Assistant Director of Procurement & Contract Services

Assistant Director of Procurement & Contract Services

The University of Southern Mississippi is currently accepting applications for the position of Assistant Director of Procurement & Contract Services.

Position Details

Location

Hattiesburg

118 College Drive Hattiesburg, Mississippi, 39406-0001 United States

Division Procurement and Contract Services

Position Type Staff

Employment Status Full Time

Grant Funded No

Salary Range 70,536.00 - 95,432.00

Pay Grade

E14

Posting Close Date October 24, 2026

Special Instructions to Applicants Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without the need for visa sponsorship. The University will not sponsor applicants for work visas (e.g., H-1B).

Job Summary The Assistant Director of Procurement & Contract Services provides leadership and oversight for the procurement of goods and services on behalf of The University of Southern Mississippi. This position performs complex professional and administrative work involving formal and informal purchasing, solicitation development, contract review and negotiation, scope of work development, purchasing card administration, and procurement documentation. The Assistant Director coordinates day-to-day purchasing activities and ensures procurement processes comply with applicable University, Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL), and State of Mississippi policies, procedures, and purchasing requirements. This position serves as an authorized purchasing agent with designated authority to obligate the University for the acquisition of goods and services and assists in coordinating the University’s contract management process. The position supervises procurement personnel and exercises considerable independent judgment in evaluating purchasing needs, resolving complex procurement matters, and supporting effective University-wide procurement operations.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Directs and coordinates day-to-day procurement activities for the University, including formal and informal purchasing processes, and ensures the acquisition of goods and services complies with applicable University, IHL, State of Mississippi, and other applicable procurement requirements. • Supervises and provides guidance to buyers, purchasing card personnel, and other assigned procurement staff; establishes work priorities, reviews work for accuracy and compliance, provides coaching and professional development, and supports required state purchasing certifications. • Evaluates complex and nonstandard purchasing requests, determines appropriate procurement methods, and reviews or recommends contract and procurement awards in coordination with University departments. Maintains applicable University purchasing and technology procedures and identifies opportunities to improve procurement processes and operational efficiency. • Coordinates formal solicitations and competitive procurement activities, including bids and Requests for Proposals (RFPs); prepares and maintains specifications, legal advertisements, bid documentation, tabulations, vendor notifications, addenda, bid bonds, and other required procurement records; and utilizes applicable State of Mississippi procurement systems to support solicitation and purchasing approval processes. • Reviews and assists with negotiating procurement contracts; develops scopes of work and other procurement documentation; investigates contract-related concerns; coordinates with the Office of General Counsel as appropriate; and prepares contracts and supporting documentation for review, approval, and execution. • Coordinates the University’s contract management process, including contract intake, review coordination, negotiations, execution workflows, compliance monitoring, records management, and communication with University departments. Develops and provides training and guidance to faculty and staff regarding purchasing, contracting, and contract submission processes. • Assists with the administration and oversight of the University’s purchasing card program, including review of purchasing activities and implementation of procedures designed to support compliance with applicable State of Mississippi, IHL, and University requirements. Evaluates opportunities to improve purchasing methods and purchasing card utilization within applicable requirements. • Serves as a procurement liaison for the Hattiesburg campus, Gulf Park, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, and other University locations to promote consistent procurement practices, provide guidance to University departments, and support compliance with applicable purchasing requirements. • Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Business, Supply Chain Management, or a related field; or eight (8) years of experience involving the acquisition of equipment, supplies, commodities, or services, including contract review within a purchasing or procurement program; or an equivalent combination of education and related experience. Advanced education may substitute for experience on a year-for-year basis. Must obtain Certified Mississippi Purchasing Agent (CMPA) certification within the first year of employment.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of public procurement principles, practices, methods, and applicable purchasing requirements. • Knowledge of contract administration, including drafting, reviewing, interpreting, and negotiating commercial contract terms, conditions, specifications, and scopes of work. • Knowledge of competitive procurement processes and the evaluation of bids, proposals, quotations, and contract award recommendations. • Skill in analyzing procurement, financial, technical, and contractual information and applying appropriate judgment to complex purchasing decisions. • Skill in written and verbal communication, including communicating procurement requirements and providing clear guidance and training to University departments and external parties. • Skill in using procurement technology, data management systems, and related applications to collect, organize, analyze, maintain, and present purchasing and contract information. • Ability to identify and resolve complex procurement and contract-related issues while ensuring accuracy and compliance with established requirements. • Ability to organize and prioritize multiple procurement activities, contracts, projects, and deadlines in a fast-paced environment. • Ability to lead, supervise, delegate, and evaluate the work of assigned personnel while establishing effective working relationships with University departments, vendors, regulatory entities, and other stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Business, Supply Chain Management, or a related field. Eight (8) years of professional-level experience in higher education or governmental procurement. Extensive knowledge of State of Mississippi purchasing laws and experience with State purchasing systems or current Certified Mississippi Purchasing Agent (CMPA) certification is preferred. Professional certification as a Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.), Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM), Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB), Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO), or another nationally recognized procurement or supply chain certification is also preferred.

About The University of Southern Mississippi

Since our founding in 1910, The University of Southern Mississippi has remained dedicated to preparing students for success. We deliver programs to more than 13,000 students in Hattiesburg and Long Beach, at teaching and research sites across the Mississippi Gulf Coast, as well as online. We are a community-engaged Carnegie R1 university, earning distinction as one of the nation's leading research institutions.

Southern Miss is known for pioneering work in polymer science, ocean science, spectator sports safety and security, and bringing language to children with communication disorders. We are also a national leader in a broad range of disciplines, including cybersecurity, hydrography, nutrition, aquaculture, kinesiology, and economic development, among others.

We produce graduates ready to enter fields that are leading the way in emerging technologies through programs such as computer engineering, information technology, and ocean engineering. We’re developing the next generation of business leaders, while also responding to critical workforce shortages by producing skilled professionals in education and nursing. With a tradition of excellence in the arts, we are one of only 36 public institutions in the nation accredited in four major areas of the arts. Home to the Golden Eagles, our student-athletes compete in 17 NCAA Division I sports. With a culture marked by passion and persistence, Southern Miss is delivering graduates who are ready for life. For more information, visit www.usm.edu .

The University of Southern Mississippi is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. EOE/VETS/DISABILITY.