Job Posting

Five Colleges of Ohio Procurement Specialist

Job Summary/Basic Function

The Five Colleges of Ohio consortium seeks applications for the position of Procurement Specialist. This full-time position will report to the Ohio Five Operating Committee and work closely with the colleges’ purchasing and accounting staff. To read about the consortium, go to www.ohio5.org.

The Procurement Specialist will be responsible for developing a collaborative approach to purchasing that will result in cost savings for the member colleges. The specialist’s duties will include developing a consortium procurement office, creating and implementing a cost-saving business plan for operating the procurement office, building a collaborative and coordinated network of purchasing personnel from within the consortium, identifying best practices for the colleges and the consortium, developing RFPs for joint contracts and assisting with individual college RFPs, coordinating the consortium bid process and managing contracts, streamlining procurement processes (ordering, purchasing, receiving, invoicing, check writing) and integrating purchasing data with administrative systems (ERPs), improving workflows including use of P-cards, establishing and maintaining a web-based, consortial procurement portal, and implementing methods that permit meaningful spend analytics across member colleges.

The specialist’s home-base office could be at Denison, Kenyon, Oberlin, Ohio Wesleyan, or Wooster. Frequent travel to the other consortial sites and extensive used of web-based communications, ensuring that all constituents receive appropriate support and assistance, will be essential.

During the first year of employment, the successful candidate will be expected to implement a promising business plan resulting in significant cost-savings for the Five Colleges of Ohio member institutions and meet or exceed the performance evaluation criteria set by the Operating Committee.

Minimum Qualifications

Candidates for this position should meet these qualifications:

• a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in business, operations management, finance, or a related discipline (or equivalent experience)
• three years experience in purchasing, contract administration, or a related field
• strong negotiation and communication skills
• strong interpersonal and organizational skills that will facilitate building working relationships with a wide range of college employees, including purchasing staff and individuals who buy for departments.
• excellent analytical, research, and problem-solving skills
• a commitment to service and innovation
• ability to work independently and in a team environment
• capacity to manage multiple tasks, prioritize work, and meet deadlines
• computing proficiency, for example with Microsoft Office applications

Preferred Qualifications

Candidates for this position should have credentials or experience in these areas:

• ISM certification (e.g., CPM or CSCM)
• Employment at a college or university
• Website creation and maintenance
• Banner or similar ERP system
• Electronic procurement and invoicing systems
• Data extraction tools (e.g., Focus or Cognos)

To Apply

Applications are to be submitted electronically at this address: employment.kenyon.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=50744

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Applications received by 16 January 2012 will receive full consideration. The consortium offers a competitive salary and benefits package. Employment will be contingent upon a successful background check.

Five Colleges of Ohio employees are hired through Kenyon College, an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the college's policy to evaluate qualified applicants without regard to age, ancestry, disability, national or ethnic origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, political belief or activity, or status as a veteran. We welcome diversity and encourage applications from women and minority candidates.

The Five Colleges of Ohio consortium (The College of Wooster, Denison University, Kenyon College, Oberlin College, and Ohio Wesleyan University) was founded in 1995 to foster closer cooperation and understanding, coordinate operating functions and administrative services, develop collaborative academic programs and resource sharing, and enhance quality while reducing individual and collective operating and capital costs.

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