Executive Director, Strategic Procurement

The Office of Business and Financial Affairs is comprised of a diverse group of experts in multiple fieldssupporting financial operational and administrative activities for the University of Denver. Our passion is working together and collaborating with other departments to reduce the administrative burden on Faculty and Staff so that they can focus on supporting the education of our students. We strive to be a trusted and innovative partner delivering exemplary administrative services in support of the DU community

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 Universitys 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 Controllers 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 Universitys business operations and long-term success.

Essential Functions

• Provide enterprise leadership for the Universitys 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

• Bachelors 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

• Masters 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 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 $175000-$185000.

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 candidates 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

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex (including sex stereotypes sex characteristics sexual orientation gender identity and gender expression) marital family or parental status pregnancy or related conditions national origin disability or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race color national origin ancestry age religion creed disability sex (including sex stereotypes sex characteristics sexual orientation gender identity and gender expression) marital family and parental status pregnancy genetic information military enlistment or veteran status and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal state or local law regulation or ordinance in any of the Universitys educational programs and activities and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Workers Rights (POWR) Act; and any other federal state and local laws regulations or ordinances that prohibit discrimination harassment and/or retaliation. For more information please see the University of Denvers NonDiscriminationStatement.

All offers of employment are based upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history and National Sex Offender Registry background check.