be submitted by contacting the Title IX Coordinator as provided herein or using the Title IX online report form and complaints can be submitted with the Title IX Coordinator…