Director of Purchasing

Director of Purchasing

• 511009
• Main Campus - Starkville, MS
• Mississippi - Main Campus
• 470100 - Procurement Services
• Professional
• Full-Time 12-Month
• Opening on: Aug 5 2026

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Position Function:

The Director of Purchasing is responsible for developing and managing implementation of policies, procedures, and objectives for the University's purchasing, accounts payable, procurement card and travel programs in accordance with state and federal codes and guidelines and University policy.

Salary Grade: 18

Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges. For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Reporting to the Executive Director and Chief Procurement Officer, the Director works with the ED/CPO to establish and implement short and long range departmental goals, objectives, policies, and operating procedures; monitors and evaluates program effectiveness; effects changes required for improvement.

2. Designs, establishes, and maintains an organizational structure and staffing to effectively accomplish the goals and objectives; recruits, employs, trains, supervises, and evaluates unit staff.

3. Develops and implements enterprise procurement strategies that promote operational excellence, regulatory compliance, strategic sourcing, process standardization, and continuous improvement across the University''s procurement functions.

4. Directs the day-to-day operations of purchasing, accounts payable, procurement card administration, travel services, and related business functions, ensuring efficient service delivery and compliance with applicable regulations and University policy.

5. Develops and manages annual budgets and performs periodic cost and productivity analyses.

6. Provides leadership for complex procurement activities and strategic sourcing initiatives; oversees negotiations of major contracts and supplier relationships; evaluates market conditions and industry trends; identifies opportunities to reduce costs, improve service levels, mitigate risk, and enhance sustainability.

7. Recommends and participates in the development of University policies and procedures; may serve on University planning and policy-making committees.

8. Perform related duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibility:

Full supervisory responsibility for other employees is a major responsibility and includes training, evaluating, and making or recommending employment decisions.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education-

Bachelor''s Degree: Business, Management, Accounting, or related field.

Experience-

10 years: Experience demonstrated to be directly related to the duties and responsibilities listed above. Experience in procurement management and business operations.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Experience with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, such as Ellucian Banner, and electronic procurement (eProcurement) solutions.

2. Professional certification or licensure preferred (E.g., NIGP-CPP, CPPB, CPPO, CPM, CMPA)

3. Candidates selected for hire who do not possess a CMPA and one nationally recognized procurement certification at the time of hire will be expected to work toward obtaining them within a timeframe established by the University.

4. Advanced Degree (E.g., MBA)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of accounting and budget principles, practices, and the analysis of financial data. Knowledge of federal and state regulations regarding purchasing/bidding methodologies. Skill in organizing resources and establishing priorities. Ability to supervise and train employees. Strong interpersonal and communication skills. Ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

No unusual physical requirements. Requires no heavy lifting, and nearly all work is performed in a comfortable indoor facility.

Externally imposed deadlines; set and revised beyond one's control; interruptions influence priorities; difficult to anticipate nature or volume of work with certainty beyond a few days; meeting of deadlines and coordination of unrelated activities are key to position; may involve conflict-resolution or similar interactions involving emotional issues or stress on a regular basis.

Job frequently requires sitting, reaching, talking, hearing, and handling objects with hands.

Job occasionally requires standing, walking, stooping/kneeling/crouching/crawling, and lifting up to 25 pounds.

Instructions for Applying:

Apply online by submitting a cover letter and resume. For questions, please contact Caleb Alford at calford@procurement.msstate.edu.

Link to apply: http://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, (662) 325-5839.

What do I do if I need an accommodation?

In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu.

If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.

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