Director of Purchasing

Job Description:

Reporting to the Associate Vice President, Accounting and Treasury Management, the Director of Purchasing is responsible for strategic leadership and operational oversight of the University's purchasing, asset management, inventory control, and mail & copy center functions. The Director ensures cost-effective, compliant, and ethical procurement practices that support the University's academic and administrative mission, while mitigating risk and maximizing institutional value.

Strategic Procurement & Sourcing
Lead the development and execution of a university-wide procurement strategy aligned with institutional financial goals, sustainability commitments, and risk management standards.

Oversee strategic sourcing initiatives, including spend analysis, contract consolidation, cooperative purchasing, and supplier rationalization to drive measurable cost savings and service improvements.

Direct competitive procurement processes, including RFPs, RFQs, and sole-source justifications, ensuring transparency, fairness, and regulatory compliance.

Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on market trends, pricing risks, and contract strategy.

Identify and leverage consortia, group purchasing organizations (GPOs), and higher education cooperatives to enhance purchasing power

Policy, Compliance & Risk Management
Establish, maintain, and continuously improve procurement policies, procedures, internal controls, and approval thresholds consistent with higher education best practices and audit standards.

Ensure compliance with federal and state regulations, grant and contract requirements, donor restrictions, and internal audit recommendations.

Oversee contract lifecycle management, including review, execution, compliance monitoring, renewals, and risk mitigation in collaboration with General Counsel and Finance.

Maintain institutional readiness for internal and external audits, accreditation reviews, and regulatory inquiries related to procurement activity.

Operational Leadership & Service Delivery
Direct daily purchasing operations to ensure timely, accurate, and customer-focused service delivery to academic and administrative departments.

Oversee the full administration of the Procurement Card (P-Card) program, including policy enforcement, training, monitoring, analytics, and corrective action.

Partner with departments to improve requisition planning, reduce cycle times, and support total cost of ownership decision making rather than price-only purchasing.

Supervise asset management and inventory control programs, ensuring proper tagging, safeguarding, lifecycle tracking, and surplus disposition in coordination with Public Safety and Facilities.

Technology & Data Driven Procurement
Lead the effective use and optimization of procurement systems, including ERP modules, e-procurement platforms, catalogs, contract repositories, and workflow automation tools.

Develop and deliver dashboards, KPIs, and analytics related to spend visibility, supplier performance, compliance, and savings realization.

Champion continuous process improvement through automation, standardization, and digital transformation of purchasing workflows.

Vendor Management & Supplier Diversity
Build and maintain strong, ethical, and collaborative relationships with a diverse vendor base, ensuring competitive pricing, service quality, and accountability.

Expand and measure participation in small, minority-owned, women-owned, and local business enterprises, aligning with institutional goals.

Represent the University with external organizations that promote inclusive procurement and supplier development.

Financial Stewardship & Budget Management
Develop and manage operating budgets for purchasing, mail, and copy center operations, ensuring responsible stewardship of institutional resources.

Quantify, track, and report cost savings, cost avoidance, and value creation generated through procurement initiatives.

Collaborate with campus partners to support cash flow management, fiscal controls, and year-end close activities.

Leadership, Training & Campus Partnership
Supervise, mentor, and develop purchasing and auxiliary services staff, fostering a culture of service excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Design and deliver ongoing training programs for faculty and staff related to procurement policies, ethical purchasing, P-Cards, and contract compliance.

Serve on institutional committees, including the Sustainability Committee and Capital Expenditure Committee, contributing procurement expertise to campus-wide initiatives.

Additional Functions
Participate in regional and national higher education purchasing organizations and professional associations.

Stay current on procurement regulations, higher education trends, sustainability practices, and supply chain innovations.



Requirements:

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Finance, or a related field.

Minimum 5-8 years of progressive procurement or supply chain leadership experience, preferably within higher education or a similarly complex nonprofit environment.

Preferred Qualifications
Master's Degree.

Demonstrated experience with strategic sourcing, contract management, and ERP/e-procurement systems.

Strong analytical, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.

Knowledge of public sector, higher education, or grant-funded procurement regulations.

At the University's discretion, the education and experience prerequisites may be excepted where the candidate can demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the University, an equivalent combination of education and experience specifically preparing the candidate for success in the position.



Additional Information:

Roger Williams University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and committed to a diverse workforce. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other basis protected by applicable state and federal law. For information on our Non-discrimination policy, visit here.

RWU prohibits all forms of discrimination on the basis of sex in its education programs and activities and is required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) and its implementing regulations not to discriminate in such a manner. Complaints of Title IX sexual harassment should be reported to the Title IX Coordinator at the contact information listed below. Details regarding the formal complaint process can be found here: Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy and Procedures. All complaints of sexual harassment will be taken seriously and responded to promptly. TITLE IX COORDINATOR : Dr. Jen Stanley, 1 Old Ferry Road, Bristol, RI 02809 / Phone Number: View phone number on click.appcast.io /Email Address: View email address on click.appcast.io



Application Instructions:

Please attach a resume, cover letter, and list of three (3) professional references.

URL: Roger Williams University

Department:

Purchasing