Senior Director, Strategic Sourcing & Contracting Services

This position is a leader in the University of Arizona Supply Chain organization, directly overseeing the Strategic Sourcing and Contracting Services units. With support and guidance from the CPO, this role directs and develops the universities’ strategic sourcing and contracting strategy with specific focus on category management, contract lifecycle management, contract negotiations, spend analytics, strategic supplier partnerships, contract lifecycle management, risk management, and supplier partner performance.

When you join our organization, you become part of a smart, driven team that thrives on solving complex challenges. We align our business practices with the university’s priorities and cultivate talented teams who find purpose in creating simpler, more effective systems that drive institutional success. Our focus is clear: developing our people, transforming our work, and elevating our role.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!

The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs.

Strategic Leadership and Management:

• Provide high-level direction and strategic planning and research for the university’s strategic sourcing and contracting functions, ensuring units are aligned with institutional goals and objectives.
• Lead and manage a team of strategic sourcing and contracting professionals through direct and indirect supervision, ensuring high performance, professional development, and operational excellence.
• Oversee comprehensive analysis of university spend categories and purchasing patterns to identify and promote strategic sourcing opportunities and leverage university buying power shifting buying behaviors to strategic partners.
• Develop and implement comprehensive policies, strategies, and best practices that support the efficient and compliant execution of strategic sourcing and contracting functions.
• Support the oversight of the university’s supply chain functions ensuring adherence to state, federal, and university regulations.

Business Process Optimization:

• Lead the design, planning, and execution of strategic sourcing and contracting services initiatives to achieve operational excellence, transformational change, and cost savings for the institution.
• Lead the implementation of advanced technologies and process improvements to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance service delivery for strategic sourcing and contracting functions.
• Serve as a university authority on procurement, vendor relationships, ensuring best practices in strategic sourcing, contract management, and cost-saving initiatives.
• Ensure the university’s compliance with procurement laws, tax regulations, and reporting requirements.

Communication:

• Act as a key advisor to CPO, offering strategic insights on strategic sourcing and contracting strategies, category management, and risk mitigation to optimize institutional resources.
• Represent the university in high-level negotiations and partnerships with suppliers, contractors, and service providers, ensuring maximum value and service to the institution.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to support category management, recommend and execute strategic sourcing events, develop criteria for evaluation & selection of proposals.
• Ad hoc duties as required to ensure the strategic sourcing & contracting teams are successful in meeting our goals and objectives.
• Direct the continuous development and efficient administration of university strategic sourcing and contracting, ensuring optimal process design and execution.
• Ensure the university’s adherence to all applicable state and federal procurement laws, as well as Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) procurement codes, maintaining the highest standards of compliance and ethical practice.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):

• Knowledge of university enterprise systems and related business principles and processes.
• Ability to work in an environment driven by team goals and expectations more than individual ones.
• Industry-leading knowledge in strategic sourcing and contracting, processes, and technologies.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to establish rapport with and gain trust of others and to establish cooperative working relationships with office staff and campus community.
• Ability to work under deadlines and adapt to changes with minimum notice.
• Ability to prioritize various critical tasks assigned and to negotiate deadlines to meet the overall goals of the division.
• Ability to be creative, supportive, and thoughtful in problem-solving, considering the varied and occasionally conflicting needs and perspectives of the campus community and the institution.

This job posting reflects the general nature and level of work expected of the selected candidate(s). It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The institution reserves the right to amend or update this description as organizational priorities and institutional needs evolve.