Purchasing Supervisor

Under the supervision of the Shared Services Contracts & Purchasing Manager, the Purchasing Supervisor serves as a strategic leader and advocate for the purchasing team, managing the acquisition of high-volume goods and services for the 23 VCCS colleges, the System Office, and the Shared Services Center.Acts as a primary liaison between SSC buyers and external college stakeholders to resolve complex disputes and ensure policy consistency.Responsible for cultivating a safe work environment, driving operational excellence through implementation of quality control frameworks, and mentoring a diverse staff of Lead Buyers and Buyer Specialists.Performs managerial/supervisory activities including monitoring, reviewing, and evaluating performance of subordinate staff of approximately 11 with about 2 Lead Buyers and 9 Buyer Specialists.Ensures that purchases are performed accurately and timely and in accordance with applicable VCCS and state policies and applicable laws. Solicits and issues contracts for goods and services as needed by the SSC customers utilizing a variety of procurement methods.Manages all the daily, transactional high-volume purchases.Analyzes market data to make appropriate best value, compliant sourcing decisions.Organizes and designs the team in order to ensure speed and accuracy are achieved.Employs best business practices to continuously improve performance, compliance, efficiency, and effectiveness of procurement team.Assists the Contracts & Purchasing Manager and the Procurement Operations Manager streamline and resolve operations-related procurement issues. Knowledge of:Governmental procurement principles and ability to follow procurement policy and standard operating proceduresServant leadership principles and practices that support empathy, active listening, stewardship, and the creation of inclusive environmentsEmployment mediation techniques and neutral facilitationeVA (state procurement system)Commonwealth of Virginia (VPPA, APSPM, etc.) & VCCS procurement policies. Skills:Energetic, resourceful, and self-directedWillingness to stay on the forefront of procurement best practicesExpertise in MS Office products and demonstrated expertise to perform data analysis using Excel Ability to:Learn and apply purchasing, procurement, and sourcing principles and practicesLead a team to continually seek higher levels of efficiency and complianceManage sensitive personnel information with total confidentiality and neutralityAnalyze market data to make appropriate sourcing decisionsEffectively lead or supervise staff and to develop staff knowledge, skills, and abilitiesExercise sound judgment, take initiative, handle multiple competing priorities, solve problems, and attend to detail while maintaining a big-picture perspectiveThink creatively, objectively, and to work to continuously improve business processes and to transfer those skills to othersProvide exceptional customer service to internal and external customers in a professional manner and to transfer those attributes to othersBuild working relationships to solve problems and achieve common goalsWork effectively with a wide range of constituenciesExpress thoughts clearly verbally, in writing, and through presentationsDevelop, execute, measure and continuously improve procurement effectivenessTravel within Virginia and within the United States as needed – less than10% Minimum Qualifications:Experience in leading, supervising and positively motivating a teamExperience resolving stakeholder issues and facilitating conflict resolutionExperience leading the implementation and execution of continuous improvement opportunitiesCurrent Virginia Contracting Officer (VCO) certification or ability to obtain Virginia Contracting Associate (VCA) within one year of hire and VCO within two year(s) of hire; see https://vip.dgs.virginia.gov/ for more information on VCA and VCO certification process Additional Considerations:Proven experience in analyzing procurement data to develop and implement process improvementsPurchasing experience (Private or Public Sector)Experience using MS Office products and/or Adobe Acrobat Pro Special Instructions to ApplicantsIn support of the Commonwealth's commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process (AHP). The AHP is established as part of a comprehensive strategy to increase employment of individuals with disabilities within state government, which offers a non-competitive path to state employment. For Frequently Asked Questions, please review the DHRM document here: alternative-hiring-process-faqs-for-applicants.pdf.(virginia.gov). Hybrid telework available! Sponsorship will not be offered for this position. The selected candidate’s offer is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background investigation, which may include: fingerprint checks, local agency checks, employment verification, verification of education, credit checks (relevant to employment). Additionally, selected candidates may be required to complete the Commonwealth’s Statement of Economic Interest. For more information, please follow this link: http://ethics.dls.virginia.gov/ The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, political affiliation, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or other non-merit factors. The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Acts (ADA and ADAAA), to provide, reasonable accommodation to applicants in need of access to the application, interviewing, and selection processes when requested. VCCS uses E-Verify to check employee eligibility to work in the United States. You will be required to complete an I-9 form and provide documentation of your identity for employment purposes.