Procurement Strategist

Summary

In support of the university’s mission and objectives, the Procurement Strategist serves as the university’s strategic sourcing and spend management resource, responsible for optimizing procurement expenditures and driving value through data-informed purchasing strategies.

Strategic Sourcing, Vendor Management & Contract Negotiation

• Leads the sourcing, evaluation, and selection of vendors for goods and services across campus.
• Provides strategic oversight of the contract lifecycle, including contract negotiations, renewal strategies, vendor performance evaluations, and risk mitigation activities.
• Manages the full contract lifecycle, including executions, renewals, and performance evaluations.
• Develops and implements sourcing strategies aligned with university financial goals.
• Establishes and maintains strong vendor relationships and performance standards to evaluate ongoing service and delivery.
• Identifies opportunities for vendor consolidation, supplier standardization, and preferred vendor agreements that improve purchasing efficiency and reduce costs.
• Maintains visibility and controls over campus-wide procurement spend.
• Evaluates purchasing trends and procurement spend data to identify sourcing opportunities, vendor optimization strategies, and cost-saving initiatives.
• Analyzes Purchasing Card (P-Card) transaction data to identify high-spend categories, repetitive purchasing patterns, and opportunities for strategic sourcing or contracted purchasing arrangements.
• Develops and enforces procurement policies related to spending thresholds and approvals.
• Partners with Finance and department leaders to align purchasing with budget objectives.
• Measures, validates, and reports savings achieved through sourcing initiatives, contract negotiations, vendor consolidation efforts, and procurement optimization activities.
• Provides regular reporting and recommendations regarding procurement performance, spending trends, supplier utilization, and savings initiatives.

Campus Spend Management & Financial Oversight

• Maintains visibility and controls over campus-wide procurement spend.
• Evaluates purchasing trends and procurement spend data to identify sourcing opportunities, vendor optimization strategies, and cost-saving initiatives.
• Analyzes Purchasing Card (P-Card) transaction data to identify high-spend categories, repetitive purchasing patterns, and opportunities for strategic sourcing or contracted purchasing arrangements.
• Develops and enforces procurement policies related to spending thresholds and approvals.
• Partners with Finance and department leaders to align purchasing with budget objectives.
• Measures, validates, and reports savings achieved through sourcing initiatives, contract negotiations, vendor consolidation efforts, and procurement optimization activities.

Procurement Operations Support & Backup Functions

• Serves as backup support for Procurement Specialist functions, including P-Card program oversight and transactional procurement activities, during absences or peak workload periods.
• Assists with procurement workflows, approvals, and issue resolutions to ensure continuity of operations.
• Supports special procurement projects and initiatives assigned.

Process Improvement & Compliance

• Evaluates procurement processes and implements improvements to increase efficiency and compliance.
• Supports contract lifecycle management, including renewals and compliance tracking.
• Ensures adherence to institutional policies, audit requirements, and regulatory standards.
• Develops training materials and provides guidance to departments on procurement best practices.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Supply Chain Management, or a related field required; equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered. Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) or a related discipline preferred.
• Experience: 3+ years of progressively responsible experience in procurement, sourcing, or contract management. Experience negotiating contracts and managing vendor relationships required. Experience analyzing procurement, purchasing, or financial data to support decision-making and cost management initiatives required. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders across multiple departments and functional areas required.
• Competencies: Customer Service Orientation, Professionalism, Christ-first Faith, Adaptable/Flexibility, Analytical Thinking & Decision Making, Attention to Detail, Business & Financial/Budget Acumen, Continuous Improvement, Effective Communication, Leadership/Influence, Problem-solving, Project and Time Management, Results Orientation & Accountability, Strategic Mindset, Teamwork & Collaboration, Technology, Results Orientation & Accountability.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to travel 10% of the time.
• Ability to lift/move objects up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to work non-routine hours during certain times of the year.