Associate Director, Purchasing Services

Benefits of Working at UNCW:
Want to become a soaring UNCW Seahawk and work at one of the best universities on the East Coast? Want to put your toes in the sand after a day of work? The University of North Carolina Wilmington offers a wonderfully vibrant university community along with a beautiful location just miles from the beach.Employees of UNCW are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other programs, resources, policies, and practices that help to support a work/life balance. Our programs have been designed to provide a variety of choices to best fit your needs and the needs of your family. Full time employees are eligible for dental, vision and health insurance plans. Health insurance benefit plans eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.Full time employees are also eligible for the tuition waiver program which covers the cost of tuition and fees for up to three (3) undergraduate or graduate courses per academic year at UNCW or any other university within the UNC System. In addition, UNCW covers the cost of tuition and fees for one UNCW course each summer session.As a full time employee, UNCW also offers a free membership to the Campus Recreation Center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, meditation and yoga sessions, voluntary supplemental insurance coverages, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays, 24 hours of paid community service leave time, paid vacation and sick leave accrual and family medical leave after 12 months of continuous service.We also offer an abundance of training and development programs through our Dare to Learn Academy, and the employee assistance program, many of which are offered free of charge.

Recruitment Range: $75,321 - $82,853
Vacancy Number: E1386
Competency Level:
Location of Workplace: Main UNCW Campus
Home Department: Purchasing - 35110
Division: Business Affairs - 35000 Division

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit:
The Purchasing Department plays a crucial role in supporting the University's educational mission by helping departments acquire high-quality products and services at the best possible prices and within the required timeframes.

Our team is responsible for generating and managing contracts and leases, overseeing asset management from acquisition to disposal, and processing requisitions efficiently while adhering to state purchasing requirements, UNCW policies, and the highest ethical standards. Our primary focus is to meet the needs of the University community.

College:

College/School Information:


University Information:
The University of North Carolina Wilmington, the state's coastal university, is dedicated to the integration of teaching, mentoring, research and service. Widely acknowledged for its world-class faculty and staff and continuously recognized at a national level for scholarly excellence and affordability, UNCW offers a powerful academic experience that stimulates creative inquiry and critical thinking and a community rich in diversity, inclusion and global perspectives.

A public institution with nearly 18,000 students, UNCW offers a full range of baccalaureate- and graduate-level programs, as well as doctoral degrees in educational leadership, marine biology, nursing practice and psychology; and many distance learning options, including clinical research, an accelerated RN-to-BSN program, an Executive M.B.A. program structured for working professionals, and the nation's only bachelor's degree program focused on coastal engineering.

The university's efforts to advance research and scholarly activities have earned UNCW the elevated designation of 'Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity' institution (R2 University) by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

UNCW has been part of the University of North Carolina System since 1969.

Location of Workplace: Main UNCW Campus

Brief Summary of Work for this Position:
The Associate Director of Purchasing Services plays a pivotal leadership role in overseeing and guiding members of the purchasing team. This position is responsible for developing insightful procurement reports and conducting data analysis to identify trends that enhance strategic sourcing and procurement practices. The Associate Director manages the procurement of designated commodities, ensuring optimal value and quality in alignment with institutional goals.

In addition to procurement operations, this role designs and delivers procurement training programs, serving as an instructor for internal procurement courses. The Associate Director collaborates closely with the Purchasing Director to shape and implement strategic procurement initiatives that support the University's overarching strategic plan.

The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical and research capabilities, exceptional communication skills, and a proactive commitment to continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities:

• Independently engage with departments across campus to facilitate procurement for a wide range of needs, including independent contractors, professional services, revenue-generating agreements, IT hardware and software, office supplies, and equipment.
• Provide expert guidance on contract terms and language, ensuring favorable and compliant agreements with vendors.
• Lead the development and administration of procurement processes, including Requests for Quotes (RFQs), Requests for Proposals (RFPs), and Invitations for Bids (IFBs).
• Oversee the processing of requisitions and purchase orders with accuracy and efficiency.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:
Bachelor's degree; or Associate's degree and two years of related experience; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

• Five or more years of procurement experience
• The ability to comprehend and interpret NC general statutes on purchases and contracts
• Five or more years of experience using e-procurement systems such as Jaggaer, SAP Ariba, Oracle Procurement Cloud, etc.
• Two or more years of experience managing or supervising team members
• Experience developing scopes of work and issuing Request for Proposals and/or Invitations for Bid
• Ability to teach and train stakeholders in a classroom setting on public procurement policies and the different procurement methods
• Nationally recognized procurement certification is preferred (i.e., CPPO, CPPB, CPSM, etc.)

Required Certifications or Licensures:
While no certifications or licensures are required at the time of hire, candidates should be prepared to obtain the following within specified timeframes:

Within one year of employment:

• North Carolina Contract Manager certification

Within three years of employment, one of the following certifications:

• Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB)
• Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM)
• NIGP-Certified Procurement Professional (NIGP-CPP)

FTE: 1.0 (40 hours per week)
Months Per Year: 12 Months
Work Days:
Work Hours:
Type of Position: Permanent
Anticipated Ending Date if Time-Limited:
Position Number: 2162
Job Posting Date: 05/12/2025
Posting Close Date: 6/20/2025
Number of Openings:

Special Notes to Applicants:
PLEASE NOTE: This posting will close at 11:59PM (Eastern time) on the posted closing date. To receive full consideration, please be sure you have fully completed the entire application, including the Work History' section before you apply for this position. Applications must be submitted through the online application system to be considered.

Eligibility for Employment:
Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. UNC Wilmington participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

To apply, visit https://jobs.uncw.edu/postings/36189

UNCW does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of his or her race, sex (such as gender, gender identity, marital status, childbirth, and pregnancy), age, color, national origin (including ethnicity), religion, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, veteran status, military service member status, genetic information, or relationship to other university constituents - except where sex, age, or ability represent bona fide educational or occupational qualifications or where marital status is a statutorily established eligibility criterion for State funded employee benefit programs.







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