Director, Supplier Diversity

Reporting to the Director of Procurement and Supplier Diversity Services, the Director, Supplier Diversity designs and implements enterprise strategies that will have lasting impact to the University of Virginia’s supplier diversity program. The incumbent will lead a dynamic team focused on achieving a best-in-class program, backed by a robust set of performance metrics that light the path toward strategic focus areas and high impact change. The Director, Supplier Diversity will ensure an optimized approach to local, small, woman-owned, and minority-owned businesses gaining increasing business in design and construction projects, and partner with the Director, Strategic Sourcing to maximize supplier diversity opportunities in Facilities, IT, Scientific Discovery, and Services. The incumbent will build relationships across a broad spectrum of stakeholders from university leaders to suppliers to various state officials, working with intent to deliver tangible results.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning and Leadership

• Design and implement enterprise strategies that will have lasting impact to UVA’s supplier diversity program.
• Partner with Strategic Sourcing Director to implement sourcing practices and policies that improve opportunities for local, small, woman-owned, and minority-owned businesses to compete.
• Partner with Capital Construction & Renovations to maximize supplier diversity opportunities throughout the full construction project life cycle.
• Identify and pursue opportunities to collaborate with the Health System.
• Maintain a robust set of program metrics that monitor and measure the performance of the program.
• Design tailored economic impact plans for each department and ensures that each unit has the best tools and resources for sourcing to local, small, woman-owned, and minority-owned businesses.
• Cultivate a supplier inclusion mindset across the University.
• Lead a team of individuals committed to supplier diversity and inclusion.

Supplier Development and Reporting

• Create a front door to the University for local, small, woman-owned, and minority-owned businesses to pursue opportunities to provide goods and services.
• Work with Director, Strategic Sourcing and the Capital Construction & Renovations team to publish contract and sourcing opportunities in an easy-to-understand, accessible format.
• Implement strategy to track performance data on how many local, small, woman-owned, and minority-owned businesses respond to and are awarded contracting opportunities; year-over-year development of supplier relationships once they are awarded their first contract; market gap and lost opportunity; and, other critical performance measures.
• Develop market penetration plans for local, small, woman-owned, and minority-owned businesses.
• Analyze and articulate the big picture of what UVA buys and what local, small, woman-owned, and minority-owned business sell and where current and potential opportunities lie.
• Host capability meetings and introduce new businesses to departments, Procurement, and Capital Construction & Renovations.
• Oversee the delivery of state and federal compliance reporting and plan development.

Community Partnerships and Initiatives

• Build rapport and trust with local community businesses.
• Direct the development of a highly accessible community portal that publishes UVA’s historical spend, upcoming contracting opportunities, and how-to guides that make it simple to get started at UVA.
• Oversee the design and matching service between contractors and sub-contractors.
• Articulate the types of goods and services UVA buys on a regular basis and provides both data and insights to community members and entities interested in incubating new business growth in the local surrounding area.
• Identify and pursue key initiatives that cultivate new business opportunities within the community.
• Represent UVA at various community events.

State Relations

• Engage with the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity (SBSD) to learn about their focus, strategies, goals, and initiatives.
• Follow state legislation activities to ensure UVA engages on critical issues.
• Partner with state relations office to support understanding of key legislative issues and UVA’s position on those matters.
• Partner at the state-level to influence ideas and strategies for improving accessibility and opportunities to state-certified and Virginia state small, woman-owned, and minority businesses, and all other classifications recognized by the state.
• Partner with Virginia Association of State College & University Purchasing Professionals (VASCUPP) peers to understand current practices and align on strategies, metrics, and compliance reporting.

Preferred Professional Experience

• At least 8 years relevant experience in supplier diversity and contracts and sourcing
• Expert-level knowledge of supplier diversity strategies, trends, and performance metrics
• Proven track record of achieving supplier diversity goals in a variety of settings and circumstances
• Proven experience analyzing data and drawing insights from data
• Hands-on experience in the development of a sustainable data model that ensures quality and accessibility of critical performance metrics
• Proven experience participating in Capital Construction & Renovations sourcing and contracting procedures and protocols
• Knowledge in procurement practices and protocols in construction and non-constructions categories
• Proven experience marketing opportunities to local, small, woman-owned, and minority-owned businesses, including development and oversight of marketing and training assets
• Proven results in developing a successful supplier onboarding and training strategies
• Expert verbal and written communicator, breaking down barriers and building bridges among a large and diverse group of stakeholders
• Proven ability to perform public speaking and presentations
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams)

Interpersonal Characteristics

• Ability to think strategically, combined with understanding of day-day operations and capacity to execute
• Highest level of integrity
• Ability to juggle multiple priorities; self-directed and motivated
• Strong interpersonal skills with a high level of emotional intelligence
• Thoughtful, transparent, and exceptionally collaborative
• Committed to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment

We seek a dynamic candidate with a demonstrated record of implementing complex initiatives with measurable outcomes and/or tangible results. Compelling candidates will have expertise in supplier diversity and will have experience building highly effective community partnerships, as well as relationships with other key stakeholders. They will also have experience leading teams and using data to drive decision making and/or to effect change. Candidates must demonstrate a clear commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

This position will be a minimum of three days a week on-Grounds, in Charlottesville VA.

This position will remain open until filled. This is an Exempt level, benefited position. This position will not sponsor applicants for work visas. The University will perform background checks on all new hires prior to employment. For questions about the position or the application process, please contact Daniel Strong, Senior Recruiter at das6zb@virginia.edu

How to Apply:

Applications that do not contain all of the required documents will not receive full consideration, please note that multiple documents can be uploaded in the box.

Process for External Applicants: Please apply through Workday, and search for ‘R0048413'. Complete an application online and attach a cover letter, CV/resume, and contact information for three references (name, email address, telephone number, and address).

Process for Internal UVA Applicants: Please apply through your Workday Home page, search “Find Jobs,” and search for ‘R0048413.’ Complete an application online and attach a cover letter, CV/resume, and contact information for three references (name, email address, telephone number, and address).

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education: Bachelor's degree.
Experience: Eight years of relevant procurement, payables, and supervisory experience. Experience in industry contracting, administration and commercial purchasing, and detailed knowledge of contracting and procurement policies and procedures. Able to read, analyze and interpret contract terms and conditions, financial reports, and technical specifications for statements of works (SOW’s). Able to write reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals and effectively present information and respond to questions from CIO and senior management.
Licensure: None required. Certified in specialized area, such as Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM), or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.

COVID Vaccination Requirement and Guidelines

Please visit the UVA COVID-19 Job Requirements and Guidelines webpage prior to applying for current information regarding vaccination requirements and guidelines for employment at UVA.

The University of Virginia, including the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician’s Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic information.

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