Senior Associate (Procurement & Contract Advisory)

About the role

B&D is seeking a strategic, client-facing Associate who is energized by complex negotiations, institutional partnerships, and the opportunity to guide colleges and universities through high-impact procurement and dining advisory decisions.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage dining advisory projects from planning through implementation
• Develop and oversee deliverables, including:
• Dining master plans
• Needs assessments
• Operational reviews
• Service audits
• Contractor solicitation processes
• Financial reviews and modeling
• Market analyses
• Manage the full procurement lifecycle, including:
• Schedule development
• RFP drafting
• Proposal evaluation
• Contract review
• Business term negotiation support
• Advise clients through contract negotiations and implementation of new operating agreements
• Serve as the primary client relationship manager on assigned engagements
• Translate procurement and contract complexity into clear strategic recommendations for clients
• Coordinate dining advisory work with broader firmwide planning efforts across multiple practice areas
• Develop high-quality presentations, reports, and project documentation
• Manage multiple concurrent engagements while maintaining quality, schedule, and budget expectations
• Supervise and mentor junior staff across project teams
• Contribute to business development through:
• Proposal development
• Conference participation
• Thought leadership
• Relationship cultivation

Qualifications

• 7+ years of professional experience in:
• Dining services
• Foodservice operations
• Procurement
• Contract administration
• Advisory or related fields
• At least 4 years of direct experience in:
• Dining solicitations
• Procurement processes
• Contract negotiations
• Agreement management
• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Business, Higher Education Administration, or related field required. An advanced degree is strongly preferred, including an MBA, J.D., or paralegal or other professional legal training.
• Higher education dining experience strongly preferred
• Strong understanding of contract structures, business terms, operational performance metrics, and procurement strategy
• Excellent writing skills, verbal communication, facilitation skills, and presentation abilities
• Strong analytical and organizational capabilities
• Ability to work independently while leading multiple projects
• Willingness to travel two or more times per month
• Alignment with B&D’s mission, values, and collaborative culture