University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Director, Strategic Procurement - Division of Finance

Job Profile Title

Director D, Business and Finance, Procurement

Job Description Summary

Reporting to the Chief Procurement Officer, the Director, Strategic Procurement will oversee strategic sourcing, strategic supplier relationship management (SSRM), category management, and sustainability programs. This position will oversee centrally-led efforts, while additionally supporting the strategic sourcing efforts initiated by Penn's Schools and Centers. The Director will collaborate within the department and across University administration to advance procurement tools and guidance that are offered to the Penn buying community.

This role is responsible for supplier selection, contract negotiations, vendor management, and requisition to purchase order review and approval. Responsible for establishing, managing, and improving all aspects of sourcing and supply management strategies.

This role leads and facilitates decision-making at the highest levels in key areas of financial management and strategic planning. This position will conduct objective analysis of the financial performance of certain departments and centers within Penn and will develop an in-depth understanding of the business and financial structure.

In the Division of Finance, we recognize diversity and inclusion is paramount to a positive and thriving work environment; it is a business imperative. We are committed to actively fostering diversity, inclusion and cultural competency throughout our operational efforts in the Division of Finance. This role will be critical in supporting those efforts and demonstrating behaviors and competencies that reflect Penn's values.

We take pride in the myriad ways that diversity enriches our curriculum, and the cultural and social life of our campus. Penn's commitment to achieving eminence through diversity is ultimately a commitment to creating a more vibrant university so that our graduates will be both stimulated and empowered to shape a better world.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities:

• Sourcing Pipeline Management: Maintain an ongoing playbook of centrally-led sourcing initiatives aimed at delivering optimal value to the University considering cost containment, risk mitigation, and sustainability.

• Strategic Supplier Relationship Management (SSRM): Establish formal and inclusive SSRM programs for key suppliers in each strategic category, with the objective to optimize the value of each relationship to the benefit of all parties; additionally lead effort to govern contracts by conducting regular audits on major contracts.

• Customer Relationship Management & Category Oversight: Establish and maintain strategic relationships with key customers, identifying opportunities to mold procurement strategy to fit the University's organizational strategy.

• Project Sourcing Support: Oversee the support of major sourcing initiatives borne out of strategic activity at the school/center level.

• Continuous Improvement - Sourcing Systems: In partnership with leadership and internal peers, drive continuous improvement efforts to implement and maintain the most effective sourcing tools for the University.

• University Sourcing Guidance, Tools, and Training: Establish and communicate useful guidance, tools, and training for the Penn buying community.

• Diversity & Inclusion: Lead efforts to drive meaningful impact in the area of supplier diversity and inclusion.

• Environmental Sustainability: Lead efforts to advance programs and practices that advance environmentally sustainable procurement.

• Organizational Leadership: Oversee a team focused on successful strategic outcomes working in collaboration with partners and peers; delegate responsibilities to ensure staff are engaged contributors

• Drive continuous improvement in supplier performance, business adoption, technology enhancements.

• Actively facilitate a broad range of technology development connections between Penn and the private sector. Whether the end result is a technology license, an R&D alliance, or the formation of a new venture, PCI serves as a dedicated one-stop shop for commercial partnering with Penn.

• Responsible for establishing category strategies and implementing strategic sourcing initiatives. Engaging with the internal customer and supplier base, this role has accountability for purchasing and leads the development and roll-out of strategic sourcing initiatives including supplier diversity across Penn.

• Directly manages a team of sourcing and contracts resources, e.g., strategic sourcing and contract specialists, buyers, analysts. Establish and monitor adherence to procurement policies and procedures to ensure compliance with all federal and state statutes, regulations, and policies. Manage changes to procurement policies, systems, and processes as they are rolled out across Penn departments.

• Works with resources in operations, legal, information technology, accounts payable. Participate in Penn's contract approval process, ensuring proper review and approval. Negotiate relevant terms with vendors.

• Seek opportunities to strategically evaluate existing suppliers and relationships. Perform financial analyses as needed to determine cost benefit of existing and potential agreements. Develop and execute analytics to critically assess existing vendor relationships and potential areas for savings.

• Conduct financial and operational analysis to support planning efforts that span a wide range of initiatives

• Analyze the consolidated budget, capital plans, multi-year financial plans, etc.; monitor current year budget to actual results. May manage the annual fiscal budget process

• Analyze data from various systems to produce regular and ad hoc financial reports

• Participate in review of operational processes and policies to ensure sound and consistent financial analysis protocol

• Provide staff mentoring and training and development for finance and business professionals. Manage a team.

• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned

Qualifications

• Master's degree and 7-10 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.

• High degree of integrity, initiative, and attention to detail.

• Experience utilizing strategic sourcing methodology, required.

• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

• Excellent software and reporting skills: MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

• Ability to demonstrate proven results with complex contract reading, writing and negotiation.

• High level of written and verbal communication skills, organizational planning, teamwork, analytical reasoning, and adaptability.

• Ability to work well with others in fast paced, dynamic environment.

• Ability to be respectful, approachable and team oriented while building strong working relationships and a positive work environment.

• Ability to work through complex, unstructured problems.

• Excellent skills to work collaboratively and act persuasively in sensitive situations; skills in conflict management techniques.

• Able to interpret and communicate, both verbally and in writing, highly complex, and often highly technical information in a clear and concise manner.

• Able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.

• Demonstrated organizational and prioritization skills, along with the ability to work within tight and often conflicting deadlines.

• Must be flexible, show effective judgement, discretion and have the ability to handle confidential financial matters.

• Work effectively in a highly matrixed and decentralized environment with the ability to navigate through ambiguity and demonstrate appreciation and support for diversity, inclusion and belonging in a constantly evolving academic/higher education environment.

  Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Division of Finance

Pay Range

$90,860.00 - $175,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile.

Affirmative Action Statement Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.

Special Requirements Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts : Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

• Tuition : Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits . You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

• Wellness and Work-life Resources : Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

• Discounts and Special Services : From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

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  To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay

  The University of Pennsylvania's special character is reflected in the diversity of the Penn community. We seek talented faculty and staff who will constitute a vibrant community that draws on the strength that comes with a substantive institutional commitment to diversity along dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, veteran status, interests, perspectives, and socioeconomic status. Grounded in equal opportunity, nondiscrimination, and affirmative action, Penn's robust commitment to diversity is fundamental to the University's mission of advancing knowledge, educating leaders for all sectors of society, and public service. The University of Pennsylvania prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.