Union College – Schenectady, NY Hiring for Director Of Procurement at Schenectady, NY Full Time

Position Title: DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT

Description:

We are looking for a dynamic person who will be responsible for identifying opportunities to improve, promote, develop, implement and manage procurement processes, systems, and reporting capabilities. Help set future direction and lead efforts to optimize financial and operational excellence.

The Director of Procurement is responsible for identifying opportunities to improve, promote, develop and implement and manage procurement processes, systems, and reporting capabilities. Help set future direction and lead efforts to optimize financial and operational excellence.

Qualifications:

1. A Bachelor’s degree and/or a combination of relevant education, training, certifications and/or work experience.
2. Minimum of 5 years of related experience in purchasing or equivalent.
3. Strong expertise in strategic and operational procurement, including category management, RFI/RFP processes, supplier negotiation, and vendor management
4. Strong analytical capabilities, including ability to report and analyze large volumes of data to understand spend patterns and identify savings opportunities
5. Understanding of 3^rd party spend cost reduction levers in higher education
6. Strong communications skills to build credibility with senior stakeholders and departments across campus and to drive adoption of policies; willingness to have the difficult conversations in an open and direct way
7. Self-starter attitude to identify new opportunities, gather input on potential options from stakeholders, and make recommendations
8. Strong customer focus and willingness to champion changes in support of overall improvement of the Procurement function.
9. Management and supervisory experience.
10. Previous successful experience in the development and implementation of Purchasing procedures and a Purchasing Card program.
11. Previous experience with procurement workflow and Purchasing card systems.

Preferred Qualifications:

1.  Bachelor’s degree.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Managing all procurement activity, including purchasing and accounts payable for facilities, information technology, academic departments, student services, and all other areas of the college.
• Ensure savings initiatives spanning cost reduction, cost avoidance, rebate and discount opportunities, cash flow management, etc. are accurately documented, reviewed, reported and transferred to the annual operating budgets and long-term strategic plans
• Drive down 3rd party spend for Union College while optimizing value and supporting quality requirements.
• Increase visibility of 3rd party spend, including compliance against policies and norms, and engage with responsibility centers to understand spend and jointly commit to opportunities for reduction.
• Identify and deliver on opportunities for supplier consolidation and renegotiation.
• Maintains, updates and trains the campus community on all procurement policies, procedures and forms used to ensure the compliance with federal and state regulations.
• Creates, maintains and updates Preferred Supplier list.
• Responsible for establishing and monitoring key supplier relationship management programs.
• Oversees and manages Accounts Payable and Procurement functions and staff.
• Planning, organizing and directing the purchase of materials, supplies and equipment through contract procedures, competitive bidding, or agreements and acts as a change agent for continuous improvement.
• Responsible for contract administration including ensuring insurance, indemnification and other standard contract language and terms are compliant with the college’s standards and practices. As needed, work closely with legal counsel to provide general review of contracts before approval. 
• Oversees the Purchasing Card program and related systems.
• Ensure timely and accurate transaction processing, account analysis, reconciliations and schedules.
• Ensure the accurate and timely processing of accounts payable, purchase orders, and credit card transactions. Monitor controls over cash disbursements to ensure operating effectiveness. Review related account reconciliations and schedules.
• Establish and maintain systems and controls within financial services that verify the integrity of processes and data.
• Other related duties as assigned.

We offer exceptional benefits including:

• Generous Vacation, Sick and Personal Time
• Winter Recess Break in Addition to Paid Holidays
• Healthcare, Dental, and Vision Insurance (Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Accounts)
• Free On-Campus Fitness Facility Access and Discounts for On-Campus Wellness Programs
• Employee Scholarships toward Certifications, Seminars, Training and Professional Development
• Pre and Post Tax participation in a 403(b) Retirement Plan
• Salary Continuation Program in the event of Disability
• Tuition Assistance Program for Employee, Spouse and/or Dependents

Note: All new hires of Union College are subject to a thorough education, work experience, and criminal history background check.

Union College

Officially chartered in 1795, Union College is the fifth oldest liberal arts college in the country. Located in the Capital District of New York State, Union is a highly selective residential and undergraduate college, home to 2,200 students and 220 faculty, and offering 44 majors. Union was the first liberal arts college to rethink the traditional liberal arts education and adopt an engineering curriculum. That pioneering approach continues today with an education that encourages students to work beyond the limits of disciplinary boundaries, allowing them to think globally and lead innovatively in a world where problem solving requires breadth across humanities, arts, social sciences, science, and engineering.

Diversity at Union College

Union College is an equal opportunity employer and strongly committed to student and workforce diversity. Increasing diversity on campus is a critical priority for Union, one that is integral to our mission of preparing students for a globally interconnected world. Union provides a blend of intellectual, social and cultural opportunities to facilitate the integrated academic, social and personal development of a diverse community. We value and are committed to a host of diverse populations and cultures including, but not limited to, those based on race, religion, disability, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin and veteran status. Union College is committed to providing access and will provide reasonable accommodation in its application process to individuals with disabilities that request such accommodations.

Non-Discrimination Policy

Union College will not discriminate in the recruitment or selection of faculty and employees, or in any other area of employment, on the basis of age, sex, race, national origin, religion, religious belief, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression and veteran status. In this regard, opportunities for advancement will be made available without bias. The College is also subject to state and federal laws, supports efforts to attract and retain fully qualified women and other minority group members for faculty and other positions. Union College will comply with the letter and intent of all State and Federal laws and applicable orders pursuant to Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action.