Director of Procurement and Contract Services

Kansas State University; Manhattan (KS); On-site; USD 130,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

Kansas State University seeks a Director of Procurement and Contract Services to lead strategic procurement, contracting, and supplier engagement. This role reports to the AVP of Accounting and Procurement and drives initiatives that optimize resources, mitigate risk, and improve operational excellence across the university.

The successful candidate will build relationships, implement best practices, and lead high‑performing teams.

Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor's degree and five years of relevant experience.
• Education beyond the minimum degree may count toward required experience as deemed by the hiring manager.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of procurement strategies, programs, policies, and services.
• Provide leadership and oversight of competitive solicitation processes and contracts, including RFPs, RFQs, and ITBs, negotiation of contracts, and risk mitigation.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to university leadership, departments, and business units on procurement strategy, contracting, supplier management, and risk considerations.
• Collaborate with General Counsel, IT, Financial Services, Research administration, Facilities, and other partners to support institutional priorities and effective contract management.
• Establish clear performance expectations, accountability measures, and professional development opportunities for staff.
• Develop and present reports, dashboards, and recommendations to university leadership regarding procurement activities, opportunities, savings, risk mitigation, and service outcomes.

Skills

Procurement leadership

Strategic sourcing

Contract management

Risk management

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

About This Role

The Director of Procurement and Contract Services serves as the university's leader for strategic procurement, contracting, and supplier engagement initiatives. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Accounting and Procurement, this position provides vision, leadership, and oversight for the institution's procurement and contract services functions while fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, stewardship, and continuous improvement.

The Director is responsible for developing and executing procurement strategies that advance the university's mission, optimize resources, mitigate risk, and promote operational excellence. This role partners extensively with academic and administrative leaders to identify opportunities for strategic sourcing, process improvement, supplier engagement, and contract management while ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state, Kansas Board of Regents and institutional requirements.

The successful candidate will be a collaborative leader with experience building relationships across diverse stakeholder groups, implementing best practices, leading organizational change, and developing high‑performing teams. Experience in higher education is valued but not required. Candidates with procurement, supply chain, contract management, strategic sourcing, operations, or business leadership experience from public, private, nonprofit, healthcare, government, or other complex organizations are strongly encouraged to apply.

Specific Job Responsibilities:

• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of procurement strategies, programs, policies, and services.
• Provide leadership and oversight of competitive solicitation processes and contracts, including requests for proposals, requests for quotations, invitations for bids, negotiation of contracts, and mitigation of risks.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to university leadership, departments, and business units on procurement strategy, contracting, supplier management, and risk considerations.
• Collaborate with the Office of General Counsel, Division of Information Technology, Division of Financial Services, Vice President for Research administrative units, Division of Facilities, and other partners to support institutional priorities and effective contract management.
• Establish clear performance expectations, accountability measures, and professional development opportunities for staff.
• Develop and present reports, dashboards, and recommendations to university leadership regarding procurement activities, opportunities, savings, risk mitigation, and service outcomes.

About Us

The Division of Financial Services at Kansas State University supports the university's mission of teaching, research, and service by providing strategic financial leadership, stewardship, and operational excellence. As part of Kansas State University, our team partners with campus units to deliver high‑quality services in shared services financial and budgeting support, accounting, financial reporting, procurement, travel, and compliance. We are committed to integrity, innovation, and continuous improvement, leveraging data, technology, and collaborative relationships to ensure responsible resource management and an exceptional service experience for the K-State community.

Worksite Description

This position is On‑site.

All employees must reside in the United States when they begin working to comply with state law. K-State is unable to provide remote or hybrid work opportunities for residents of the state of Idaho.

What You'll Need to Succeed

Minimum Qualifications:

• Requires a bachelor's degree and five years of relevant experience.
• Education beyond the minimum degree requirement may count toward required experience if deemed relevant by the hiring manager. The degree requirement ensures candidates possess the financial acumen, strategic leadership and organizational management skills necessary to oversee complex business operations, develop and implement growth strategies and ensure regulatory compliance. These competencies are typically developed and rigorously validated only through the comprehensive curriculum and experiential learning inherent in a formal degree program.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience leading procurement, strategic sourcing, contract management, or supply chain functions within a large, complex organization.
• Demonstrated success developing and implementing procurement strategies, policies, procedures, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience leading organizational change, business process improvements, and procurement technology implementations.
• Strong knowledge of procurement compliance, contract administration, risk management, and competitive solicitation practices.
• Proven ability to build collaborative relationships, influence stakeholders, and lead cross‑functional teams.
• Professional procurement certification (e.g., CPSM, CPPO, CPPB, NIGP-CPP) and/or a master's degree in business, public administration, supply chain, finance, or a related field.

Sponsorship eligibility:

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship

Application Window

Applications close on: November 19, 2026

Anticipated Hiring Pay Range

$130,000-$175,000