Purchasing Specialist

At Amarillo College, our mission is: Transforming our community and economy through learning, innovation, and achievement. Every team member, regardless of job title or duties, is responsible first and foremost, for assisting students in every way. This is an exciting time to work for Amarillo College! We are seeking our next Purchasing Specialist who will be all-in on our mission and who is responsible for procuring products and services for Amarillo College departments in accordance with institutional policies and procedures, as well as applicable purchasing regulations. This position supports the procurement process by assisting departments with requisitions, processing purchase orders and invoices, maintaining vendor records, and ensuring vendors are paid accurately and in a timely manner. The Purchasing Specialist also assists with monitoring purchasing activities, supporting contract management processes, and providing guidance to campus employees regarding purchasing procedures.

EDUCATION

:

Required:

High School Diploma with some college coursework.

Preferred:

College coursework in business administration, accounting, purchasing, or a related field.

EXPERIENCE

:

Required:

Three (3) years of purchasing and/or accounts payable experience.

Preferred:

Four (4) years of purchasing and/or accounts payable experience. Experience providing supervision, training, or guidance to staff is preferred. Experience working with online real-time business, accounting, or purchasing software systems is also preferred. Enter and maintain vendor information in the purchasing system, including setting up new vendors and updating vendor records as needed. Verify the accuracy of vendor order and payment addresses and maintain accurate vendor documentation. Process requisitions, purchase orders, and invoices for payment in accordance with Amarillo College purchasing procedures. Monitor open purchase orders and investigate discrepancies or issues related to orders, invoices, or vendor payments. Assist campus departments with purchasing procedures and provide guidance on the proper completion of purchasing documentation. Conduct training sessions for employees on the use of electronic requisitions and purchasing procedures. Create and process requisitions, purchase orders, bids, and quotes as needed to support departmental purchasing needs. Monitor the lifecycle of contracts and assist the Director of Purchasing with college contracts and related documentation. Process incoming purchasing-related mail and documentation. Maintain office supply inventory and assist with purchasing office operations. In the absence of the Director of Purchasing, provide limited supervision or coordination of purchasing office activities as assigned. Work collaboratively with campus departments to resolve purchasing issues and ensure accurate and timely completion of procurement documentation. Perform other work-duties as required. As an Amarillo College employee, seek knowledge of and pledge to actively engage in a culture of caring striving to serve students, peers and the community by embracing the

AC Core Values:

Wow, Family, Fun, Innovation, and Yes! Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint. Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with internal stakeholders, vendors, and team members. Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment with frequent interruptions. Ability to prioritize tasks, manage multiple responsibilities, and meet deadlines. Ability to adapt to changing organizational needs, supply chain challenges, or market conditions. Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams across campus departments. Knowledge of procurement procedures, applicable regulations, and industry standards related to purchasing. Understanding of products and services being procured, including specifications, pricing structures, and quality standards.

Salary:

Amarillo College follows a lag pay strategy, with starting offers typically between the minimum and midpoint of the pay grade, rarely reaching the maximum to support long-term growth within each position. Pay grade 8 Amarillo College Pay Grades (salary is determined by Human Resources based on education, work experience and internal comparisons).

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to travel between offices and campus buildings and must have the ability to lift, carry, push, pull, and/or move office supplies and materials up to twenty-five (25) pounds as needed.

Working Conditions:

Must be willing to work a flexible schedule (days, nights, weekends, holidays, and varying events if necessary).

Work Environment:

This position operates in a professional office environment and routinely uses standard office equipment including computers, phones, copy machines, fax machines, and filing systems. The office environment is a high-traffic area with continual interruptions. Software commonly used includes Microsoft Office, Colleague, Etrieve, and other educational or business applications. Work may occasionally be performed outside of the office setting and may require the ability to work independently with minimal supervision.