Working Title: Lead Contract Officer & Project Manager

State Role Title: Procurement Officer II

Position Type: Full-time Staff (Classified)

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: Finance

Department: 100222 - Procurement

Pay Rate: Pay Range

Specify Range or Amount: $70,000 – $74,595

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? Yes. This successful candidate must complete a statement of personal economic interest prior to their first day of employment.

Beginning Review Date: 02/19/2025

About JMU:

James Madison University is a publicly funded university with a beautiful campus and a supportive community that is committed to preparing students for the future. The university offers excellent comprehensive benefits which include paid vacation, sick, parental, and community service leave in addition to 19 paid holidays a year; affordable health insurance; retirement through the Virginia Retirement System. We also offer a work-life balance and integration program, Balanced Dukes, that is designed to support the overall wellbeing of our employees and a Tuition Waiver Program that allows employees to have tuition waived for undergraduate and graduate level courses taken at JMU.

Visit our Prospective Employee site to learn more about what makes JMU a great place to work: bit.ly/JMUEmployment

General Information:

JMU Department of Procurement is accepting applicants for a Lead Contract Officer and Project Manager. The purpose of this position is provide day to day project leadership to Facilities Services, FF&E projects and other commodities as assigned. Candidate will complete purchases of services as well as other procurements assigned by Team Manager. Candidate will negotiate complex contracts for greater fiscal benefit and to negate risk to the university. The successful candidate will be expected to facilitate projects with cross functional groups.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide project management skills to projects to appropriately plan activities, communicate with stakeholders, problem solve and ensure established timelines are met.
• Maintain subject matter expert level of knowledge related to all aspects of assigned commodities.
• Assist Team Manager with staff training, process documentation, policy interpretation, and day-to-day project assignments, providing back-up services to Team Manager when necessary.
• Ensure departmental stakeholders, Team Manager, Procurement Services Director and therefore university Administration is fully aware of project progress and issues through regular communication and documented updates.
• Represent university on internal/external teams and training activities.
• Provide excellent customer service and communications to all project stakeholders.
• Organize complex project activities and assist in establishing appropriate timelines based on provided completion/implementation dates.
• Assist in research and problem resolution for any problem that arises during course of projects.
• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of Procurement and university business processes, internal procedures, spend data, contracts,
• Procurement law, and sourcing methodologies to assist campus users and Procurement Services Buyers/Management with sourcing potential.
• Make strategic decisions in regard to projects and contract sourcing with input from varied resources in the best interest of the university.
• Facilitate procurements and contract negotiations as necessary per applicable rules and regulations for the greatest benefit to the university/project.
• Serve as advocate to vendors who are certified by VDSBSD.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Strong organizational and follow-through skills
• Strong reporting and analytic skills
• Strong leadership, interpersonal skills and ability to influence others to meet timelines
• Ability to quickly gather and analyze data, and grasp customer requirements under time constraints in a changing environment to solve problems
• Ability to remain flexible with changing demands and develop solutions to challenges
• Project management experience
• Progressive procurement experience
• Experience with purchasing of Services and negotiating complex contract terms
• Experience facilitating cross functional groups
• Excellent communication skills
• Fluency in MS Excel and Word are required;
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• VCCO or other professional Buyer Certification
• Experience with Facilities Services and FF&E contracts
• Experience in training, and process documentation activities
• Fluency in PowerPoint, Outlook, PeopleSoft, Teams, eVA, and Cobblestone.

Additional Posting Information:

Conditions of Employment:  

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.