What are the responsibilities and job description for the Procurement Buyer — Buyer position at Michigan State University?
Working/Functional Title
Procurement Buyer
Position Summary
MSU Procurement is seeking a collaborative and service-focused Buyer to support purchasing activities across the University. The Buyer will support the procurement team in sourcing, purchasing, and managing suppliers and services. This role is responsible for purchasing various commodities requiring a moderate level of knowledge and expertise. The Procurement Buyer negotiates and executes moderately complex, low-risk purchases that are less than the University’s Large Purchase Threshold.
What You'll Do
This position is "remote-friendly" within Michigan, with the expectation of a regular on-campus presence. This is typically referred to as "Hybrid", with the flexibility of regular remote work mixed with in-office work as mutually agreed upon with the supervisor.
Salary Expectations
Salary is commensurate with experience.
Minimum Requirements
Knowledge equivalent to that which would normally be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in General Business or communications with relevant coursework in Marketing, Purchasing or Materials Management and Inventory Control; six months to one year related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in retailing, commodities purchasing and general business and accounting; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Desired Qualifications
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.
Required Application Materials
To be considered for this position, your application must include all of the following:
Cover Letter
Resume
Three Professional References
Applications that do not include all required materials will not be considered.
Work Hours
STANDARD 8-5
Website
https://procurement.msu.edu/
Remote Work Statement
MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.
Bidding eligibility ends October 20, 2026, 11:55 PM
Procurement Buyer
Position Summary
MSU Procurement is seeking a collaborative and service-focused Buyer to support purchasing activities across the University. The Buyer will support the procurement team in sourcing, purchasing, and managing suppliers and services. This role is responsible for purchasing various commodities requiring a moderate level of knowledge and expertise. The Procurement Buyer negotiates and executes moderately complex, low-risk purchases that are less than the University’s Large Purchase Threshold.
What You'll Do
- Collaborate with university stakeholders and subject matter experts to obtain the best value on non-complex, low-risk commodities in support of world-class research and education at Michigan State University.
- Participate in a team of procurement professionals who provide the MSU community expertise and financial stewardship while maintaining high-level performance on individual work assignments.
- Use procurement experience and technical knowledge to evaluate purchase requisitions for appropriateness, content, compliance, and clarity.
- Manage the procurement process by writing, issuing, and soliciting requests for information, proposals, and/or quotations (RFIs, RFPs, and/or RFQs). Assemble stakeholder specifications for non-complex orders not exceeding the Large Purchase threshold, determine suppliers to be solicited, evaluate proposals, prepare bid analyses, and approve vendor selection.
- Source suppliers by selecting the appropriate procurement methodology (such as strategic contracts, bid solicitations, sole source) in alignment with MSU Procurement department and university business policies and procedures.
- Review and approve purchasing transactions and issue purchase orders to suppliers.
- Demonstrate negotiation skills, while partnering with MSU legal and procurement leadership to negotiate supplier contracts and agreements and determines/records cost savings/avoidances.
- Employ procurement experience and analytical skills to assess supplier performance using measurement tools and decision modeling practices.
- Partner with the Accounts Payable department to resolve invoice discrepancies in order to preserve positive supplier and stakeholder relationships.
- Demonstrate flexibility by covering other commodities and duties as needed to provide the highest level of service to university stakeholders.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
This position is "remote-friendly" within Michigan, with the expectation of a regular on-campus presence. This is typically referred to as "Hybrid", with the flexibility of regular remote work mixed with in-office work as mutually agreed upon with the supervisor.
Salary Expectations
Salary is commensurate with experience.
Minimum Requirements
Knowledge equivalent to that which would normally be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in General Business or communications with relevant coursework in Marketing, Purchasing or Materials Management and Inventory Control; six months to one year related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in retailing, commodities purchasing and general business and accounting; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Desired Qualifications
- Willingness to learn, grow and be collaborative with a team of Procurement professionals.
- Eager to provide outstanding customer service while holding values of compliance and risk mitigation.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.
Required Application Materials
To be considered for this position, your application must include all of the following:
Cover Letter
Resume
Three Professional References
Applications that do not include all required materials will not be considered.
Work Hours
STANDARD 8-5
Website
https://procurement.msu.edu/
Remote Work Statement
MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.
Bidding eligibility ends October 20, 2026, 11:55 PM