Director of Purchasing and Support Services

Job Posting Title:

Director of Purchasing and Support Services

----

Hiring Department:

University Housing and Dining

----

Position Open To:

All Applicants

----

Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

----

FLSA Status:

Exempt

----

Earliest Start Date:

Sep 26, 2025

----

Position Duration:

Expected to Continue

----

Location:

UT MAIN CAMPUS

----

Job Details:

General Notes

BENEFITS: UT Austin offers a competitive benefits package that includes:  

• 100% employer-paid basic medical coverage 

• Free Capital Metro bus rides

• Retirement contributions  

• Paid vacation, sick time, and holidays

• Career growth & professional development

 

Please visit our Human Resources (HR) website at https://hr.utexas.edu/  to learn more about the total benefits offered when you join our team!

Purpose

The Director of Purchasing and Support Services provides strategic leadership and oversight of University Housing and Dining (UHD) Purchasing and Administrative Support teams. Leads UHD’s purchasing and contract negotiations, ensuring compliance and efficiency across functions. Works collaboratively with UHD leaders supporting purchasing and administrative initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Serve as purchasing and contract management subject matter expert and lead University Housing and Dining’s strategic sourcing efforts. Document and maintain clear and consistent policies and procedures. Develop and maintain purchasing efficiency and effectiveness. Work with UHD staff to determine purchasing needs and priorities. Facilitate complex solicitations and business contract negotiations. Oversee the solicitation and preparation of purchase requisitions and orders.

• In collaboration with the Executive Director Business Services lead a cross functional team (UHD Purchasing, UHD Facilities Support Services, and Business Services Support team), demonstrate strong leadership and strategic oversight. Provide training, motivation, coaching, evaluation, and redirection. Foster a collaborative and high-performance work environment and encourage professional development. Work with the team to evaluate operations and identify opportunities for improvement, lead the implementation of new systems and streamlined processes.

• Oversee the Business Services Support team and UHD Facilities Support team.  Services include but is not limited to –, administrative support for the UHD leadership team, compliance management, records retention, support services maintenance shop administrative operations, and physical equipment inventory.

• Stay informed of changes to policies and regulations impacting operations. Ensure all processes are documented, performed utilizing best practices, and comply with departmental, college, school and unit (CSU), university, state, and/or federal policies and procedures. Ensure data and files comply with university records retention requirements.

• Prepare various reports to demonstrate the effectiveness of purchasing and administrative support functions. Measure and evaluate performance through use of metrics and reporting systems. Develop and/or maintain electronic applications, databases, queries and financial reports using tools such as Excel, FoodPro, UT Works, UT Market, PointPlus, PREQ to facilitate and record the purchasing, maintenance, and issuance or delivery of material supplies. Prepare ad hoc reports as needed.

• As a member of the UHD Leadership team, be involved in organization-wide visionary, strategic and business planning, evaluation, and professional development initiatives. Demonstrate progress on plan goals, objectives, and actions. Work with supporting departments to foster and develop effective collaboration. Other related functions as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree.

• Ten years of experience in purchasing or contract management.

• Five years management experience leading purchasing or similar teams.

• Must be able to obtain Certified Texas Contract Developer and Certified Texas Contract Manager within 1 year of employment and must maintain throughout employment.

Preferred Qualifications

• More than 10 years of experience in purchasing or contract management.

• Purchasing and contract administration experience within a Texas state agency, college or university setting.

• Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM).

• Experience implementing new systems or processes.

• Experience overseeing administrative functions: administrative support services, records retention, physical inventory, compliance management.

• Experience with Microsoft Office.

• Experience working with food management systems.

• Experience with technologies such as DEFINE, PointPlus, PREQ, UT Market, or UT Works.

• Strong oral and written communication, interpersonal and customer service skills.

Salary Range

$125,000 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

• May work around standard office conditions.

• Repetitive use of keyboard at a workstation.

• Lifting and moving.

Work Shift

• Monday - Friday 8:00AM -5:00PM, hours and days may vary depending on business needs

Required Materials

• Resume/CV

• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor

• Letter of interest

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded.  Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

----

Employment Eligibility:

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

----

Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. This position has the option to elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) instead of TRS, subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

----

Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

----

Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

----

Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

----

Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form.  You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States.  Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment.  Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

----

E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

----

Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.