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Penn State Job Catalog

Procurement Assistant – Support (PSU0306)

Additional Levels

Additional levels that exist for this job profile can be seen below.

Job Summary and Representative Duties

Procurement Assistants review, prepare, verify and approve shopping carts within established dollar limits and guidelines in the University system in order to process purchase orders to various suppliers for departments; verify fair and reasonable pricing and documenting purchase order files in accordance with University policies and procedures; correspond with suppliers and customers to solve problems, share information, and ensure accurate payment.

  • Prepare, edit, and process purchase orders within establish dollar limits and University policy
  • Contact vendors and suppliers for quotations, and follow up on outstanding purchase orders
  • Ensure all transactions meet government regulations and University policies and procedures
  • Assist Procurement Managers and Agents with vendor research and negotiations; obtain information on price, delivery, payment, specifications, and purchase order terms
  • Use a variety of electronic systems and databases to import and create documents, track vendor information and payments, create auctions, compose correspondence, create and process purchase orders, requests for proposal, and various financial transactions
  • Identify and resolve discrepancies; obtain vendor certifications and certificates of liability insurance when required
  • Assist in monitoring internal and external customer satisfaction
  • May perform general office duties such as mail distribution, answering phones and greeting visitors

Level Matrix

Level:
Support
Base Description:
– Completes administrative activities and tasks of a technical or functional nature.
Level Summary:
– Demonstrates baseline working knowledge of routine tasks. Follows the standard principles and practices. Acts under direct and frequent supervision using established procedures with detailed instructions. Participates as a team member and actively contributes to completion of team goals. Clearly communicates information.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
– None
Fiscal Responsibilities:
– Typically none
– May handle routine financial transactions
Problem Solving:
– Encounters routine problems
– Follows recommended course of action and procedures to resolve problems
– Demonstrates working knowledge of institutional policies and procedures
Independence of Action:
– Work is closely monitored by supervisor
– Detailed instructions and procedures are provided
– Applies standard operating procedures with limited guidelines for deviation
Communication and Collaboration:
– Communicates mostly internally within working unit
– May communicate with external audiences for scheduling/coordination
– Collaborates closely with team members
– Clearly communicates information, ideas, or instructions verbally and in writing
Salary Structure
  • Comp Grade – 4
  • Minimum – $34,800.00
  • MidPoint – $42,600.00
  • Maximum – $50,500.00
Critical Skills
  • Attention To Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Data entry
  • Digital literacy
  • ERP Software
  • File management
  • Negotiation
  • Office management
  • Records management
  • Scheduling
FLSA Exemption Status
Non-Exempt
Minimum Education
  • General Equivalency Diploma (GED)
  • High School (HS)
Minimum Experience
No prior relevant work experience required
Equivalency
Previous relevant work experience accepted in lieu of education