About the Department:

The Purchasing and Accounts Payable Department at George Mason University plays a vital role in supporting the university's mission by ensuring the efficient and accurate management of financial transactions. As a key subset of the Fiscal Services Department, the Purchasing and Accounts Payable team is responsible for overseeing the complete procure-to-pay and strategic sourcing cycle, to include the procurement of goods and services, contract negotiation, processing invoices, and ensuring timely payments to vendors. Our department is dedicated to best practices in procurement, maintaining compliance with all local, state, federal and university policies, providing excellent customer service, and fostering transparency and accountability in all financial operations. We are committed to supporting the university community by delivering streamlined and effective purchasing and payment solutions that align with the institution's goals and values.

About the Position:

The Director of Strategic sourcing plays a critical role in advancing the procurement strategy and operational efficiency of George Mason University. This leadership position is tasked with overseeing the day-to-day activities of the purchasing function, ensuring that the university’s procurement processes are compliant, cost-effective, and strategically aligned with the institution's goals. The Director is responsible for the full lifecycle of procurement operations, including small-dollar acquisitions, competitive solicitations, sole-source justifications, and contract negotiations, while ensuring that all transactions adhere to state and federal regulations, as well as university policies.

In addition to managing the daily procurement activities, the Director will lead efforts to streamline procurement workflows, reduce operational bottlenecks, and minimize cycle times. The position involves collaborating closely with various university departments to understand their needs and ensure that purchasing activities are conducted in a way that supports academic, administrative, and operational objectives. The Director will also serve as a key advocate for strategic sourcing, leveraging data analytics to guide procurement decisions, drive cost savings, and optimize supplier relationships.

The Director will be instrumental in developing and implementing procurement policies, enhancing vendor management practices, and driving continuous improvements in procurement processes. Additionally, the Director will represent George Mason University at procurement-related conferences and consortia, networking with peers in the industry and higher education to stay at the forefront of procurement best practices.

Responsibilities:

• Oversees and optimizes the full lifecycle of procurement operations, ensuring strict adherence to state and university regulations.
• Manages and refines transactional purchasing activities, including small-dollar acquisitions, cooperative contracts, competitive solicitations, and sole-source justifications;
• Develops, implements, and continuously improves procurement processes to enhance operational efficiency, minimize risk, and ensure compliance with financial policies and audit requirements;
• Manages urgent and high-priority procurement transactions with a balanced approach that ensures speed, regulatory compliance, and fiscal responsibility;
• Designs and implements streamlined procurement workflows that enhance efficiency, reduce cycle times, and eliminate bottlenecks in procurement service delivery while maintaining strict adherence to financial oversight policies;
• Engages in proactive and comprehensive outreach to the Mason community to establish priorities for strategic sourcing and highlight pricing, customer service and compliance benefits associated with the use of preferred vendors;
• Builds and maintains business relationships with academic and administrative purchasing leads and staff to ensure sourcing and contracting activities overseen by Director;
• Rigorously uses spending-related data and analytics tools to guide strategic sourcing initiatives;
• Recommends and maintains key performance indicators for measuring the effectiveness and efficiency of strategic sourcing initiatives and contracting practices;
• Leads the development and execution of strategic sourcing initiatives that align with the university’s financial and operational objectives;
• Coordinates with the Director of Contacts, leads RFP processes from start to finish for projects that vary in complexity, visibility, and priority;
• Supervises and provides strategic leadership to all Senior Buyers and the Strategic Sourcing Manager;
• Defines and enforces procurement performance metrics, develops and implements comprehensive training programs, and drives continuous process improvements;
• Provides mentorship and guidance to staff to cultivate a high-performing procurement team that adheres to best practices, regulatory requirements, and institutional policies;
• Conduct data-driven procurement analysis and provide strategic recommendations on industry trends, policy updates, regulatory changes, and cost-saving initiatives to enhance the university’s purchasing framework and operational agility; and
• Represents Mason at procurement-related conferences and consortia to network with professional peers in industry and higher education about best sourcing and contracting practices and build strategic relationships.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field or the equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Extensive experience in procurement operations, strategic sourcing, and supplier negotiations;
• Experience managing procurement teams and overseeing compliance with public procurement laws;
• Proven track record of implementing cost-saving procurement strategies, process automation, and policy development;
• Experience managing procurement for higher education, large public institutions, or government agencies;
• Extensive knowledge of procurement regulations, public-sector purchasing practices, and strategic sourcing principles;
• Extensive knowledge to manage large-scale procurement operations, negotiate supplier agreements, and optimize purchasing decisions;
• Proven understanding of Virginia state procurement laws and higher education purchasing requirements;
• Proven analytical and problem-solving skills, with expertise in cost optimization, spend analysis, and contract negotiation;
• Proficiency in e-procurement platforms, contract lifecycle management systems, and procurement data analytics;
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with experience in presenting procurement strategies, developing policies, and influencing executive leadership; and
• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and develop procurement teams in a fast-paced, compliance-driven environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in related field;
• Experience in higher education procurement or public-sector procurement leadership roles;
• Experience optimizing procurement workflows, automating purchasing systems, and implementing enterprise-wide strategic sourcing initiatives;
• Extensive knowledge of Virginia state procurement laws and higher education purchasing requirements;
• Advanced knowledge of e-procurement platforms and contract lifecycle management systems;
• Knowledge of sustainability initiatives, and supplier programs in procurement;
• Demonstrated ability to manage procurement policies, enhance vendor management practices, and lead procurement transformation initiatives; and
• Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO) or Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) or equivalent preferred.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Director, Strategic Sourcing at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a Cover Letter/Letter of Intent with Resume for review.

Posting Open Date: March 28, 2025

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  April 3, 2025

Open Until Filled:  Yes