Find & Apply For Buyer / Purchasing Agent Jobs in Ithaca, New York

Aout the Opportunity ProNexus is seeking an experienced Purchasing Agent to join our team. This is a hands-on procurement role responsible for managing day-to-day purchasing operations, supporting departments with procurement needs, ensuring compliance with applicable New York State purchasing requirements, and maintaining accurate purchasing and vendor documentation. Key Responsibilities Manage the day-to-day purchasing function, including purchase requisitions, purchase orders, vendor coordination, and procurement documentation. Review and process purchase requisitions, including those with and without general ledger and budget codes. Work with department heads, budget managers, deans, vice presidents, and other stakeholders to ensure purchasing needs are addressed accurately and efficiently. Guide departments through purchasing procedures, approval workflows, and procurement requirements. Monitor incoming vendor invoices and coordinate with appropriate departments to obtain approvals and supporting documentation. Establish, maintain, and close purchase orders in accordance with institutional procedures. Support fiscal year-end purchasing activities, including reviewing open purchase orders, closing prior-year POs, and establishing new POs for the upcoming fiscal year. Maintain organized procurement records and supporting documentation within document management systems. Work with vendors to obtain quotes, place orders, resolve issues, and maintain strong professional relationships. Support RFP and RFQ processes from initial specifications and requirements through completion. Ensure purchasing activities comply with applicable New York State procurement laws, bidding requirements, contracts, and purchasing regulations . Research and utilize New York State contracts and determine when purchases may qualify for contract-based or other procurement exceptions. Assist with the administration and implementation of purchasing card programs, including coordination with the card provider and reconciliation processes. Maintain inventory records for purchased assets and coordinate annual inventory updates. Assist with surplus property processes, including disposal and auction activities. Support annual and periodic procurement reporting, documentation requests, and FOIL requests as needed. Serve as a liaison with vendors and external partners, including insurance-related contacts when applicable. Research prior purchasing activity, policies, and documentation to identify historical practices and support informed purchasing decisions. Provide guidance and recommendations to departments regarding purchasing specifications, vendor selection, and procurement processes. Perform other purchasing and procurement-related duties as assigned. Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Purchasing, Finance, Accounting, or a related field preferred. 3+ years of purchasing, procurement, or supply chain experience. Experience working in higher education, government, municipal organizations, or another regulated environment strongly preferred. Strong understanding of purchasing procedures, competitive bidding, quotes, RFPs, RFQs, and vendor management. Knowledge of New York State procurement laws and purchasing requirements preferred. Experience working with institutional or public-sector purchasing contracts is highly desirable. Strong understanding of purchase requisitions, purchase orders, invoice processing, and procurement documentation. Technical Skills Microsoft Excel - Intermediate proficiency required , including lookups, pivot tables, and data management. Experience with ERP or accounting systems required. Experience with Microsoft Dynamics GP (Great Plains) is a strong plus. Experience with document management/workflow systems such as DocuWare is preferred. Familiarity with purchasing card systems and reconciliation processes preferred. Ability to learn new systems and institutional workflows quickly. Why Join ProNexus? This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced procurement professional to provide meaningful interim support to a higher education organization while utilizing their expertise in purchasing, vendor management, and regulated procurement processes. ProNexus is an equal opportunity employer.

Pay:

$29.00 - $32.00 per hour

Work Location:

In person