Assistant Director Of Procurement - Contract Manager

Category:: Professional
Subscribe::
Department:: Operations
Locations:: Saratoga Springs, NY
Posted:: Dec 20, 2023
Closes:: Open Until Filled
Type:: Full-time
Position ID:: 171127

About Empire State University:

Founded in 1971 as the innovative campus of the State University of New York (SUNY), Empire State University empowers learners from diverse backgrounds to achieve their educational goals. We have decades of experience providing educational access through online teaching and learning, individualized instruction, mentoring, and prior learning assessment. We build on our students' experiences to promote their growth and drive upward mobility and economic development in New York state and beyond. SUNY Empire's 97,000 alumni are teachers, nurses, entrepreneurs, and leaders in their communities and their fields. Visit www.sunyempire.edu and follow us on social media @SUNYEmpire.

SUNY Empire is committed to creating a multicultural, inclusive academic and work environment. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We believe that having diverse faculty and staff is critical to academic excellence and prepares students to live and work in an increasingly global world.

Job Description:

SUNY Empire State University seeks an Assistant Director of Procurement specializing in Contract Management (State Title: Senior Staff Assistant). Under the direction of the director or procurement, this position provides leadership, supervision, and coordination of responsibilities of the procurement and contracting function. Functional responsibilities include overseeing the processing of purchase requisitions, awards of purchase orders, effective and efficient preparation of Request for Information (RFIs), Request for Quotes (RFQs), Invitations for Bids (IFBs) and Requests for Proposals (RFPs) in accordance with SUNY and NYS requirements. This position will be expected to partner with the university community to support the appropriate sourcing of goods and services, increase process efficiency and optimize value.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Proactively monitor and track procurement requests to ensure timely and accurate processing including developing and maintaining metrics for tracking contracts and purchase orders.
• Ensure compliance with NYS and SUNY procurement rules, regulations, and procedures and communicate them effectively to the university community.
• Lead the maintenance of key contract and vendor relationships; manage those relationships to optimize service, quality, and cost; and include regular business reviews with university stakeholders.
• Manage the competitive bid processes (RFP's, RFI's, and RFQ's) for all purchasing and contracting activity at SUNY Empire State University, including those for facilities, information technology, marketing, student services, leased properties and all other areas of the university.
• Lead and implement the contract management module of the current procurement software (Jaggaer) on behalf of the department and across the university community.
• Evaluate and negotiate all terms and conditions in conjunction with university counsel prior to executing contracts on behalf of the university.
• Evaluate suppliers through fair and thorough techniques and resolve contractual issues / concerns as they may arise.
• Initiate strategic vendor improvement and performance tracking and accountability to maintain contract compliance.
• Educate the university community on procurement requirements and procedures. Assist internal stakeholders to identify and implement opportunities/processes to ensure the timely provision of goods and services.
• Ensure that cost savings are achieved without placing the risk on the university's quality, outcomes, and timeline requirements.
• Maximize the use of technology to ensure accuracy, compliance, and efficiency.
• Develop, document, and implement departmental procedures to improve and streamline processes where possible.

Additional responsibilities include:

• Demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Concurrently manage multiple projects and priorities.
• Demonstrate strong interpersonal, analytical, organizational, and technological skills.
• Possess strong business acumen when working with a diverse group of individuals with the ability to solve complex issues through data and influence.
• Demonstrate the highest level of integrity and ethical standards.
• The ability to pay superior attention to detail, accuracy, timeliness, and meeting deadlines.

Requirements:

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution.
• Three (3) or more years of progressively increasing responsibility in procurement, sourcing and/or developing the vendor relationship.
• Experience with competitive bidding (RFI, RFP, RFQ), vendor selection, and vendor risk assessment; or related experience.
• Contract management experience or equivalent.
• Proficiency in MS Excel, Word, and MS PowerPoint.
• Ability to work both independently and as a part of a team in a high pace environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A master's degree in a business-related area, contract law or equivalent certification.
• Experience working with procurement and contracts in higher education or not-for-profits.
• Experience working with or for NYS or SUNY.

Special Information:

• Occasional travel may be required.
• VISA sponsorship is not available for this position.
• SUNY Empire provides employees with robust remote and flexible work options to meet the needs of students, faculty, and staff in a dispersed work environment. University locations that may be considered include Saratoga Springs, Rochester and Selden, NY.

Additional Information:

Rank/Salary: SL3 / $70,000-$80,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Empire State University is an EOE employer.

We are pleased to offer our employees an excellent benefit package which includes; NYS health insurance, free dental and vision, competitive retirement options, and generous vacation, sick and holiday accruals; and a strong emphasis on work-life balance. We also offer professional-development activities for professionals and support staff.

IF YOU NEED A DISABILITY-RELATED ACCOMMODATION, PLEASE CALL THE ADA COORDINATOR AT (518) 587-2100, ext. 2240. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TITLE II CRIME AWARENESS AND SECURITY ACT, A COPY OF OUR CRIME STATISTICS IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST BY CALLING (518) 587-2100, ext. 2800. IT CAN ALSO BE VIEWED ON-LINE AT THE SAFETY AND SECURITY WEBSITE AT www.sunyempire.edu/safety-security.

Application Instructions:

Applications Due By: Applications accepted until position is filled.

If you are interested in applying for this position, please submit the following documents, which are required for consideration by clicking on the APPLY NOW button:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Name and contact information of three references

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