Senior Director, Strategic Sourcing & Contracting Services (UPDATED)

UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA; Tucson, Northern (AZ, KY); Hybrid; USD 118,000 - 153,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Paid vacation

Tuition reduction

Retirement plans

Job summary

The University of Arizona invites applications for a Senior Director, Strategic Sourcing & Contracting Services. This role leads the Strategic Sourcing and Contracting units, shaping strategy, category management, negotiations, analytics, and supplier partnerships to optimize university resources.

Under the CPO, you will manage a team, oversee policy development, ensure compliance with ABOR codes, and guide innovative sourcing initiatives to deliver cost savings and value across the enterprise.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning.
• Minimum of 9 years of related work experience, 5 years managerial.
• Experience leading a team, project, program, or function.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction for sourcing and contracting functions across the university.
• Lead and develop a team of sourcing professionals with strong performance outcomes.
• Ensure compliance with procurement laws and ABOR procurement codes.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Team management

Negotiation

Analytics

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Master's degree (preferred)

Job description

Senior Director, Strategic Sourcing & Contracting Services (UPDATED)

Senior Director, Strategic Sourcing & Contracting Services (UPDATED)

Position Highlights Please Note: The Rate of Pay section has been updated from "DOE" to reflect "$117,883 - $153,248" and the Department Name has been updated from "Procure to Pay Operations" to "Sourcing & Contracting".

This position is a leader in the University of Arizona Supply Chain organization, directly overseeing the Strategic Sourcing and Contracting Services units. With support and guidance from the CPO, this role directs and develops the universities’ strategic sourcing and contracting strategy with specific focus on category management, contract lifecycle management, contract negotiations, spend analytics, strategic supplier partnerships, contract lifecycle management, risk management, and supplier partner performance.

When you join our team, you will be part of a smart, driven team that thrives on solving complex problems. This position manages personnel, data, and processes associated with the Finance & Budget Division. Critical reporting and analysis processes of the Division include, but are not limited to: University leadership strategic reporting analysis and decision-support, the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, the annual All Funds planning process, the Annual Operating Budget, Bond Issuance, Payroll, student billing and collection, and strategic business operations support.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!

The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs. For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocations services, please.

Duties & Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Management:

• Provide high-level direction and strategic planning and research for the university’s strategic sourcing and contracting functions, ensuring units are aligned with institutional goals and objectives.
• Lead and manage a team of strategic sourcing and contracting professionals through direct and indirect supervision, ensuring high performance, professional development, and operational excellence.
• Oversee comprehensive analysis of university spend categories and purchasing patterns to identify and promote strategic sourcing opportunities and leverage university buying power shifting buying behaviors to strategic partners.
• Develop and implement comprehensive policies, strategies, and best practices that support the efficient and compliant execution of strategic sourcing and contracting functions.
• Support the oversight of the university’s supply chain functions ensuring adherence to state, federal, and university regulations.

Business Process Optimization:

• Lead the design, planning, and execution of strategic sourcing and contracting services initiatives to achieve operational excellence, transformational change, and cost savings for the institution.
• Lead the implementation of advanced technologies and process improvements to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance service delivery for strategic sourcing and contracting functions.
• Serve as a university authority on procurement, vendor relationships, ensuring best practices in strategic sourcing, contract management, and cost-saving initiatives.
• Ensure the university’s compliance with procurement laws, tax regulations, and reporting requirements.

Communication:

• Act as a key advisor to CPO, offering strategic insights on strategic sourcing and contracting strategies, category management, and risk mitigation to optimize institutional resources.
• Represent the university in high-level negotiations and partnerships with suppliers, contractors, and service providers, ensuring maximum value and service to the institution.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to support category management, recommend and execute strategic sourcing events, develop criteria for evaluation & selection of proposals.
• Ad hoc duties as required to ensure the strategic sourcing & contracting teams are successful in meeting our goals and objectives.
• Direct the continuous development and efficient administration of university strategic sourcing and contracting, ensuring optimal process design and execution.
• Ensure the university’s adherence to all applicable state and federal procurement laws, as well as Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) procurement codes, maintaining the highest standards of compliance and ethical practice.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of university enterprise systems and related business principles and processes.
• Ability to work in an environment driven by team goals and expectations more than individual ones.
• Industry leading knowledge in strategic sourcing and contracting, processes, and technologies.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to establish rapport with and gain trust of others and to establish cooperative working relationships with a various Office staff and campus community.
• Ability to work under deadlines and adapt to changes with minimum notice.
• Ability to prioritize various critical tasks assigned and to negotiate deadlines to meet the overall goals of the Division.
• Ability to be creative, supportive, and thoughtful in problem-solving, considering the various and occasionally conflicting needs and perspectives of the campus community and the institution.

This job posting reflects the general nature and level of work expected of the selected candidate(s). It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The institution reserves the right to amend or update this description as organizational priorities and institutional needs evolve.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional level experience required.
• Minimum of 9 years of related work experience, including 5 years of managerial experience in a large complex organization, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• Experienceleading a team, project, program, or function is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's preferred.

FLSA Exempt

Full Time/Part Time Full Time

Number of Hours Worked per Week 40

Job FTE 1.0

Work Calendar Fiscal

Job Category Finance

Benefits Eligible Yes - Full Benefits

Rate of Pay $117,883 - $153,248

Compensation Type salary at 1.0 full-time equivalency (FTE)

Grade 13

Compensation Guidance The Rate of Pay Field represents the University of Arizona’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. The University considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, and internal equity.
The Grade Range represent a full range of career compensation growth over time. The university offers compensation growth opportunities within its career architecture. To learn more about compensation, please review our Applicant Compensation Guide and our Total Rewards Calculator .

Career Stream and Level M4

Job Family Sourcing

Job Function Finance

Type of criminal background check required: Fingerprint criminal background check (security sensitive due to title or department)

Number of Vacancies 1

Target Hire Date 9/28/2026

Expected End Date

Contact Information for Candidates Andrew Brennan,
[e-mail]

Open Date 8/19/2026

Open Until Filled Yes

Notice of Availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (Clery Act), each year the University of Arizona releases an Annual Security Report (ASR) for each of the University’s campuses.Thesereports disclose information including Clery crime statistics for the previous three calendar years and policies, procedures, and programs the University uses to keep students and employees safe, including how to report crimes or other emergencies and resources for crime victims. As a campus with residential housing facilities, the Main Campus ASR also includes a combined Annual Fire Safety report with information on fire statistics and fire safety systems, policies, and procedures.
Paper copies of the Reports can be obtained by contacting the University Compliance Office at [e-mail].