Senior Buyer

University System of Maryland

. Conducts the full life cycle of competitive sealed proposals for systemwide contracts.

Posted 6/25/2026full-timeAdelphi • Maryland • 🇺🇸 United StatesSenior💰 $90,000 - $115,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Conducts the full life cycle of competitive sealed proposals for systemwide contracts.
Conducts pre-bid/pre-proposal conferences and evaluations.
Performs sourcing activities and collaborates with institutional stakeholders.
Evaluates new sources, methods, and suppliers to ensure a consistent, reliable, and cost-effective supply of goods and services.
Conducts price and cost analysis to support award recommendations and negotiation strategies.
Engages in continuous improvement of sourcing processes.
Processes and manages complex procurement requests.
Verifies completeness, accuracy, and consistency of procurement documentation.
Responds to complex inquiries regarding procurement policies and procedures.
Oversees the lifecycle of systemwide contracts and conducts assessments and negotiations.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
Five (5) years of progressively responsible public procurement experience, including participation in and execution of the full life cycle of competitive sealed proposal procurements.
Extensive knowledge and demonstrated ability to independently lead multi‑million‑dollar, highly complex source‑to‑contract procurements—primarily competitive sealed proposals (RFPs)—in collaboration with institutional stakeholders.
Complex knowledge of procurement or related business procedures which includes complicated technical routines and basic mathematics skills, including ratios, percentages, and business computations.
Strong understanding of legal and contracting environments, and direct experience involving negotiation and contracts.
Skill in modern office practices, procedures, systems, and related office software to complete assigned work, while organizing and executing multiple assignments under tight time constraints.
Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing; to prepare written records and reports; to understand and interpret procurement policies and procedures; to provide guidance and training to others; to maintain service-quality professionalism under pressure; to address confidential matters with discretion; and to ensure compliance with USM Office policy and guiding principles.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to address issues and propose creative solutions.
Effective time management skills and ability to meet deadlines, targets, and metrics.
Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM or C.P.M.), Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO), Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB), Certified Professional Contract Manager (CPCM) preferred qualifications.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Paid Leave: 22 days of annual leave, 15 days of sick & safe leave, 16-17 holidays, 3 personal leave days, 12 weeks paid parental leave.
Health Benefits: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with flexible spending accounts.
Retirement Plans: Mandatory and supplemental options with major providers like Fidelity and TIAA.
Life Insurance: Optional term life and AD&D benefits through MetLife.
Tuition Benefits: Tuition remission for employees and their families.
Training & Development: Free professional development conferences and unlimited LinkedIn Learning access.
Credit Union Access: Membership eligibility for SECU, Maryland’s largest credit union.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Free counseling, legal, financial, and work-life support services.

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

procurementcost analysissourcingcontract negotiationcompetitive sealed proposalsRFPsbusiness computationsmathematics skillsdocument verificationprocess improvement

Soft Skills

communicationanalytical skillsproblem-solvingtime managementorganizational skillsleadershiptrainingprofessionalismdiscretioncollaboration

Certifications

Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM)Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO)Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB)Certified Professional Contract Manager (CPCM)