Northwestern University · 1 day ago
Director of Purchasing & Strategic Sourcing (Hybrid)
Evanston, IL
Full-time
Hybrid
Lead/Staff, Director/Executive
$124K/yr - $160K/yr
5+ years expNorthwestern University is a leading educational institution, and they are seeking a Director of Purchasing & Strategic Sourcing to lead their Strategic Sourcing and Purchasing team. The role involves overseeing procurement processes, managing contracts, and ensuring compliance with policies while fostering collaboration with various stakeholders.
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Responsibilities
Supervise the Strategic Sourcing and Purchasing team, including hiring, training, performance evaluations, and terminations
Assign and balance workload across staff; monitor project progress and provide ongoing feedback
Provide direct oversight for high-profile bids and contracts
Act as the internal escalation point for procurement and payment-related issues; implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence
Continually stay informed and train your team on industry best practices, regulatory changes, and emerging procurement solutions
Assist with budget management and long-term planning within Procurement and Payment Services
Represent the Assistant Vice President as needed in meetings and decision-making forums
Lead or support high-visibility procurement projects and manage a select portfolio of strategic contracts
Oversee the full Invitation to Bid (ITB) process, including review and approval of bid documents, award decisions, and contracts
Ensure compliance with University purchasing policies, procedures, and applicable federal and state regulations
Provide oversight for Purchasing-required approvals and ensure contract compliance through post-audit reviews and policy consultation
Identify and pursue opportunities for process improvement, automation, and strategic cost savings across the procure-to-pay lifecycle
Analyze spending patterns and trends to identify future contracting opportunities and inform university business decisions
Develop and evaluate procurement-related metrics, reports, and key performance indicators (KPIs)
Foster strong, collaborative relationships with departments, schools, and campus stakeholders
Contributes to the development of procurement-related communications, including forms, website content, training materials, newsletters, and strategic messaging
Service as a representative to the vendor community to promote partnership opportunities
Represent Northwestern at peer networks, relevant industry conferences, and local business events
Performs other duties as assigned
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in business and management or related field required
Five to ten years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, purchasing, or related procurement functions
Demonstrated ability to lead and collaborate effectively across diverse stakeholder groups
Strong analytical skills, with the ability to compile, interpret, and act on data to support decision-making and problem-solving
Excellent organizational, time management, and communication skills—both written and verbal
Proficiency in relevant business software and procurement systems
In-depth knowledge of procurement and payment processes, best practices, and regulatory requirements
Proven ability to manage multiple priorities independently, exercise sound judgment, and adapt in a dynamic environment
Capacity to understand and apply University policies and procedures appropriately in various operational contexts
Preferred
Experience working at a higher education institution and/or or similarly complex, decentralized environment
Experience supervising high-performing professional staff, including responsibility for hiring, performance management, workload distribution, and staff development
Experience with other purchasing (e.g. Jaggaer-eProcurement, contract management)
Expertise with PeopleSoft Financials
Benefits
Meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans
Retirement benefits
Tuition discounts
Comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities
Flexible work arrangements
Programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care
Employee career development in all circumstances
Variety of tools and resources
Company
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research and teaching university that offers academic programs across various fields of study. It is a sub-organization of Northwestern Athletics.
5001-10000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Northwestern University has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (325)
2024 (308)
2023 (280)
2022 (282)
2021 (184)
2020 (155)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$98.02MKey Investors
National Peanut BoardAdvanced Research Projects Agency for HealthGRAMMY Museum
2024-10-30Grant
2024-10-04Grant· $34M
2023-11-28Grant· $0.02M
Leadership Team
Diego Klabjan
Professor
Henry Bienen
Interim President
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