Executive Director, Strategic Procurement

Job no: 498866
Work type: Staff Full-Time
Location: Denver, CO
Categories: Accounting / Finance, Business Operations / Services, Admin / Executive / Office Support
Division: University Financial Services

Position Summary

The Executive Director of Strategic Procurement is a high-impact leadership role for a strategic, forward-thinking professional who can shape and modernize the University's procurement-to-pay operations. This leader provides enterprise-wide leadership for strategic sourcing, procurement, contract management, tax compliance, accounts payable, and travel management, while leading a talented team of more than 11 professional and administrative staff. The role offers the opportunity to influence institutional strategy, strengthen operational excellence, and deliver meaningful value through innovation, implementation of leading-edge technologies, process improvement, and data-informed decision-making. The Executive Director partners with senior leaders across the University, including deans, vice chancellors, business officers, faculty, staff, students, and external suppliers, to build strong relationships, enhance service delivery, and advance institutional priorities. Reporting to the Senior Vice Chancellor for Business and Financial Affairs, and in close collaboration with the Controller's Office, Enterprise Risk Management, Office of the Provost, and the Office of General Counsel, this leader ensures sound stewardship, regulatory compliance, and effective governance while championing modern solutions that elevate the University's business operations and long-term success.

Essential Functions

• Provide enterprise leadership for the University's procurement-to-pay functions, including strategic sourcing, procurement, contract management, accounts payable, tax compliance, and travel management.
• Set and execute a strategic vision that strengthens procurement operations, modernizes service delivery, and supports institutional priorities.
• Lead high-value sourcing initiatives, supplier negotiations, and contracting strategies to optimize cost, quality, service, and risk management.
• Drive transformation through policy development, process redesign, technology enablement, and data-informed decision-making.
• Partner with senior leaders and campus stakeholders to identify opportunities for operational improvement, strategic investment, and enhanced customer experience.
• Advance a culture of accountability, service excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement across the organization.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, governance requirements, and University policies through strong cross-functional collaboration and effective controls.
• Provide financial and operational leadership through planning, performance monitoring, risk assessment, and resource stewardship.
• Use market intelligence, supplier insights, and institutional data to inform strategy, guide decision-making, and enhance outcomes.
• Recruit, develop, and lead a high-performing team while fostering professional growth, engagement, and clear accountability for results.

Management Duties:

• This role requires a confident, strategic, and highly collaborative leader who can operate effectively in a complex environment and bring credibility to executive-level conversations and institutional decision-making. The Executive Director must be able to lead through change, influence across organizational boundaries, and inspire a high-performing team to deliver exceptional results. The successful candidate will combine strong operational discipline with a forward-looking mindset and a commitment to building an inclusive, service-oriented culture that values innovation, partnership, and accountability.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to build and foster a high performing culture and organization
• Strategic leadership and operational management competencies
• Proven ability to develop innovative approaches to complex issues
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Project management skills
• Demonstrated focus on customer service and compliance

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, economics, finance, logistics, supply chain management, public administration, or a related field. (Veterans with equivalent combination of military certification/education and experience may substitute for the degree qualification.)
• 10 years of relevant experience
• Progressive leadership experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, supply chain, finance, or related business operations.
• Demonstrated success leading teams, setting strategic direction, and achieving measurable operational results.
• Experience leading complex sourcing, contracting, supplier management, or procurement transformation initiatives leveraging leading-edge technologies.
• Experience with modern procurement or sourcing platforms such as Jaggaer, Coupa, SAP Ariba, or similar systems.
• Strong executive presence, communication, negotiation, and relationship-management skills.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving capabilities, with the ability to use data to guide decisions and improve performance.
• Ability to lead multiple priorities in a complex environment while maintaining a strong commitment to service excellence

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in business administration, public administration, finance, supply chain management, or a related field.
• Significant senior leadership experience in procurement, financial services, shared services, or similarly complex business operations.
• Experience in higher education, public sector procurement, healthcare, or another highly regulated environment.
• Experience with ERP systems such as Banner or comparable enterprise platforms.
• Demonstrated success leading business transformation, process redesign, technology implementation, or change management initiatives.
• Professional certification such as CPSM, CPM, CPPO, CPPB, or a related credential.
• 15+ years revelant experience.

Working Environment

• Standard office environment.
• Unexpected interruptions occur often and stress level is moderate to high.
• Noise level is quiet to moderate.

Physical Activities

• Ability to work in front of a computer for extended periods of time.
• Occasionally required to move about the office/campus.

Work Schedule
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. This position will work on-site on the University of Denver campus.

Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) July 31st, 2026.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is 17.

Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $175,000-$185,000.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate's sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

Advertised: July 08, 2026
Applications close: July 31, 2026

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