Procurement Specialist

DescriptionAre you a self-starter who is always looking for ways to do things better or more efficiently?Do you want to deliver high quality purchasing services? Do you have passion for customer service and you are effective at cross-functional teamwork?Are you a critical thinker who are also well organized and able to retain information?Most of all, do you enjoy working with creative teams of communications and design professionals?If so, we could make a great team!Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab is seeking a procurement specialist to join our Communications Department.JHU APL’s Communications Department is responsible to increase and improve access to communications as well as sharing the Laboratory's impact internally and externally to APL. The communications department are approximately one hundred seventy staff who are responsible for visual and communications products that range from classified technical papers to the design of conceptual displays and beyond. It’s a vibrant team of creatives who must be agile and responsive to the many needs of the Lab.As a procurement specialist …Your primary responsibility will be processing orders for a variety of products/services.Using the APL credit card, you will procure supplies, materials, and services on behalf of the Communications department. Responsibilities also include documentation of purchases, tracking of orders, and reconciling credit card invoices on an ongoing basis. Tasks may also include maintaining purchase logs, documenting procedures, some receiving functions.You will create and submit purchase requisitions through internal systems, track and report status to Department staff, as well as interface with the Laboratory procurement team to expedite requests. You will review Letters of Justification (LOJ), Statements of Work (SOW), vendor quotes and other necessary documentation to submit requisitions.Establish a collaborative relationship with the Finance and Business Operation group to troubleshoot processing delays, develop action plans for unique requirements, and ensure COMM’s priority items are being worked in support of project timelines.You will work closely with the Financial and Business Operations Group and support special projects relating to financial and business operations as necessary.You will work closely and collaboratively to support the administrative team.You will respond to employee inquiries about the Communications office and programs supported by it.In partnership with the administrative team, you will support significant APL events, ceremonies, and visits.You will proactively partner with the Lab’s central Procurement Group to expedite requests as necessary.You will partner with the Lab's central Procurement Group to provide regular training to COMM’s technical staff on updates to the Lab's policies and best practices.You will support special projects relating to procurement, business operations and financial administration as necessaryQualificationsYou meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...Possess a High School Diploma and 5+ years of work experience.Are highly detail-oriented person with exceptional organizational skills.Effectively work in a fast paced/high volume environment.Have demonstrated the ability to work on multiple tasks with varying complexity independently with little supervision. Have the ability to prioritize tasks, adjust quickly to changing priorities and the ability to accommodate time-critical tasking.Are consistently demonstrating independent judgment, interacting and communicating effectively with external vendors, technical staff, internal APL enterprise services, and line leadership.Possess strong interpersonal skills, written and verbal communication skills, and outstanding work ethic.Are flexible and able to anticipate administrative needs.Are proficient in the MS Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, Word).Are able to obtain a Secret level security clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.You Will Exceed Our Minimum Requirements If You…Possess a BS Degree in a business related fieldAre knowledgeable and experienced with APL business systems and processesWhy work at APL?The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation’s most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.At APL, we celebrate our differences and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL’s campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at http://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.About UsAPL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.APL is committed to promoting an innovative environment that embraces diversity, encourages creativity, and supports inclusion of new ideas. In doing so, we are committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact Accommodations@jhuapl.edu. Only by ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard are we empowered to be bold, do great things, and make the world a better place.