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Procurement Buyer II - Supplier Relations and Contract Negotiation

Western Governors University
life insurance, flexible benefit account, parental leave, paid time off, paid holidays, sick time
United States, North Carolina, Durham
Jan 28, 2026
If you're passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country-and you're committed to working hard to play your part in building that future-consider WGU as the next step in your career. Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families. The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is: Grade: Professional 309 Pay Range: $80,300.00 - $120,400.00 Job Description As a Sourcing Specialist II focused on supplier relations and contract negotiation, you will help WGU maximize value, manage risk, and ensure reliable delivery of the goods and services that keep the university running. You will lead sourcing events, negotiate favorable terms, and build strong partnerships with suppliers and internal stakeholders so teams across WGU can focus on serving students. What You'll Do Evaluate new and existing supplier capabilities, including risk, quality, pricing, and delivery performance, to ensure they meet WGU standards. Lead sourcing efforts and RFx activity: invite and receive bids, evaluate prices, discounts, and delivery conditions, and make award recommendations and selections. Negotiate contracts, terms, SLAs, KPIs, and pricing with suppliers and service providers to secure the best combination of cost, quality, and service in your assigned categories. Partner closely with Finance and Legal to review, negotiate, and implement contracts and statements of work for curriculum, materials, equipment, facilities, supplies, and services. Review and process contract, bid, and purchase order requests; monitor purchase orders and contracts for conformance to company policies and resolve issues with POs, billing, and payments. Maintain accurate records of contracts and orders, administer purchasing systems, and keep purchasing instructions, policies, and procedures current while educating employees to ensure compliance. Monitor market conditions and trends, assist with forecasting and spend analysis, identify costsavings opportunities and adverse trends, and recommend process and policy improvements that reduce risk. What You'll Bring Bachelor's degree and 4 years of current procurement or supply chain experience, or equivalent relevant experience performing the essential functions of this job. Experience using modern procurement or sourcing SaaS solutions (for example: supplier management, RFx automation, contract lifecycle management, or purchasing systems). Ability to analyze data and manage workflows within cloudbased procurement tools. Knowledge of the principles and practices of purchasing, including purchasing ethics, standards, and the competitive bidding process, as well as when to use POs versus contracts. Strong understanding of key PO and contract terms and conditions and more complex cost/pricing analysis to support sound sourcing decisions. Demonstrated negotiation and organizational skills, including the ability to negotiate business terms with suppliers such as price, delivery, quality, and payment terms. Ability to learn new technologies quickly, administer purchasing systems, and adapt effectively to changing priorities and business needs. Excellent decision making, attention to detail, and proficiency with Microsoft Office products to analyze data, prepare documentation, and communicate clearly. Strong communication and relationshipbuilding skills with the ability to coordinate across departments (e.g., Finance, Legal, and business stakeholders) and with external suppliers. Bonus Points Experience developing and managing SLAs, KPIs, and various sourcing strategies across multiple categories (such as materials, facilities, and services). Demonstrated success leading moderate to complex sourcing projects and negotiations that delivered measurable cost savings and risk reduction. Background in identifying purchasing and supply issues, surfacing them to leadership, and recommending improvements that enhance compliance, efficiency, or value. Experience in Lieu of Education An equivalent relevant experience performing the essential functions of this job may substitute for education degree requirements. Generally, equivalent relevant experience is defined as 1 year of experience for 1 year of education and is at the discretion of the hiring manager. What to Expect in the Hiring Process At WGU, our mission drives everything we do, including how we hire. Our interview experience is designed to give qualified candidates the opportunity to show their best work through meaningful conversations, practical problem-solving, and authentic collaboration. We thoughtfully review every application and invite forward the candidates whose experience and potential best align with the role and our mission. If selected, candidates will hear from a recruiter or hiring manager who will guide them through the process. We aim to communicate decisions promptly and respectfully. Interview Steps Introductory call with a Talent Acquisition Partner Interview with the Hiring Manager and Director of Procurement Work Location This is a full-time, hybrid role based in our Raleigh, North Carolina office. The position will begin as remote / workfromhome and is expected to transition to an inoffice role in Raleigh once a dedicated office space is established, anticipated by mid2026. You must currently reside in, or be willing to relocate to, the Raleigh, North Carolina area within 90 days of offer acceptance. The team is expected to work onsite at the Raleigh office four days per week, with the option to work remotely on Fridays, as scheduled by the department. This role also requires occasional travel of up to 20%, including required attendance at designated company summits and other businessrelated events as needed. Visa Sponsorship While we welcome applicants from all backgrounds, WGU is not able to provide visa sponsorship for this role. LI#JE1 (#Procurement, #ProcurementJobs, #StrategicSourcing, #NowHiring, #JobSearch) Position & Application Details Full-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave. How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday. Additional Information Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It's not all-inclusive. Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at recruiting@wgu.edu. Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.