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Head of Procurement Operations

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Northeastern University

Jul 24

  • Job
    Full-time
    Senior (5-8 years)
  • Boston
  • Quick Apply

AI generated summary

  • You should have extensive procurement experience, strong leadership skills, strategic thinking, excellent negotiation abilities, and a proven track record in operational management.
  • You will oversee procurement processes, manage supplier relationships, optimize sourcing strategies, ensure compliance, and lead a team to achieve operational efficiency in procurement activities.

Requirements

  • Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s Degree with 8+ years of relevant experience as a Procurement Operations leader is required. An advanced degree (e.g. MBA / MS) is preferred.
  • Demonstrated team leadership and functional expertise performing within the source to contract, requisition to purchase order, and supplier information management workflows.
  • Globally minded, self-motivated, flexible, and creative leader, able to prioritize, multi-task, and work horizontally and vertically across a decentralized organization to deploy compliant procurement practices with high customer empathy.
  • Demonstrated ability to effectively utilize data to identify opportunities, continuously improve team performance, and implement a robust data driven performance management framework (e.g., business management system, service level agreements, key performance indicators).
  • Familiarity with commercial procurement best practices and procure to pay savings levers and techniques. Experience with federal procurement regulations (Uniform Guidance) is preferred.
  • Proven experience with building & leading a high performing procurement operations team in a high profile, high transactional volume, high financial risk environment.
  • Strong leadership presence and ability to build “trusted advisor” relationships by delivering sound technical analysis, customer empathy, and data driven decision-making.
  • Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills with ability to lead, interact with, influence, resolve conflict and drive decisions / accountability among individuals from a variety of cultures and disciplines.
  • Demonstrated flexibility and willingness to respond to changes in the external environment, while ensuring the organization is able to effectively and efficiently navigate transitions.
  • Knowledge of Workday (Procurement), ServiceNow (Helpdesk support), Jaggaer (P2P) are strongly desired.

Responsibilities

  • Responsible for day-to-day operations of the Procurement Operations team, including:
  • Requisition to Purchase Order and Change Order processing
  • Procurement Operations service desk case management and escalation
  • Supplier information management, including supplier onboarding and supplier record maintenance
  • Supporting and leading, in coordination with the Category Management team, RFx events, including request intake, internal / external market analysis, supplier discovery, RFx event management, and negotiations and contracting
  • Supplier & Customer escalation management
  • Ongoing maintenance and continuous improvement of Procurement Operations performance management dashboards and reporting
  • Responsible for leading and optimizing Procurement Operations service offerings, including the maintenance and enhancement of procurement-related technology, supplier partners, and continuous improvement / process improvement initiatives. To include, but not limited to:
  • Serve as functional owner for procurement related technology solutions, including Jaggaer (Contracts and Supplier Management modules), Sollod Technologies (current e-Procurement module), Workday Procurement, Visual Compliance, and TealBook (supplier enrichment)
  • Staying informed on current and emerging technology enhancements, including product-releases, updates, and patch-fixes, including functional testing and validation as required
  • Supporting technology adoption and business process re-engineering, including end-user training content and delivery
  • Providing internal controls and governance for all procure to invoice workflows, related concepts and procedures, and adherence to policy (including Uniform Guidance for federal grants)
  • Engaging professional and peer networks to stay current on industry best practices, including delivering content to bolster Northeastern’s reputation as a leader in higher education procurement
  • Responsible for managing and developing Procurement Operations Team. To include, but not limited to:
  • Directly supervise and monitor the performance of all members of the Procurement Operations team
  • Mutually-define measurable goals for team members and monitor outcomes
  • Provide active real-time feedback and formal written performance assessments so team members understand their progress against goals
  • Foster an inclusive, positive career experience for all team members, including professional development and succession planning
  • Facilitate the development, implementation, and maintenance of processes, policies, guidelines, Standard Operating Procedures, and Business Operating Principles

FAQs

What are the minimum qualifications required for the Head of Procurement Operations position?

The minimum qualifications include a Bachelor’s Degree with 8+ years of relevant experience as a Procurement Operations leader. An advanced degree (MBA/MS) is preferred. Additionally, demonstrated team leadership and functional expertise within source to contract, requisition to purchase order, and supplier information management workflows are required.

What key responsibilities will the Head of Procurement Operations have?

Key responsibilities include managing day-to-day operations of the Procurement Operations team, processing requisitions to purchase orders, managing procurement service desk cases, overseeing supplier information management, supporting RFx events, managing supplier & customer escalations, maintaining performance management dashboards, and leading continuous improvement initiatives.

What skills and attributes are considered essential for this role?

Essential skills and attributes include strong leadership presence, excellent communication skills, financial acumen, ability to use data for decision-making, flexibility to respond to changes, and experience in building high-performing teams. Additional familiarity with procurement technology solutions is also important.

Is experience with federal procurement regulations required?

Familiarity with federal procurement regulations, specifically Uniform Guidance, is preferred but not explicitly required.

What technology platforms should candidates be familiar with?

Candidates should have knowledge of procurement-related technology solutions such as Workday (Procurement), ServiceNow (Helpdesk support), and Jaggaer (P2P). Familiarity with other procurement tools like Sollod Technologies, Visual Compliance, and TealBook is strongly desired.

What kind of work environment should candidates expect in this position?

Candidates should expect a dynamic work environment where they will operate across a decentralized organization, prioritizing compliance and customer service while fostering inclusivity and professional development among team members.

What does the career development support look like for the Procurement Operations Team?

The role involves facilitating a positive career experience for team members, including professional development, succession planning, and providing active real-time feedback and formal performance assessments.

Does Northeastern University offer any benefits to employees?

Yes, Northeastern University offers a comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees, including medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness and life benefits, retirement plans, and commuting and transportation support.

How does Northeastern University approach diversity and inclusion in the workplace?

Northeastern University is committed to recruiting and supporting a diverse community of faculty and staff and strives to foster an inclusive culture built on respect for all individuals. They celebrate diversity in all its forms and are dedicated to maintaining inter-group relations that build cohesion.

Can candidates apply if they don’t meet every single qualification?

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, and candidates will receive consideration for employment regardless of whether they meet every listed qualification, as Northeastern values diverse experiences and skills.

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Northeastern University

Northeastern is a global, experiential, research university built on a tradition of engagement with the world.

Education
Industry
5001-10,000
Employees

Mission & Purpose

Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university with a distinctive, experience-driven approach to education and discovery. The university is a leader in experiential learning, powered by the world’s most far-reaching cooperative education program. We integrate classroom study with opportunities for professional work, research, service, and global learning in more than 100 countries. The same spirit of collaboration guides a use-inspired research enterprise focused on solving global challenges in health, security, and sustainability. Northeastern offers a comprehensive array of undergraduate and graduate programs leading to degrees through the doctorate in nine colleges and schools, and select graduate programs at campuses in Boston, Charlotte, N.C., San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and Toronto. Campuses in Burlington, MA, and Nahant, MA, are home to research institutes for homeland security and coastal sustainability, respectively.