Procurement Officer Specialist

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About UIS: Located in the state capital, the University of Illinois Springfield is one of three members of the University of Illinois system. The University serves more than 4,000 students in 44 graduate and 56 undergraduate programs. You are encouraged to visit the university web page at http://www.uis.edu .

Application deadline: 4/2/2025

Salary Range: $30.00 - $38.00 per hour / 7.5 hour work day

Summary:

Under administrative supervision, the Procurement Officer Specialist is a buyer who performs purchasing functions for a variety of products and services, and who advise user departments on the purchase of such items.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Reviews requisitions for accuracy/completeness and contacts departments for requisition clarification. :
• Work with University departments to assist with the proper submission of contract requests in Contracts ensuring compliance with contracting and procurement standards, sourcing and contracting policies and procedures and applicable federal and state statutes.
• Review and approve University contract requests. Route contracts for departmental approvals and contract signatures. Communicate with University departments and outside parties regarding contract submissions and statuses.
• Investigates complaints from departments and vendors/contractors and problems arising from the procurement of commodities; determines an appropriate action to resolve vendor/contractor grievances and claims against suppliers.
• Serves as a general procurement resource person (answers questions regarding the characteristics, capabilities, and applicability of assigned commodities and services).
• Prepares reports and correspondence (such as the status of requisitions, purchase orders, shipments, and complaints) related to his/her assigned products.
• Notifies vendors/contractors that they need to provide various disclosure and/or certification forms relating to orders, such as certificates of insurance, vendor financial disclosure, and contract certification forms and evaluates for completeness.
• Assists in the analysis of requests for extensions or amendments to existing contracts and make recommendations of approval or alternative solutions to management; may participate in planning and negotiating sessions with suppliers and departments.
• Provides interpretation of policies and procedures, rules and regulations, revised statutes and internal guidelines to campus personnel and vendors/contractors. Follow established policies and procedures to ensure renewal options are handled in a timely manner prior to expiration date.
• Contacts vendors to verify pricing, delivery/lead terms, and to request required forms related to requisitions and potential orders.
• Prepares and solicits quotations, bids and requests for quotations, evaluates documents and forms for accuracy and completeness, recommends qualified vendors/contractors, and issues purchase orders with appropriate authorization authority. Assists user departments in preparing specifications for purchasing commodities, equipment, and services.
• Selects and/or recommends suppliers or contacts requisitioning departments to determine acceptable suppliers. Performs other related duties as assigned.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications:

• Any one or any combination of the following, totaling two (2) years (24 months) from the categories below of which one (1) year (12 months) must be actual work experience:
• Work experience performing duties comparable to those performed at the Procurement Officer level of this series or in positions of comparable responsibility
  
  

AND/OR

• College credit for course work in any field
• 30 semester hours equals six (6) months
• 60 semester hours or Associate’s Degree equals one (1) year (12 months)
• 90 semester hours equals two (2) years (24 months)
• 120 semester hours or a Bachelor’s Degree equals three (3) years (36 months)
• Master Degree or higher equals four (4) years (48 months)
  
  

NOTE: Possession of a current Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) or Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO) from The Universal Public Purchasing Certification Council (UPPCC), or a current Accredited Purchasing Practitioner (APP) certificate, Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) or Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) or equivalent certifications may satisfy the above requirements.

Employment Policies and other information:

Failure to accurately describe work experience, or failure to submit college transcripts may result in an applicant not being admitted to the exam.

UIS an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer with strong institutional commitment to recruitment and retention of a diverse and inclusive community. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. As a qualifying federal contractor, the University of Illinois System uses E-Verify to verify employment eligibility .

The University of Illinois may conduct background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer of employment. Background checks will be performed in compliance with state and federal law.

The University of Illinois System requires candidates selected for hire to disclose any documented finding of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment and to authorize inquiries to current or former employers regarding findings of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment. For more information, visit Policy on Consideration of Sexual Misconduct in Prior Employment .

Benefits eligible positions include a comprehensive benefits package which offers: Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability & AD&D insurance; a defined benefit pension plan; paid leaves such as Vacation, Holiday and Sick; tuition waivers for employees and dependents. Click for a complete list of Employee Benefits .

UIS employment in this role is not covered by Social Security, and instead, is covered by the State University Retirement System.

• You will not pay Social Security taxes and your earning will not be on your Social Security Record. (Your record will, however, show your Medicare wages.
• Your pension from the State Universities Retirement System may affect the amount of your:
• Social Security benefit and
• Social Security benefit as a spouse
  
  

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Requests may be submitted by contacting UIS HR at hremployment@uis.edu or call 217-206-6652.