Chief Procurement Officer - Western Washington University

Another Source
Bellingham, WA Other
POSTED ON 5/31/2024

At a glance

Elevate your procurement career at Western Washington University (WWU) as the Chief Procurement Officer! Lead a dynamic team of 12, leveraging systems like Banner, Concur, and a newly rolled-out sourcing tool, to manage a $100M procurement budget. This role offers a unique opportunity to drive strategic initiatives and foster collaborative relationships in high-level sourcing projects such as the upcoming university pouring rights project. If you are looking to join an organization that values innovation, community, and excellence, this could be the role for you! Invest in your future and explore joining WWU further by applying today!

Description: What you'll be doing

Another Source’s client, Western Washington University (WWU), is recruiting a Chief Procurement Officer to join their team in Bellingham, WA. This position is a Hybrid role.  

 

Here’s a little about Western Washington University and the position they are recruiting for:  

Western Washington University is committed to achieving excellence through advancing inclusive success, increasing our Washington impact, and focusing on transformational education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and based on innovative scholarship, research, and creative activity. Western’s greatest strength is the outstanding students, faculty, staff, and alumni/ae who make up its community. Western supports an inclusive governance structure for all and provides a learning and working environment in which everyone can thrive. In pursuit of this excellence, individual employees are expected to establish and maintain productive and effective inclusive working relationships amongst diverse populations including staff, faculty, administration, students, and external constituents. 

 

Learn more about Western Washington University here: https://www.wwu.edu/about-wwu  

 

About the Role: 

The Chief Procurement Officer designs, establishes, and maintains an organizational structure and staffing to effectively accomplish strategic goals and objectives for the Procurement Office at the University. This position reports to the Assistant Vice President for Finance and Business Services. Provides vision and direction, oversees recruitment, training, supervision, and staff evaluations for Purchasing/Contracts, Travel Services, and Asset Inventory. This position evaluates and resolves complex matters and implements changes to streamline and improve processes. Directs daily program operations, analyzes workflows, establishes priorities, develops standards, ensures effective customer service, and sets deadlines. Makes recommendations, authorizes purchases, and approves contracts pursuant to the Washington State Procurement Code. 

What you will be doing: 

Leadership/Teamwork: 

  • Cultivates a workplace environment that is equitable and inclusive for individuals from diverse social identities and backgrounds. 
  • Motivates and inspires staff to perform excellent work. 
  • Works with senior leadership and internal/external customers to lead implementation of strategic supply chain initiatives that provide value, increase efficiency, and manage operational costs. 
  • Works with internal/external stakeholders to develop, maintain, revise, and communicate supply chain strategy and tactics, overall policies, guiding principles, performance measures and targets, and procurement value and cost management objectives to align with strategic goals. 
  • Develops and champions the strategic vision to achieve targeted outcomes for customer service, process efficiencies/effectiveness, and management of operational costs. 
  • Promotes team building, trust, respect, and collaboration amongst staff. 
  • Engages staff by communicating strategic goals and how it relates to their individual goals. 
  • Establishes and maintains alliances with other universities, divisions, and outside organizations to identify dependencies and assess potential partnerships. 
  • Represents the university and Business and Financial Affairs division through participation on committees and strategic initiatives. 

 

Contract Administration:  

  • Oversees development and execution of all non-employment contracts, renewals, and reviews research grants. 
  • Ensures legislative procurement requirements are met for contract awards including procurement, leasing, competitive contracting, and operational services agreements.  
  • Directs and assists contract owners and stakeholders on resolution of client issues, vendor or contractor grievances, and claims. 
  • Evaluates proposed projects to measure the benefit to campus users and creates an effective implementation strategy. 
  • Conducts major solicitations and contract negotiations; executes or approves purchase contracts on behalf of the university.  Responsible for contract review, modification, and writing as necessary. 
  • Develops Strategic Vendor Strategy managing spend in key commodities. 

 

Property Management:  

  • In conjunction with property management firms, accomplishes financial and maintenance objectives for property management at the university.   
  • Contracts with lessors and tenants on lease negotiations. 
  • Provides a significant role in property purchases and sales. 

 

Policies, Laws and Regulations:  

  • Analyzes Washington state laws, rules, and policies, and uses independent judgment to determine whether expenditures, activities and processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. 
  • Provides policy, procedure, or regulation-related information to internal/external clients, supervisors, and staff to facilitate achievement of strategic goals. 
  • Establishes and implements university and department policies, goals, objectives, and procedures.  
  • Monitors operations to ensure staff comply with administrative policies and procedures, safety rules, union contracts, and government regulations.   

 

Operations: 

  • Evaluates and resolves complex procurement matters and institutes necessary changes to streamline and improve the purchasing and contract development processes. 
  • Develops strategic sourcing opportunities to increase effectiveness of eProcurement and other purchasing objectives.    
  • Directs daily operations of business unit activities, analyzes workflow, establishes priorities, develops standards, maintains effective customer service, and sets deadlines. 
  • Performs business process analysis to evaluate and analyze business operations to meet objectives. 
  • Evaluates proposed projects to measure the benefit to campus and creates implementation plans.  
  • Develops annual administrative operating budgets and forecasts for business units. 
  • Manages business related risks while taking advantage of business opportunities. 

 

Communication:  

  • Embraces access, diversity, engagement, and inclusivity in decision-making processes.  
  • Serves as change agent to endorse change, sponsor change initiatives, and review organizational best practices. 

 

Required Qualifications: 

  • Bachelor's degree or five years of progressively responsible senior level experience in business administration.   
  • 10 years of procurement supply chain or other related experience.  
  • Demonstrated expert decision-making, analytical, communicative, and negotiation skills together with knowledge of business and industry practices in both the private and public sectors.  
  • Demonstrated commitment and ability to cultivate work environments that are equitable and inclusive for individuals from diverse social identities and backgrounds. 

 

Preferred Qualifications: 

  • Master’s degree.  
  • Demonstrated eProcurement knowledge.  
  • Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO), Certified Professional Purchasing Manager (CPPM), or Certified Professional in Supply Management.  
  • Experience with Banner or similar ERP software. 

 

For more information, please view the position announcement on the WWU Careers website.  

Western Washington University is proud to offer a comprehensive program including salary commensurate with experience and qualification, a leave plan, health, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement plan, and educational growth opportunities. The hiring range for the position is $111,803- $128,574/ year. Through longevity position tops out at $145,345/ year. For more information about benefits, please review: Benefits Overview for Administrative Professional Position 

All employees must comply with our Immunization policies, including Proof of Rubeola Measles Immunity within 60-days of hire. Please reach out to HR@wwu.edu if you need information regarding medical or religious exemption and applicable accommodations. 

  

Western Washington University (WWU) is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained faculty and staff. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. In compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, WWU does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and parenting status), disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status or genetic information in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs. See WWU’s Policy on Ensuring Equal Opportunity and Prohibiting Discrimination and Retaliation. Inquiries may be directed to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance, Title IX and ADA Coordinator, Western Washington University, Old Main 126 (MS 9021), 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225; 360.650.3307 (voice) or 711 (Washington Relay); crtc@wwu.edu 

  

WWU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources Disability Services, 360.650.3303 or 711 (Washington Relay). 

  

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: This report is provided pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act ("The Clery Act"). It includes statistics for the previous three calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on Western's campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Western; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. You can obtain a copy of this report in printed or alternate formats by contacting the Office of the Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services at vpsa.office@wwu.edu. The report can be found at: Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. 

  

All new employees must comply with the immunization policy and show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service before beginning work at WWU. A thorough background check will be conducted on all new hires which includes a sexual misconduct background check. 

 

Another Source works with their clients, on a retained project basis, to maximize the recruiting process.  We are committed to building inclusive candidate pools as we partner with hiring teams. As you read through the job posting and review the list of qualifications (required and/or preferred), please do not self-select out if you feel you do not meet every qualification. No one is 100% qualified. We encourage you to apply and share your story with us.  

 

 

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