Chief Procurement Officer

The California State University; City of Westminster; Hybrid; GBP 186,000 - 217,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent educational institution is seeking a Chief Procurement Officer to lead systemwide procurement strategies and initiatives. This role demands extensive experience in procurement management, excellent negotiation skills, and a strong understanding of vendor management. The position offers a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits including health and dental plans, and supports telecommuting options for enhanced work-life balance. Candidates must possess a bachelor's degree and ideally an MBA, along with a proven track record in procurement leadership.

Benefits

Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits

Generous vacation plan and paid holidays

Tuition waiver program for employees and eligible family members

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience leading procurement across complex organizations.
• Strong knowledge of competitive bidding processes and vendor management.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills for engaging internal and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate strategic sourcing contracts and e-Procurement initiatives.
• Collaborate with campuses to leverage existing procurement contracts.
• Establish consistent procurement policies compliant with regulations.

Skills

Vendor negotiations

Strategic sourcing

Procurement management

Change management

Interpersonal communication

Spend analytics

Compliance knowledge

ERP software knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA preferred

Advanced certification in procurement (CPM)

Tools

Jaggaer

Procure-to-pay systems

Job description

Chancellor's Office Statement

Join our team at the California State University, Office of the Chancellor, and make a difference in providing access to higher education. We are currently seeking experienced candidates for the position of Chief Procurement Officer. The CSU Chancellor's Office, located on the waterfront adjacent to the Aquarium of the Pacific in downtown Long Beach, is the headquarters for the nation's largest and most diverse system of higher education. The CSU Chancellor's Office offers a premium benefit package that includes outstanding vacation, health, and dental plans; a fee waiver education program; membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (PERS); and 15 paid holidays a year.

Salary

The anticipated salary hiring range is up to $268,176 per year, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Classification: Administrator IV

Premium Benefits

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits
• Generous vacation plan and paid holidays
• Tuition waiver program for employees and eligible family members

Membership in CalPERS

• Professional development support and opportunities for regional and systemwide collaboration

Position Information

The California State University, Office of the Chancellor, is seeking a Chief Procurement Officer to facilitate the development of systemwide strategic sourcing contracts, systemwide P-card programs and systemwide e-Procurement initiatives, facilitate systemwide implementation of Jaggaer and ensure good stewardship of the CSU resources. This critical role reports to the Executive Vice Chancellor / Chief Financial Officer (EVC / CFO) for the California State University.

This position is approved for telecommuting (two days telecommuting, three days in office) with onsite work at the main headquarters located in Long Beach, California.

Responsibilities

Under the general direction of the Interim Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Procurement Officer will:

• Work collaboratively as a change agent with Chief Administrative and Business Officers (CABO) on all campus procurement initiatives to create an innovative and responsive system of procurement that will drive savings.
• Collaborate with procurement leaders at the UC and FCCC systems to bundle spend as well as leverage existing centers-of-excellence, category expertise, and contracts throughout the CSU system.
• Develop a roadmap for progressive and incremental change across the entire supply chain by utilizing best practices in all aspects of procurement and end-to-end supply chain.
• Establish consistent contracting policies and procedures systemwide that comply with existing statewide laws, procedures, and regulations.
• Develop and implement policies on procurement to assure compliance with upcoming changes in statewide regulations, law and procedures.
• Advocate on behalf of the CSU with external agencies and external stakeholders on all matters relating to procurement.
• Establish Chancellor's Office and systemwide metrics, cost savings, and measurable goals for procurement.
• Develop organizational capabilities for strategic sourcing from the systemwide strategic sourcing / procurement office.
• Establish a true strategic and operational partnership with entire the procurement organization at the UC and FCCC systems.
• Develop and execute strategic sourcing initiatives, establish targets of cost savings with CABO at the CSU, and determine the overall financial impact.
• Develop and implement systemwide strategic partnerships, establish revenue generation and student benefit targets with campus CPOs, and other stakeholders at the CSU.
• Convey the existence of new strategic sourcing and partnership agreements to internal customers systemwide.
• Utilize spend analytics to convey a strategic vision to internal stakeholders and create a value proposition for strategic sourcing and bundling spend.
• Work closely with all internal stakeholders on any strategic sourcing initiatives. Include internal stakeholders early on for any initiatives that are launched.
• Find synergies across the university and convey a future vision of a highly responsive customer service procurement organization.
• Be a trusted advisor and subject matter expert to campus Chief Procurement Officers, Directors of Procurement, CABO, EVC / CFO, as well as to the Office of the Chancellor.
• Establish both short-term and long-term financial targets for systemwide procurement savings in conjunction with the EVC / CFO. Measure and validate all savings across the system.
• Be a consistent change agent and advocate of strategic sourcing while collaborating with internal stakeholders.
• Build out an organization and infrastructure that is highly responsive to internal customers.

Qualifications

This position requires:

• Bachelor's degree required. MBA preferred. Advanced certification in procurement (CPM) would be an asset.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience leading indirect procurement across complex organizations.
• Strong knowledge of vendor negotiations, competitive bidding, RFI, RFQ and RFP process, strategic sourcing, e-Procurement, procure-to-pay, and vendor management. Experience with Jaggaer would be beneficial.
• Track record of having refined a category-led (center-led) procurement infrastructure.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills (including active listening) in engaging internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong working knowledge of end-to-end procurement.
• Previous experience in implementing and / or managing full cycle procure-to-pay systems.
• Adept at developing, utilizing spend analytics and sharing spend analytics with CABO.
• Consistent track record of being a successful change agent.
• Achieved significant transformational change in an organization that is complex with a highly decentralized spend in a regulated environment.
• Strong knowledge of ERP software.
• Highly knowledgeable of enhancing e-Procurement system.
• Seasoned in interacting with general counsel on contracts.
• Quantitative approach to the decision-making process.
• Understanding of how to drive change through metrics and spend analytics.
• Long track record of successfully engaging internal and external stakeholders as a trusted advisor at all levels.
• Extensive experience in managing P-card programs.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Seasoned in coaching, recruiting new talent, and managing reports to achieve optimal performance.
• Executive presence with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
• Passionate about the mission of public higher education.
• High degree of integrity and professionalism in all interactions.
• Articulate communicator. Seasoned in public speaking with very large groups.
• Inspirational and motivational approach to leading transformational change.
• Highly strategic thinker.
• Represent the Office of the Chancellor in a highly professional way.
• Excellent skills in being an advocate on the CSU's behalf with external stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing and implementing strategic partnerships is preferred.
• Experience managing a minimum spend of $300 million is preferred.

Application Period

Priority consideration will be given to candidates who apply by December 10, 2025. Applications will be accepted until the job posting is removed.

How To Apply

Please click "Apply Now" to complete the California State University, Chancellor's Office online employment application.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, the CSU provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who self-disclose by contacting the Senior Human Resources Manager at [phone].

Title IX

Please view the Notice of Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Gender or Sex and Contact Information for Title IX Coordinator at E-Verify

E-Verify

This position requires new hire employment verification to be processed through the E-Verify program administered by the Department of Homeland Security and Citizenship and Immigration Services (DHS USCIS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA). If hired, you will be required to furnish proof that you are legally authorized to work in the United States. The CSU Chancellor’s Office is not a sponsoring agency for staff and Management positions.

COVID19 Vaccination Policy

Per the CDC and CDPH guidelines, it is strongly recommended that all Chancellor’s Office employees who are accessing office and campus facilities follow COVID-19 vaccine recommendations adopted by the CDC and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) applicable to their age, medical condition, and other relevant indications.

Mandated Reporter Per CANRA

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

Conflict of Interest

The duties of this position will include participation in decisions that may have a material financial benefit to the incumbent. Therefore, the selected candidate will be required to file Conflict of Interest Form 700: Statement of Economic Interest when they first occupy the position, and on an annual basis, complete ethics training within 6 months of appointment, and attend this training every other year thereafter.

CSU Out of State Employment Policy

California State University, Office of the Chancellor, as part of the CSU system, is a State of California Employer. As such, the University requires all employees upon date of hire to reside in the State of California. As of January 1, 2022, the CSU prohibits the hiring of employees to perform CSU-related work outside the state of California.

Background

The Chancellor's Office policy requires that the selected candidate successfully complete a full background check (including a criminal records check) prior to assuming this position.