Manager, Construction and Capital, Procurement and Payment Services

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Winston-Salem (NC); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Opportunities for professional development

Job summary

A leading research university in Winston-Salem is looking for a Manager, Construction and Capital to oversee procurement activities for construction projects. The role involves leading strategic sourcing initiatives, managing supplier relationships, and ensuring compliance with regulatory guidance. Candidates should possess a Bachelor's degree and at least seven years of experience in construction procurement. This full-time position offers a chance to drive significant savings and enhance supplier performance.

Qualifications

• Seven+ years of construction procurement experience.
• Demonstrated skill in specification writing and supplier management.
• Strong analytical and decision-making abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives for construction projects.
• Oversee procurement activities for all capital projects.
• Manage and execute supplier quotes and proposals.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Negotiation

Analytical skills

Supplier management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

MS Office

Google Workplace

Job description

External Applicants:

Please ensure all required documents are ready to upload before beginning your application, including your resume, cover letter, and any additional materials specified in the job description.

Cover Letter and Supporting Documents

• Navigate to the "My Experience" application page.
• Locate the "Resume/CV" document upload section at the bottom of the page.
• Use the "Select Files" button to upload your cover letter, resume, and any other required supporting documents. You can select multiple files.

Important Note: The "My Experience" page is the only opportunity to attach your cover letter, resume, and supporting documents. You will not be able to modify your application or add attachments after submission.

Current Employees:

Apply from your existing Workday account in the Jobs Hub. Do not apply from this website.

A cover letter is required for all positions; optional for facilities, campus services, and hospitality roles unless otherwise specified.

Job Description Summary

In direct support of the Director of Procurement, the Manager, Construction and Capital is responsible for developing construction and capital contracts and agreements that align with the University’s annual procurement requirements, ensuring optimal value. This role supports campus infrastructure and capital initiatives by analyzing spend and payment data in complex decision-making scenarios. The Manager must have a strong understanding of the construction industry and best practices in capital procurement. This role will oversee all procurement activities for construction and capital projects. The role will develop comprehensive reporting capabilities and recommend data-driven procurement solutions to support the University community. Additionally, the Manager will lead and mentor a team to effectively achieve departmental and University objectives. The role includes engaging with the Director in collaborative efforts with campus customers and strategic suppliers to implement sourcing initiatives focusing on quality, cost, delivery, and reliability. The Manager will progressively gain influence over decentralized campus procurement spending by establishing trust-filled relationships and providing superior customer support and service.

Job Description

Essential Functions

• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives to identify and select, and pre-negotiate pricing with qualified architects, engineers, contractors, and other vendors for large-scale construction and renovation projects.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for contractual matters related to capital projects.
• Evaluating supplier performance in Construction Management at Risk (CMAR) and non-CMAR relationships.
• Review the CMARs sub-contractor bidding process and evaluate how they perform against agreed-upon activities from a contract perspective.
• Effectively plan, organize and execute all procurement activities for complex construction and capital projects that involve a cross-functional team.
• Evaluate the submitted bids, identify potential areas for cost savings, and implement effective strategies to achieve these savings.
• Serves as the lead in collecting and analyzing data around capital and construction spend and translating it into actionable information to support category strategy development with campus stakeholders.
• Collaborates with stakeholders, including the Facilities Planning & Construction team to assess needs and organize business requirements into comprehensive sourcing plans.
• Analyses market trends to identify opportunities in support of category strategies.
• Develops category strategies, leverages spend, and yields high supplier performance.
• Benchmarks strategic sourcing and contracting processes with other institutions.
• Reviews departmental requisitions and orders to ensure the purchase is within reasonable tolerances, has received approval, and is appropriate.
• Uses best judgment to review factors including, appropriate method of purchase, dollar value, purchase quantity, unit of measure, etc.
• Manages and executes supplier quotes, proposals, and bids for all goods and services.
• Manages pre-solicitation and pre-bid conferences and site visits.
• Leads and assists with complex bids and contract negotiations.
• Ensures compliance with federal and state laws and other regulatory guidance.
• Incorporates environmental sustainability goals into category strategies.
• Promotes social responsibility programs and improves the University’s awareness, engagement, and support of global citizenship and community outreach initiatives.
• Supervises Procurement professionals and coordinates team project priorities, performance management, education and development, and goal setting.
• Assesses, identifies, and develops Procurement Specialists skills through collaborative feedback on customer service, category management, and communication skills.
• Promotes a culture of innovation and value creation.
• Manages the full personnel life cycle of subordinate employees.
• Has responsibility for the full contract management life cycle.
• Advises University customers on processes and behavior to receive optimal cost, quality, delivery, and reliability performance from suppliers.
• Evaluates and recommends Group Purchasing Organizations for best-value opportunities.
• Develops & reviews supplier performance against negotiated service level agreements.
• Prepare reports on procurement activities, contract status, and cost savings for stakeholders and senior leadership.

Other Functions

• Collaborates with customers and suppliers to resolve invoice and payment problems.
• Partners internally with Payment Services leadership to understand and negotiate the best payment strategy for suppliers and commodity types.
• Supports financial and compliance audits and contract performance reviews.
• Orchestrates customer value in significant ways beyond just cost savings.
• Demonstrates excellent customer service.
• Moves adeptly from strategic thinking to tactical execution.
• Remains solutions-oriented and solves complicated problems.
• Communicates effectively.

Required Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Bachelor's degree.
• Seven+ years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience in construction procurement.
• Demonstrated skill in specification writing, negotiations, and supplier management.
• Strong “hands-on” procurement abilities.
• Strong analytical and decision-making abilities.
• Strong technical and business writing and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and Google Workplace.

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Substantial experience managing construction procurement, including evaluation and management of CMAR relationships.

Additional Job Description

Accountabilities

• Responsible for his/her own work and the work of any assigned subordinate employees.

Physical Requirements

Work primarily involves sitting/standing, communicating with others to exchange information, operating a computer, and assessing the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned.

Environmental Conditions

Subject to inside environmental conditions. Not typically exposed to adverse environmental conditions

Time Type Requirement

Full time

Note to Applicant

This position profile identifies the key responsibilities and expectations for performance. It cannot encompass all specific job tasks that an employee may be required to perform. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and perform job-related duties as may be reasonably assigned by his/her supervisor.

In order to provide a safe and productive learning and living community, Wake Forest University conducts background investigations and drug screens for all final staff candidates being considered for employment.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified candidates to apply without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, disability and military or veteran status.

Accommodations for Applicants

If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact [e-mail] or [phone].