Senior Procurement Specialist

About the role

The Senior Procurement Specialist is responsible for managing supplier relationships, driving cost savings, and supporting the University’s procurement strategy. This position serves as a trusted collaborator to campus stakeholders by providing expertise in procurement fundamentals, commodity management, and supplier performance management, while ensuring compliance with University policies and applicable regulations. This role plays a key part in advancing Procurement’s transformation through automation, data analytics, forecasting, supplier optimization, and the effective use of emerging technologies, including AI-enabled tools.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field.
• 8–10 years of progressively responsible procurement and supply chain experience.
• Six Sigma and/or Kaizen certification.
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple high-dollar commodities simultaneously.
• Experience with strategic procurement, supplier management, spend analysis, and process improvement.

Skills and Knowledge

• Advanced knowledge of procurement principles, commodity management, supplier relationship management, and supply chain best practices.
• Advanced proficiency with Excel and demonstrated ability to analyze complex procurement and financial data.
• Proficiency with ERP/procurement systems such as Oracle or SAP, as well as PowerPoint and Smartsheet.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively utilize AI-enabled and analytical tools to improve efficiency, analysis, and decision-making.
• Strong financial analysis, forecasting, benchmarking, and spend analysis skills.
• Strong negotiation, problem-solving, and supplier performance management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple commodities, projects, and competing priorities simultaneously.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively engage suppliers and stakeholders at all organizational levels.
• Demonstrated ability to identify process improvements and support procurement technology and automation initiatives.

Responsibilities

Procurement & Commodity Management

• Proactively manage multiple commodity portfolios simultaneously, navigating easily across categories while identifying opportunities for cost reduction, operational efficiencies, supplier optimization, and value creation.
• Apply sound procurement fundamentals and best practices consistently across a wide range of commodities and service categories such as Athletics, Construction, Facilities, IT Hardware and Software, Marketing, Operations and Research.
• Conduct market research, benchmarking, and supplier analysis to support procurement decisions.
• Monitor market trends, supply chain risks, pricing fluctuations, and inflationary impacts that may affect University operations.
• Develop mitigation strategies to reduce supply chain disruptions.
• Multi-task effectively across concurrent procurement activities and shifting priorities without loss of quality or timeliness.
• Support Strategic Sourcing on RFQs, RFPs as needed.

Supplier Relationship Management

• Build and maintain strong, productive supplier partnerships in collaboration with Strategic Sourcing.
• In support of Strategic Sourcing, evaluate supplier performance using measurable metrics and scorecards.
• Proactively manage supplier service levels and delivery performance on an ongoing basis.
• Resolve supplier performance issues while maintaining productive business relationships.
• Establish and manage performance improvement plans for underperforming suppliers.

Financial Analysis

• Perform spend analysis for all proposals and identify savings opportunities.
• Analyze procurement data to support strategic decision making.
• Develop forecasting models for commodities managed.
• Track and report savings initiatives and procurement performance metrics.
• Utilize advanced Excel and reporting tools to support analysis.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Proactively partner with campus departments to understand business needs.
• Engage stakeholders early during project planning to align on procurement needs and priorities.
• Provide procurement guidance throughout the procurement lifecycle.
• Deliver exceptional customer service while balancing compliance and operational needs.