Assistant Vice President

Assistant Vice President, Chief Procurement Officer
Brown University

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Job Description:

The Strategic Procurement and Contract Services office supports the research, teaching, and operations of Brown University by leveraging the University's procurement power to 1) optimize the value of the purchase of goods and services, 2) deliver outstanding customer service to the University community, 3) drive sustainable and ethical business practices, and 4) support goals related to engagement with local/small business suppliers.

Reporting to the Vice President, Business Affairs, Auxiliary Services, and Real Estate, the Assistant Vice President/Chief Procurement Officer (AVP/CPO) is responsible for leading and managing the procurement and contracts function campus-wide with an annual spend of over $250M. The AVP/CPO will be critical in leading, developing, and implementing long-term strategies that focus on category-led strategic sourcing, effective contracting, data and spend analytics, revenue generation, sustainability, and engagement with local/small business suppliers. The AVP/CPO will provide high-quality service to ensure faculty and staff can efficiently procure the best overall value for the goods and services needed to support the mission of the University. The AVP/CPO will oversee the execution of day-to-day leadership, management, operations and strategic initiatives across the procurement and contracting functions and develop measurable plans and metrics to ensure that University procurement and contracting goals are met or exceeded.

The AVP/CPO will maintain strong senior leadership level relationships across the University to communicate and obtain support of strategic initiatives and procurement and contracting operations. They will work with key stakeholders throughout Brown to develop and implement policies, strategies and best practices that deliver and measure results. They will also develop and maintain collaborative relationships with key strategic vendors to Brown.

The AVP/CPO will directly supervise 4 individuals, with a total staff of 13 FTE

Major Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic direction, vision, and leadership to the procurement and contract services organization; become a trusted adviser to senior leadership and internal stakeholders; and translate the University's strategies into operational results;
• Develop and champion the Strategic Procurement and Contract Services vision, mission and guiding principles to plan for, and achieve excellence in customer service, process efficiencies, controls, cost reduction, revenue and value creation, local/small business supplier engagement, and sustainable procurement and business practices.
• Develop strategies to maintain total cost performance through strategic sourcing as part of an overall strategy. Lead and/or participate in major initiatives and projects to meet the needs of the University's diverse client population and generate benefits for the University;
• Establish a multi-year business plan with realistic projected savings/revenue generation. Ensure that reported savings are verifiable by internal stakeholders. Establish, monitor, and report service level goals, KPIs, and customer satisfaction criteria for procurement operations, services, and strategic sourcing;
• Maintain and establish consistent contracting policies and procedures that comply with existing laws, regulations, and University policies. Operate at the speed of business to stay informed of changes to regulations or potential legislation and be nimble and proactive in developing policies and procedures for compliance with any changes. Work with key stakeholders to develop, maintain, revise, and communicate the overall policies, mission, vision, strategies, and practices to ensure alignment with the needs and mission of the University;
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with colleagues and internal customers to understand their needs, collaborate on solutions, and ensure they can access the goods and services they need; deliver close partnerships with the Finance Office (ex. Controller's Office), Office of General Counsel, the Division of Research, and other critical business operations;
• Lead the evolution, refinement, and strengthening of the procurement and contract functions. Use best practices to incorporate continuous improvement initiatives for the University. Manage relationships between people, processes, and technology to successfully implement change;
• Build and maintain a strong procurement team that consistently delivers effective daily operations and outstanding customer service and value. Create a compelling vision, demonstrate flexibility in approach and motivate others to achieve desired results;
• Manage, select, develop, mentor, and train an excellent workforce and foster an environment that values diversity, creativity, and individuality. Create a culture of continuous learning and the development of others to build a high-performing organization and have the ability to attract and retain top talent. Cultivate a positive work environment that fosters team and individual performance while enhancing accountability and an approach to metrics-based decision-making

Job Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in business or related field required (Master's / MBA preferred) plus 10+ years' experience in leading indirect procurement within complex organizations with highly decentralized spending;
• Experience managing a diverse array of spend categories with sizable annual expenditures (over $200M preferred);
• Experience developing, implementing, and leading a best in class procurement and contracts organization;
• Experience in the development and implementation of procurement and contracting policies and procedures;
• Experience with revenue generating and sponsorship relationships and contracts;
• Experience with sourcing programs and practices which advance sustainability goals and expand local supplier diversity engagement;
• Strong data analytics, quantitative, decision making, and problem-solving skills;
• Ability to initiate, identify, prioritize, and plan planning activities necessary to meet unit-level and institutional goals;
• Ability to navigate through a complex organization; knows where to go to get what needed support; politically aware and agile; presents various views and options well;
• Creative and can manage and promote innovation; is an effective strategist full of ideas and possibilities; has broad interests and knowledge; can both create and bring exciting ideas to market;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills needed to work effectively with faculty, students, staff, external business, and government agencies and to present complex issues to senior management;
• Strong knowledge of and experience with automated ERP and eProcurement/Contract systems such as Workday and Jaggaer;
• Poise and professionalism required to serve as University representative for professional, civic, and government organizations;
• Demonstrate a willingness and ability to support a diverse campus community. Relates well to a variety of diverse styles and differences. Is able to build diverse teams and networks;
• Able to travel domestically for conferences and training

Please include a cover letter when submitting your application.

The position work location is classified as a hybrid requiring at least 2-3 days per week in the office. This position requires an on campus presence and candidates may qualify for the University's relocation assistance program.

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

Benefits of Working at Brown:

Information on the Benefits of Working at Brown can be found here .

Recruiting Start Date:

2025-03-14

Job Posting Title:
Assistant Vice President, Chief Procurement Officer

Department:
Business Affairs, Auxiliary Services, and Real Estate

Grade:
Grade 13

Worker Type:
Employee

Worker Sub-Type:

Regular

Time Type:
Full time

Scheduled Weekly Hours:
37.5

Position Work Location:
Hybrid Eligible

Statement on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion:

All positions require demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, and other Brown and community stakeholders with diverse perspectives and demonstrated ability to contribute to an inclusive environment.

Submission Guidelines:

Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any staff position at Brown University you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.

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EEO Statement:

Brown University is an E-Verify Employer.

As an EEO/AA employer , Brown University provides equal opportunity and prohibits discrimination, harassment and retaliation based upon a person's race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity . click apply for full job details