Purchasing Manager

Red Rocks Community College exemplifies extraordinary. We are dedicated to our Vision and Mission, which promote student achievement, staff empowerment, and community engagement. We live our values: Integrity, Collaboration, Learning, Inclusiveness, and Communication.

RRCC seeks applicants who understand and have first-hand experience working with diverse populations, which may include but are not limited to, historically marginalized populations such as people of color, LGBTQ+ community members, veterans, first generation graduates, and people with disabilities.

Summary of Position

The Purchasing Manager is a full-time position that will strategically oversee, manage, evaluate, audit, and review the procurement and acquisition of both goods and services for the College. This position will be responsible for processing requisitions and ensuring compliance with all procurement and fiscal regulations. Serves as one of the college’s subject matter experts regarding purchasing methods, the procurement operating system, and workflows.

The ideal candidate will lead, manage and process the procurement workflow, ensuring the timely and cost-effective acquisition of goods and services essential to the institution's operations. This role involves managing vendor relationships, negotiating contracts, and monitoring inventory levels. The Purchasing Manager will collaborate with various departments to understand their needs and ensure compliance with institutional policies and budgetary constraints.

Key responsibilities include developing purchasing strategies, maintaining accurate records, coordinating with suppliers, and ensuring timely delivery of products and services. The role requires exceptional organizational skills, strong communication abilities, and a deep understanding of procurement processes in an academic setting.

Candidates should possess a proven track record in procurement, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams. They should also demonstrate the capacity to provide guidance and support to stakeholders throughout the procurement process, ensuring clarity and confidence in decision-making. A background in higher education or a related field is preferred. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced purchasing professional looking to contribute to a dynamic and growing institution.

Qualifications

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of state procurement practices and procedures, including the ability to prepare specifications and facilitate the process for formal and informal procurement solicitations.
• Ability to perform price/cost analysis.
• Must possess strong independent judgement skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees and vendors.
• Ability to advise RRCC departments on procurement practices and resolve questions and concerns effectively.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
• Proficiency in databases and Microsoft Office programs, including Word, Excel, and Outlook as well as familiarity with remote collaboration platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and WebEx.
• Must possess a high level of organizational skills, initiative, and attention to detail.

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or other closely related field from an accredited institution, OR associate degree plus two years purchasing and/or contracts experience in at State of Colorado Agency or Institution of Higher Education, OR four years purchasing, accounting, contracts, or closely related experience may substitute for the required degree. A substitution will not count towards the required experience below.
• Two years of professional purchasing or closely related experience.
• Leadership or supervision experience

• Experience managing programs requiring detailed analysis.
• Familiarity with the State of Colorado Procurement Code and Fiscal Rules.
• Analytical thinking and problem-solving skills combined with excellent customer service skills.
• Ability to organize work, set priorities, determine resource requirements, coordinate with other areas, monitor progress, and evaluate outcomes.
• Ability to identify problems, determine accuracy, and relevancy of information, and use sound judgement to evaluate and make recommendations.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Experience with Banner or other information system.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, including Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Excel.

The following are some of the physical and cognitive demands commonly associated with this position.

• Occasionally moves, positions, and transports files and office materials weighing up to 50 lbs.
• This is largely a sedentary role. This position operates in an office environment and constantly uses a computer, and routinely uses standard office equipment including phones, copiers, etc.
• The person in this position constantly communicates with internal and external constituents and students. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
• Cognitive demands include comparing, copying, computing, compiling, analyzing, coordinating, synthesizing, negotiating, communicating, instructing, and interpersonal skills.

Red Rocks Community College provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process and/or during the course of employment, please contact Jennifer Matthews, Executive Director of Human Resources, at (303) 914-6298 or Jennifer.Matthews@rrcc.edu.

Starting salary range for this position is $72,159 to $79,375 annually, commensurate with education and experience. This is a full-time, FLSA-exempt position. This position has been exempted from the State Classified System.

To Apply

All applicants must submit:

• Resume
• Detailed letter of interest (cover letter) addressing the job announcement.
• Transcripts (unofficial) of undergraduate and graduate level course work.

Candidates will be evaluated based on their qualifications as related to the duties and responsibilities of the position. Candidates may redact any personally identifiable information on their materials including but are not limited to age, date of birth, and dates of attendance and date of graduation for educational institutions. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Visit our Careers website to submit your application.

Notice to all Applicants

• Final candidate will be subject to successful completion of a background check, and, if applicable, a motor vehicle record review.
• Former employees of the Colorado Community College System, or one of its 13 colleges, who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination, must disclose this information in their application material.
• Final candidates are required to submit unofficial transcripts for non-instructional positions and official transcripts for instructional positions to Human Resources within thirty (30) days of hire.
• Direct deposit of payroll is a condition of employment.
• Red Rocks Community College participates in E-Verify.
• Red Rocks Community College is a tobacco and smoke-free campus.
• All RRCC employees, except student employees, contribute to Colorado PERA at a fixed percentage of their earnings and do not contribute to Social Security.
• Finalist must be willing to make Colorado their primary workplace.

RRCC/CCCS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Red Rocks Community College and Colorado Community College System believes when all human qualities are regarded with dignity and respect and when everyone has access to the individualized support they need, all will have the opportunity to thrive. In all aspects of the employment process, decisions are made based on merit, competence, performance and business need without regard to sex, gender, race, color, age, creed, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, familial status, veteran or military status, pregnancy status, marital status, religion, genetic information, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. Our Accommodations and Non-Discrimination policies, plus other helpful information, can be found publicly at https://www.rrcc.edu/disclaimers-and-legal-notices.

We also believe in going further. At RRCC we have a focus on equity and belonging. We strive to create a community in which everyone feels respected and valued for their unique talents and contributions, and where people from all backgrounds are able to achieve their goals. Red Rocks Community College acknowledges that inclusion and equity are multifaceted and complex concepts, and that our efforts in these areas will require innovation, intention, and an institutional commitment to these principles, across our entire college community.

Red Rocks Community College is an emerging Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). As we move toward full HSI status, we are focused on servingness and are committed to creating a learning environment where equity is expected and our Latinx students thrive.

For information regarding Red Rocks Community College Security, including Clery Act/Crime Statistics for the campuses and surrounding area, please visit: https://www.rrcc.edu/campus-police.

At RRCC, we value and uphold a commitment to a workplace that focuses on employees. In addition to rewarding and meaningful work, we offer a comprehensive selection of benefits to support our employees, including:

• Strong, flexible retirement benefits including Colorado PERA’s Defined Benefit Plan or Defined Contribution Plan. RRCC contributes 21.61% of your salary on your behalf. Supplemental retirement plans including 401(k), 403(b) and 457 plans are also available.
• Comprehensive health benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, and flexible savings benefits.
• Employee assistance services such as counseling, professional coaching, financial planning, and more, are available to you and members of your household at no cost through the Colorado State Employee Assistance Program (C-SEAP).
• Generous paid time off benefits including up to 15 hours of annual leave and 10 hours sick leave per month, 10 paid holidays per year, and up to 18 hours for academic and volunteer activities.
• Tuition assistance for employees and their eligible dependents at any community college within the Colorado Community College System or CCCOnline.
• State employees are eligible to participate in BenefitHub which offers discounts for retailers and services and other benefits resources.
• Employees may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.