Senior Procurement Officer - Information Technology (IT)
The University of Kansas
Position Overview
The Senior Procurement Officer - Information Technology (IT) is responsible for leading strategic sourcing, contract negotiation, and procurement execution or the University's IT categories. This role serves as one of two procurement resources for software/Saas, IT professional services, IT hardware, cloud storage, cybersecurity tools, and related maintenance and support agreements.
The position will manage complex, high-risk technology acquisitions; lead competitive sourcing and supplier evaluations; negotiate detailed licensing and data-security terms; and ensure contract compliance with university policy, state requirements, and industry best practices. The incumbent will work closely with KU Information Technology, Information Security, Office of General Counsel, and campus stakeholders to develop procurement strategies that optimize value, manage institutional risk, and support KU's digital transformation and academic mission.
This role requires strong analytical skills, comfort with complex contract structures and technical requirements, and the ability to facilitate decisions among all stakeholders with competing priorities. The ideal candidate will excel in a fast-paced environment with shifting timelines, tight deadlines, and rapidly evolving technology needs.
This position is available as a fully remote position.
Due to complex state employment laws, the University of Kansas may be unable to hire fully remote workers for this position outside of Kansas. Specifically, we cannot currently offer employment to candidates residing in the following states: California, Delaware, Idaho & Minnesota. We appreciate your understanding and invite interested individuals from eligible states to apply.
Job Description
25%- Strategic Sourcing & Procurement Execution
- Develop and manage strategic sourcing initiatives for IT categories, aligning procurement strategies with institutional goals and technology roadmaps.
- Conduct market research, benchmarking, and total cost of ownership analysis to ensure competitive pricing and high-value solutions.
- Identify and implement cost-saving, risk-reducing, and value-added procurement strategies in technology categories.
- Lead competitive bidding processes (RFPs, RFQs, renewals, and vendor evaluations) for IT systems, software, and service engagements.
25%- Contract Negotiation & Supplier Management
- Negotiate complex IT contracts, including Saas agreements, licensing terms, warranties, cybersecurity and data-privacy requirements, and service level agreements (SLAs).
- Draft, negotiate, and manage contracts in alignment with KU policies, state regulations, and data-security frameworks.
- Collaborate with KU IT, Information Security, Office of General Counsel, Risk Management, and Finance to ensure procurement outcomes support institutional priorities.
- Develop and maintain strong supplier relationships to enhance service delivery and optimize long-term contract performance.
- Manage contract lifecycle activities including renewals, amendments, compliance monitoring, and supplier performance evaluations.
- Analyze IT supplier trends and market developments to support strategic planning and sourcing decisions.
25% - Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement
- Serve as a primary procurement liaison for KU IT and technology stakeholders across academic and administrative units.
- Facilitate cross-functional meetings to align technical, financial, legal, information security, and operational requirements.
- Educate internal stakeholders on procurement best practices, technology contract standards, and strategic sourcing principles.
- Collaborate across departments to reduce procurement silos, improve transparency, and support enterprise-wide planning and decision-making.
25% - Compliance, Policy, & Process Improvement
- Ensure compliance with university procurement policies, state regulations, data-security standards, and accessibility requirements.
- Improve procurement processes related to technology categories, enhancing efficiency, transparency, and institutional control.
- Maintain accurate procurement documentation and support audits, risk assessments, and reporting requirements.
- Provide training and guidance to campus stakeholders on IT procurement, policy interpretation, and contract compliance.
Position Requirements
- Occasional travel for in-person training, conferences, or regional procurement events (approximately 2-3 times per year).
- Occasional travel to/from the KU Lawrence campus for in-person meetings, sourcing events, demonstrations, or stakeholder engagement activities.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree and two (2) years of related experience OR high school diploma/GED and six (6) years of related experience.
- Experience managing procurement for complex categories-preferably IT goods, services, or software as evidenced in application materials.
- Experience that required strong negotiation skills and a record of achieving favorable terms, cost savings, or improved supplier performance as shown in application materials.
- Experience working independently and managing multiple projects simultaneously, as evidenced in application materials.
- Experience requiring strong communication and relationship-building skills with cross functional teams as shown in application materials.
- Experience that required knowledge of procurement best practices, contracting processes, and supplier management as evidenced in application materials.
- Experience with enterprise procurement systems and contract management tools, as shown in application materials.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in higher education, government, or public sector procurement environments as evidenced in application materials.
- Professional certification (e.g., CPSM, CPPO, PMP, or equivalent).
- Experience sourcing software/Saas, IT consulting, cloud computing, or cybersecurity solutions as shown in application materials.
Additional Candidate Instructions
In addition to the online application, the following documents are required to be considered for this position:
- Cover letter describing how you meet the required and preferred qualifications.
- Resume.
- List of three (3) professional references.
Only complete applications will be considered.
Application review begins Monday, January 12, 2026 and will continue until a qualified pool of applicants is identified.
Contact Information to Applicants
ben.lizak@ku.edu