Careers @ MSU

Working/Functional Title

Purchasing Agent

Position Summary

The Procurement and Payment Systems (PPS) team at MSU is seeking a Purchasing Agent to join its team. PPS is an integral piece of the end-to-end supply chain at MSU with a role in maintaining positive relationships with university partners and suppliers. The successful candidate will advance the University and unit’s mission of teaching and research by supporting the procurement process.

The Purchasing Agent will support the procurement team in sourcing, purchasing and managing suppliers. This role is responsible for purchasing a wide variety of commodities and services which requires extensive knowledge and experience in purchasing. In addition, the Purchasing Agent will work closely with various stakeholders and suppliers to negotiate purchases that ranges from medium-high levels of risks, complexity and dollar value to ensure compliance to MSU policies and other public regulations.

What You'll Do:

1. Sourcing and Purchasing
   • Source suppliers by selecting the appropriate procurement methodology (such as strategic contracts, bid solicitations, sole source) in alignment with Procurement & Payment System (PPS) department and university business policies and procedures.
   • Manage the procurement process by preparing and issuing requests for information/proposals/quotations (RFIs, RFPs, and/or RFQs), direct the evaluation process by preparing bid analyses, and approve vendor selection.
   • Review, consolidate and incorporate stakeholder requirements (ranges from medium to high levels of complexity and dollar value) into RFXs before publishing.
   • Use procurement experience and technical knowledge to evaluate purchase requisitions for appropriateness, content, compliance, and clarity.
   • Review purchase requisitions and process in accordance with policies before issuing purchase orders to suppliers.

2. Negotiation and Supplier Management
   • Demonstrate strong negotiation skills, including strategy development, while partnering with MSU legal and risk management offices and other applicable departments to negotiate agreements with suppliers.
   • Provide compliance management and risk mitigation measures when assessing suppliers, including collaboration on policy development. 
   • Employ broad procurement expertise and analytical skills to manage supplier relationships and assess supplier performance using measurement tools and decision modeling practices.

3. Stakeholder Engagement and Customer Service
   • Collaborate with university stakeholders and subject matter experts to obtain the best value on medium to high complex commodities in support of world-class research and education at Michigan State University.
   • Participate in a team of procurement professionals who provide the MSU community expertise and financial stewardship while maintaining high-level performance on individual work assignments.
   • Collaborate closely with the Accounts Payable department to resolve invoice discrepancies and other payment issues to maintain positive supplier and stakeholder relationships.
   • Demonstrate superior customer service and professional communications to internal and external partners, both written and verbal, as this is core to our Michigan State University service mission. 
   • Communicate frequently and effectively with a diverse group of stakeholders, including faculty, staff, and suppliers, to always foster positive relationships. 

4. Miscellaneous
   • Participate in and/or lead projects including process improvement initiatives to best serve the university community.  
   • Support the procurement team using extensive knowledge and experience and serve as a resource and mentor to colleagues. 
   • Demonstrate honesty and integrity to serve the mission of MSU and UPL and add value to the procurement process while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and university policies, laws, and regulations.
   • Perform other duties as assigned.

Work Modality:

This position is based in East Lansing, Michigan on the campus of Michigan State University. This position is "remote-friendly", with the expectation of on-campus presence periodically. This is typically referred to as "Hybrid", with the flexibility of regular remote work mixed with in-office work as mutually agreed upon with the supervisor.

Minimum Requirements

Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in Business or Communications with relevant course work in Purchasing, Materials Management and Inventory Control or related field; three to five years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in purchasing and economic and accounting business methods; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Desired Qualifications

• Advanced degree in supply chain, business, STEM or law field.
• Willingness to learn, grow and be collaborative with a team of Procurement professionals.
• Ability to provide outstanding customer service while holding values of compliance and risk mitigation.
• Sound procurement negotiations and contract management skills, along with the use of ethical and regulatory-based decision-making in high-pressure situations.  
• Effective interpersonal skills to facilitate and resolve situations with differing objectives.  
• Knowledge in supply chain compliance, risk management, and import/export regulations.  
• Experience in using ERP systems.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize effectively.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Application Materials

Resume

Cover Letter

Three Professional References

Special Instructions

Work Modality:

This position is based in East Lansing, Michigan on the campus of Michigan State University. This position is "remote-friendly", with the expectation of on-campus presence periodically. This is typically referred to as "Hybrid", with the flexibility of regular remote work mixed with in-office work as mutually agreed upon with the supervisor.

Salary:

Salary is commensurate with experience.

Work Hours

STANDARD 8-5

Website

https://procurement.msu.edu/

Bidding eligibility ends June 9, 2026, 11:55 PM