Procurement Specialist

Closing Date:

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is a metropolitan research university that provides an accessible, quality education through flexible learning and unparalleled internship opportunities. At UA Little Rock, we prepare our more than 8,900 students to be innovators and responsible leaders in their fields. Committed to its metropolitan research university mission, UA Little Rock is a driving force in Little Rock's thriving cultural community and a major component of the city and state's growing profile as a regional leader in research, technology transfer, economic development, and job creation.

Below you will find the details for the position including any supplementary documentation and questions you should review before applying for the opening. To apply for the position, please click the Apply link/button.

If you have a disability and need assistance with the hiring process please contact Human Resources at 501-916-3180.

For general application assistance or if you have questions about a job posting, please contact Human Resources at 501-916-3180.

Required Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Public Administration, or a closely related field. May substitute a high school diploma with a minimum of 4 years of finance experience;

Preferred Education and/or Experience:

• Four years of experience specifically in higher education procurement practices;

• Experience working with grants;

• Experience with Workday Financials and Payment Works;

• Experience with competitive bidding processes and general federal/state procurement law

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Administer procurement processes via Workday, create requisitions, purchase orders, change orders, P Card, and CTS card reconciliations;

• Facilitate procurement based on thresholds such as small orders, competitive quotes, formal bids, and sole-source submissions;

• Monitor all Workday tasks, ensure contract compliance, resolve procurement issues, follow requisitions to completion through the system until received and paid;

• Post all expenditures on the appropriate grant spreadsheet;

• Update faculty Principal Investigators (PIs) on the status of their purchases;

• Stay current with federal and state procurement laws as well as the University policies;

• Collaborate with central offices to set up suppliers through Payment Works and onboard grant-funded vendors;

• Coordinate the timely submission and tracking of invoices, reconcile financial transactions, and manage expenditure tracking specifically for grant awards to ensure spending aligns with budget periods and approved project scopes;

• Serve as liaison with Procurement Services, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, faculty PIs, and finance teams;

• Continuously monitor grant spending against budget plans;

• Identify and resolve budget failures, transactional errors, and compliance discrepancies in close coordination with PIs and central Finance Teams;

• Implement a proactive notification system, providing PIs with 3-month reminders prior to grant closeout deadlines to facilitate the timely execution of final procurement and financial reporting;

• Offer any necessary training to PIs regarding bids and contract use;

• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to interpret grant guidelines and regulations;

• Proficient in Microsoft Excel;

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively;

• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines;

• Strong verbal/written communication and negotiation skills.

Additional Information:

All application materials must be uploaded to the University of Arkansas System Career Sitehttps://uasys.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/UASYS

Please do not send to listed recruitment contact.

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is committed to providing a safe campus community. We conduct background checks for applicants being considered for employment. Background checks include a criminal background check and a sex offender registry check. For certain positions, there may also be a financial (credit) background check, a Motor Vehicle Registry (MVR) check, and/or drug screening. Required checks are identified in the position listing. A criminal conviction or arrest pending adjudication or adverse financial history information alone shall not disqualify an applicant in the absence of a relationship to the requirements of the position. Background check information will be used in a confidential, non-discriminatory manner consistent with state and federal law.

Persons must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment.

All application information is subject to public disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.