Job detail for Senior Buyer

The George Washington University’s Procure-to-Pay Department is responsible for the University’s procurement of goods and services, offering multiple purchasing methods via the iBuy+ system, electronic requisitions, and P-Cards. The department also manages supplier registration, travel, payables, and expense reimbursements through Concur. Our goal is to serve faculty and staff by facilitating the timely acquisition of goods and services at competitive prices, while ensuring supplier selection and pricing satisfy university policies and sponsor requirements for externally funded procurements.

This experienced, specialized financial position supports the University's acquisition of goods and services through vendor engagements, contractual agreements, and centralized processing of accounts payable. The role handles complex negotiations, requests for quotation (RFQs), requests for proposal (RFPs), and requests for others (RFx), proposal reviews, and bid specification preparations to meet institutional requirements and policies. Reporting to the Manager, Tech and iBuy Procurement, the Senior Buyer executes all procurement phases for regular university operations as well as sponsored research projects.

Key include:

• Contract Management: Oversee all contract phases, including drafting, issuing solicitations, cost/price analysis, award execution, contract administration, and contract close-outs or terminations across various vehicles (purchase orders, master service agreements, blanket agreements).
• Cost & Price Evaluation: Evaluate prospective contractor cost estimates and price proposals to determine the necessity, fairness, and reasonableness of proposed costs.
• Negotiations: Lead negotiation strategy and execute terms with prospective contractors regarding pricing, performance, technical terms, and other contract provisions. Prepare third-party contract documents in collaboration with the contract team.
• Vendor & Performance Oversight: Partner with end-user departments to monitor outstanding contracts, ensure compliance, address performance issues, review past performance reports, and conduct reference checks to assess bidder capability and risk.
• Advisory & Departmental Support: Advise program managers and end-user departments to support procurement policy compliance, solicitation drafting, and response evaluations throughout the selection process.

Performs other related duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position.