Lead Procurement Purchase Order Specialist - Remote Opportunity

KinderCare Education; Beaverton (OR); Remote; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading early childhood education provider as a Purchase Order Manager. In this role, you will oversee the lifecycle of Purchase Orders, ensuring compliance and accuracy while collaborating with finance and suppliers. With a focus on process improvement, you will help streamline operations and support the mission of providing quality child care. Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including discounted child care and health benefits, while making a significant impact in the community.

Benefits

Discounted child care benefits

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

Employee assistance programs

Health and wellness programs

Paid time off

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of Purchase Order lifecycle.
• Proven track record in procurement or finance operations.
• Experience with Procurement systems preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage full lifecycle of Purchase Orders including creation and reconciliation.
• Monitor invoice spend and perform change orders.
• Act as subject matter expert on PO processes.

Skills

Organizational skills

Collaboration

Communication

Attention to detail

Initiative

Excel proficiency

MS Word skills

Education

College degree in supply chain or related field

Job description

Futures start here. Where first steps, new friendships, and confident learners are born. At KinderCare Learning Companies, the first and only early childhood education provider recognized with the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award, we offer a variety of early education and child care options for families. Whether it’s KinderCare Learning Centers, Champions, or Crème de la Crème, we build confidence for kids, families, and the future we share. And we want you to join us in shaping it—in neighborhoods, at work, and in schools nationwide.

At KinderCare Learning Companies, you’ll use your skills and expertise to support the work (and fun) that happens in our sites and centers every day. From marketers and strategists to financial analysts and data engineers, and so much more, we’re all passionate about crafting a world where children, families, and organizations can thrive.

We are seeking a detail-oriented and proactive professional to manage the full lifecycle of Purchase Orders (POs), including creation, change orders, monitoring spend, and reconciliation. This role will be responsible for all non-catalog POs such as blanket, and contingent labor POs, ensuring POs are issued timely with accurate funding and in compliance with internal requirements while coordinating closely with Finance, functional teams and suppliers. The ideal candidate will act as a subject matter expert (SME) on PO processes and will find opportunities for process improvements. Responsibilities also include maintaining the contract database and supporting contract amendments. This role will also support the product catalog and its related processes and perform system testing.

Responsibilities:

1. Creation of all Purchase Orders used to load large invoice files for processing (“bulk load PO’s”)
2. Monitor invoice spend posted to PO funded for all blanket (including contingent labor) and bulk load; Reconcile invoices and close out POs
3. PO’s, calling out spend trends which will overconsume PO
4. Perform all change orders, coordinating with Finance for spend approval, functional owners and Suppliers
5. Build and maintain all Contingent Labor POs, identifying weekly new contractors and term extensions
6. Create all blanket POs for all frequent invoice vendors which cannot be facilitated through bulk load and for all SOW’s
7. Review all non-catalog Purchase Requisitions to validate contracted/acceptable supplier, acceptable product, and price
8. Continually assess spend and purchases to proactively identify new bulk and blanket POs
9. Manage the process for regular reviews of bulk upload invoice charges, creating and formatting files to facilitate review, acting on any findings that are an outcome to pursue credits from Suppliers
10. Amend contracts to formalize agreement to the new PO process and train Suppliers on PO Process requirements for invoices, training on the bulk load invoice format requirements
11. Act as the SME for the PO process, both in training partners on their role in the process, requirements for their suppliers and in determining process improvements
12. Coordinate with functional partners such as Finance on funding and cost center approvals
13. Maintain the contract database, filing documents and ensuring the metadata is correct and up to date
14. Backup and support the product catalog maintenance and Center ordering issues
15. Perform system testing for fixes and updates

Qualifications:

1. A college degree in supply chain or related field of study or an equivalent number of years of experience in procurement, finance operations, or related field, with strong understanding of Purchase Order lifecycle
2. Strong organizational skills with proven track record to build and maintain clear tracking documents to evidence full scope is addressed and up to date process status
3. Collaboration and communication skills to work with multiple partners, including Finance, Suppliers, and internal functional partners
4. Meticulous with the ability to ensure all PO content is complete and accurate
5. Self-starter who takes initiative to find answers and solutions
6. System skills including intermediate Excel including calculations and pivot tables, MS Word skills including editing/tracking changes, formatting with an attention for detail and excellent writing with clarity and grammar. Proficiency at minimum, ideally first-hand experience Procurement systems

Our benefits meet you where you are. We’re here to help our employees navigate the integration of work and life:
- Know your whole family is supported with discounted child care benefits.

- Breathe easy with medical, dental, and vision benefits for your family (and pets, too!).
- Feel supported in your mental health and personal growth with employee assistance programs.
- Feel great and thrive with access to health and wellness programs, paid time off and discounts for work necessities, such as cell phones.
- … and much more.

We operate research-backed, accredited, and customizable programs in more than 2,000 sites and centers across 40 states and the District of Columbia. As we expand, we’re matching the needs of more and more families, dynamic work environments, and diverse communities from coast to coast. Because we believe every family deserves access to high-quality child care, no matter who they are or where they live. Every day, you’ll help bring this mission to life by building community and delivering exceptional experiences. And if you’re anything like us, you’ll come for the work, and stay for the people.

KinderCare Learning Companies is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law.