Summary

The Procurement Specialist is responsible for the lifecycle of APSRC purchases, from the time of purchase to the time of disposal. The position manages and oversees all purchasing activities of the center. This position determines the appropriate method of procurement, submits all purchase requests, reconcile purchases to the appropriate center or project index, tracks inventory, and disposes of inventory once the center determines there is no longer a need for the inventory.

The mission of the Advanced Power Systems Research Center (APSRC) is to promote and facilitate education and research in critical technologies for the development of clean, efficient, and sustainable power and powertrain systems. The APSRC is a multidisciplinary organization that fosters large, collaborative, research efforts in the areas of clean, efficient, and sustainable Power Systems technologies. This Center develops fundamental and applied knowledge that is required for the next generation of low-emission, high-efficiency vehicles and power generation systems.

Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan. With more than $300 million in total revenues, $100 million in total research expenditures, and 18 research centers and institutes, Michigan Tech (MTU) fosters a world-class and diverse faculty, staff, and student population and is home to more than 7,200 students from 69 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, MTU offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science, technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. Our rural campus is situated on the Keweenaw peninsula just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure. We are Michigan’s flagship technological university, grounded in and fueled by our shared vision: to prepare students to create the future.

Responsibilities 

• Manages APSRC purchasing and inventory activities for supplies, equipment, and software.
• Determines the appropriate method of procurement based on the type of purchase.
• Provides guidance to APSRC staff on which purchase method should be used based on staff member’s needs.
• Prepares and submits all Purchase Card reports for the center.
  Submits orders to vendors as required.
• Tracks orders and works with vendors to solve any shipping and delivery issues.
• Oversee receiving of deliveries, ensuring order accuracy, process and document returns as required.
• Approve invoices in Perceptive Content.
• Reconcile purchases to the appropriate center or project index.
• Monitor and maintain current inventory levels, establish restocking levels and reorder items as necessary.
• Manage final disposal of inventory and equipment with the appropriate departments.
• Work with local and international vendors to set up tax free accounts and negotiate pricing.
• Coordinate with appropriate departments to process & receive monetary and asset donations
• Work with key center personnel to effectively implement process improvements to operational procedures.
• Commit to learning about continuous improvement strategies and applying them to everyday work and actively engage in continuous improvement initiatives.
• Apply safety-related knowledge, skills, and practices to everyday work.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Experience

• Degree in business or equivalent field or combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and abilities can be acquired.
• 1 year experience related to procurement and inventory control.
  
  

Desirable Education and/or Experience

• Experience working in a higher education environment or other complex or technical organizations.
• Experience working with BANNER, Perceptive Content, and ImageNow.
• Experience working with Purchase Cards.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain accurate records.
• Demonstrated strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong computer efficiency.
• Able to analyze and create solutions and procedures for recurring problems.
• Exhibit organizational efficiency with the ability to work independently.
• Demonstrated desire to continue learning new and applicable software applications.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills including listening to others with an open mind and considering their ideas and giving credit where it is due.
• Goal oriented with a strong desire for a challenge.
• Recognizes and moves on an opportunity.
• High standard of accountability for self and others.
• Breadth and depth of knowledge acquired through experience and education.
• Ability to generalize and translate prior experience and obtain new knowledge and skills when needed.
• Demonstrated creativity.
• High degree of self-awareness and self-regulation while being able to balance motivation with empathy and social skills.
• Demonstrated success in, or potential future contributions to, working with persons from diverse backgrounds, creating a sense of belonging, and fostering a fair, objective, welcoming place to work for persons with a wide variety of personal characteristics and viewpoints.
  
  

Work Environment and/or Physical Demands

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Safety glasses are required when working in lab and shop spaces and are provided to employees.
• Close toed shoes and full-length pants are required in lab and shop spaces and are the employee’s responsibility.
• The noise level in the labs and shops is usually low to moderate. Hearing protection is provided if desired.
• This employee will be required to independently lift and move packages and other items up to 50 lbs.

Required Training and Other Conditions of Employment

Every employee at Michigan Technological University will receive the following 4 required trainings; additional training may be required by the department.

Required University Training:

• Employee Safety Overview

• Anti-Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation Training

• Annual Data Security Training 

• Annual Title IX Training

Background Check:

Offers of employment are contingent upon and not considered finalized until the required background check has been performed and the results received and assessed.

Other Conditions of Employment:

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of your appointment, and maintain eligibility without sponsorship throughout your appointment.

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Rate/Salary

Negotiable Based on Experience

Title of Position Supervisor

Director, Business Operations, APSRC

Posting Type

Dependent on Funding