Procurement Manager

Sacramento Municipal Utility District; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 142,000 - 188,000; Full time

Job summary

Sacramento Municipal Utility District is seeking a Procurement Manager to lead procurement activities, drive strategic sourcing, and oversee contract development across multiple business units. The role emphasizes coaching staff, building strong partnerships with internal clients, suppliers, and external stakeholders, and delivering value through robust procurement processes.

The ideal candidate will guide a high-performing team, manage budgets, and ensure timely, high‑quality procurement

Qualifications

• 5+ years in procurement, contracts, and sourcing for multi-discipline projects
• 5+ years in a supervisory role
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for procurement across materials, technology, construction, and professional services
• Forecast costs, identify cost-saving opportunities, and negotiate contracts
• Lead and develop procurement staff and processes
• Develop annual Strategic Sourcing Plans and supplier strategies
• Manage procurement performance systems and KPI reporting
• Oversee budgets and ensure day-to-day procurement operations meet standards

Skills

Leadership

Contract negotiation

Strategic sourcing

Stakeholder management

Team development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or related field

Equivalent experience

Tools

SharePoint

ERP systems

Job description

Title: Procurement Manager

Department: Corporate Legal

Category: Procurement/Supply Chain

Location: Sacramento, CA, US, 95827-3824

Minimum Pay Rate:$141,814.40

Maximum Pay Rate:$187,824.00

Apply by Date:11/10/2026

The intent of this posting is to fill one (1) regular full‑time Procurement Manager position, and to create an eligibility list for future limited term and full‑time vacancies.

At SMUD, we are proud to serve the Sacramento region as a community‑owned utility committed to reliability, affordability, innovation, and service to the public. Our connection to the community is reflected not only in the power we provide, but in how we operate as trusted stewards of public resources and partners in advancing the region’s future.

SMUD is hiring a Procurement Manager who will play a vital leadership role in that mission by ensuring SMUD’s internal customers receive timely, high‑quality procurement support and well‑executed contracts for the goods and services needed to deliver critical business operations, infrastructure, and strategic initiatives. This role requires a strong, collaborative leader who can guide and develop a high‑performing team, build trusted partnerships across SMUD, and work effectively with suppliers, contractors, consultants, and other external stakeholders.

The ideal candidate will bring sound judgment, strategic perspective, operational focus and a strong sense of ownership and accountability for results to drive responsive service, continuous improvement, and effective procurement outcomes that support SMUD’s organizational goals and commitment to the community.

Purpose

The Manager, Procurement is responsible for leading SMUD’s procurement activities and providing strategic and tactical oversight for the acquisition of goods and services across the organization. This position provides leadership to the procurement team and is responsible for coaching, developing, and supporting staff in managing change, driving continuous improvement, and ensuring effective day‑to‑day operations.

Nature and Scope

This manager oversees one or more functional teams within a broad scope of responsibilities; hires, trains, motivates, evaluates, and develops staff; and alongside department senior leadership and management peers, develops, implements, assesses, and manages department goals, objectives, budgets, projects, policies, and procedures. The role is required to attend, present and/or lead at Board, executive, team, customer, community, and one‑on‑one meetings; in person, as needed.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides leadership and direction for procurement processes across materials, technology, construction, and professional services by planning, developing and negotiating contracts; engaging business units; forecasting project costs and activities; identifying cost‑saving opportunities; developing solicitations; identifying and evaluating suppliers and contractors; coordinating bid review with project personnel; recommending awards; resolving protests; and drafting and negotiating agreement terms.
• Evaluates the effectiveness of current practices and procedures; monitors, assesses and forecasts contract activities; and provides oversight of Procurement performance through KPI and performance reports as well as facilitates continuous improvement of the procurement process.
• Manages Procurement Performance systems for sourcing and solicitations, internal facing SharePoint sites, and all procurement processes.
• Supervises the strategic sourcing process by developing and maintaining annual Strategic Sourcing Plans; preparing supply and demand profiles; developing sourcing strategies; implementing competitive supplier selection processes; coordinating contract integration; measuring department performance against established standards and benchmarks; implementing joint process improvement programs with strategic suppliers; and identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Supervises the administration of internal and external projects by overseeing the identification of project objectives and project teams within the area of responsibility; monitoring project progress and completion against project plans or contracts; reviewing work products; and assisting in resolving conflicts and discrepancies.
• Provides direction and training to staff in completing assigned work by administering policies; planning, coordinating, prioritizing, evaluating, and adjusting work functions, practices, and schedules; monitoring daily operations to ensure quality, quantity, and efficiency in accordance with established procedures and standards; promoting staff safety and enforcing safety policies and practices within the work unit; assisting staff as needed; coaching employees, providing performance feedback, and addressing performance issues; recommending staffing, discipline, training, and development actions to management; and performing ongoing operational tasks as assigned.
• Assists in developing and administering the unit budget by monitoring expenditures within Procurement against the approved plan; identifying and resolving budget variances; monitoring and adjusting schedules, expenditures and assignments as needed; reviewing year‑end budget results; developing budget recommendations for the next fiscal year; and participating in the review of preliminary unit budget recommendations.
• Performs other related duties as needed; schedules, hours and locations may fluctuate based on business needs.

Required Experience Qualifications

Five or more (5+) years of progressively responsible relevant experience in procurement, contract administration, and sourcing for multi‑disciplined projects and utility operations, including five or more (5+) years in a supervisory role. If no degree, then nine or more (9+) years of relevant experience is required.

Required Education

Bachelor's degree in business, finance, accounting, public administration, or a closely related field from an accredited college or university, or equivalent experience.

Knowledge Of

• Management fundamentals and techniques
• Business and political acumen
• Budget development and administration
• Project management
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) and organizational culture change
• Comprehension of applicable employment laws and practices
• Specific to Manager, Procurement:
  • Procurement of products and services and emergency purchase procedures
  • Public Contract Code
  • Requirements for insurance and bonding
  • Contract administration and negotiation
  • Concepts for engineering and construction disciplines
  • Safety policies, practices and procedures
  • Economic and cost/benefit analysis
  • Project scheduling

Skills To

• Oversee, influence, persuade, and motivate
• Establish policies, set goals, and manage the implementation of strategic and operational plans for area(s) of responsibility
• Manage activities of staff
• Partner with peers to drive change across cross‑functional teams
• Demonstrate commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment
• Interface effectively with executive, senior and peer management, SMUD staff, external entities, and the community
• Specific to Manager, Procurement:
  • Assess complex issues and develop/implement resolution alternatives
  • Read, write and understand complex contracts, manuals and reports
  • Develop and implement new and revised policies and procedures
  • Reconcile significant and/or controversial differences to bring interested parties to consensus

Desirable Qualifications

• Knowledge of public procurement practices, including competitive solicitations, contract negotiation, Public Contract Code, protests, insurance and bonding requirements, and contract administration.
• Experience in a utility, public agency, infrastructure, or similarly regulated environment.
• Experience leading procurement, sourcing, and contract administration functions.
• Experience supervising, coaching, and developing staff, including leading teams through change and continuous improvement efforts.
• Experience delivering timely procurement support and contract solutions to internal customers across multiple business areas.
• Experience improving procurement processes, systems, performance metrics, and sourcing strategies.
• Experience developing and delivering educational materials or training resources to support procurement staff and contract managers in effectively managing contracts.
• Experience building effective partnerships with internal stakeholders and external suppliers, contractors, and consultants.
• Broad procurement experience in one or more areas such as construction, technology, materials, and professional services.
• Strong business judgment and ability to manage complex issues, competing priorities, and stakeholder interests.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and consensus‑building skills.

Desirable Licenses/Certificates

• C.P.M. Certified Purchasing Manager certification encouraged.
• P.M.P. Project Management Professional certification encouraged

Physical Requirements

Applicants must be able to perform the essential job functions with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) - Who We Are

As the nation's sixth‑largest community‑owned electric service provider, we're proud of our reputation as one of the best places to work in Sacramento. Our employees tell us in our engagement surveys they're "Happy, satisfied and engaged" which helps create a workplace that best serves our customers. Sacramento was named as the 2nd happiest place to work in America by Forbes Magazine. Lake Tahoe, San Francisco and the world‑renowned Napa Valley are within easy driving distance of our locations.

Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

SMUD celebrates diversity, and inspires an inclusive culture based on trust and respect to create belonging and connection among our employees, customers, and communities. By working together, we are powering positive, equitable opportunities for all. We aspire to be a workplace where you can be yourself, achieve your best, and thrive together.

An example of our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging is when SMUD signed the California Equal Pay Pledge in 2020. This requires equal pay for employees who perform "substantially similar work", when viewed as a composite of skill, effort, and responsibility at the time those employees started within that classification. As such, initial hiring salary range is not subject to negotiation and salaries will vary over time based on performance.

SMUD is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, veteran status, or any other applicable legally protected characteristic. All employment decisions are made on the basis of individual qualifications, merit, and business needs and interests.

Why Sacramento, California?

The capitol of California, Sacramento is the state's sixth‑largest city, and the 35th largest in the U.S. Local universities include California State University, University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law, and the University of California, Davis and several competitive community colleges. The UC Davis Medical Center, a world‑renowned research hospital, is one of more than a dozen hospitals and shared services centers in the Sacramento region. Part of the agriculturally‑rich Central Valley, Sacramento is at the forefront of the farm‑to‑fork food movement. Northern California is home to some of the country's top technology companies, including Google and LinkedIn, and a multitude of startups in many industries. Sacramento is home to the NBA Kings, the River Cats (AAA baseball), the Republic FC (soccer) and the San Francisco Giants, NBA Warriors and NFL 49er's aren't far away. Sacramento offers an affluent liberal arts community with Broadway, Mondavi Center, Crocker Museum and summer musical theater to name a few.

Hybrid Work

SMUD's hybrid work policy requires employees to work onsite at least three (3) days per week. This position may be eligible for the hybrid work employee benefit, with the schedule determined by the Hiring Manager. Additional onsite work may be required based on business and operational needs at any SMUD location.

CalPERS

SMUD is a CalPERS agency

As a member of the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS), SMUD offers eligible employees access to a defined benefit pension plan along with other valuable retirement and health benefits. This program helps provide financial security both during your career and after retirement. To learn more about CalPERS and the benefits it offers, please visit www.calpers.ca.gov.

SMUD provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. SMUD complies with applicable state and local laws governing non‑discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

SMUD expresses prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of SMUD employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated.