(Remote) Procurement Category Lead - Finance

The Department of Finance at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a Procurement Category Lead.

About the Opportunity
The Category Lead is responsible for leading strategic sourcing, contracting and procurement efforts across a given category of spend with a focus on cost savings and process efficiency. The category lead role may be a step-in progression beyond the PCPS Category Analyst Role and the Category Manager Role. The Category Lead will work with functional leaders across the University's campuses and colleges to collaboratively develop and implement a successful category strategy driving cost savings and increased revenue. This role could involve supervising Category Analysts, although duties will include those as an individual contributor as well.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
  
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
  
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year (employee leave)
  
• 18 sick days per year (for when you're ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family's, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
  
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
  
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ's.
  
• Wellness programs

What You'll Do

• Lead/support strategic sourcing efforts for assigned category/commodity areas
  
  
  
  
  • Lead sourcing efforts beginning with spend analysis through contract execution
  • Contract management, maintenance, and creation including coordinating General Counsel review/approval for procurement contracts and agreements
  • Identify and lead sourcing and procurement process improvement efforts
  • Correctly apply Category Management and Strategic Sourcing best practice processes
  • Prepare business case, cost/benefit and benefit realization analyses
  • Form, launch and project manage sourcing teams with buyers/stakeholders
  • Analyze documents and present moderate to complex category and commodity operational/functional data to stakeholders/ executives
  • Write and edit commercial documents (RFP's, , Contracts, Terms & Conditions, etc.) with appropriate review and supervision
  • Develop negotiation strategies, coach Category Analysts/Purchasing Agents on negotiation strategies to obtain most favorable terms with suppliers
  
  
  
  

• Lead Supplier evaluation and selection process related to solicitations/sourcing events
  
  
  
  • Establish appropriate selection committee
  • Facilitate selection committee meetings and presentations, as guided by RFP selection criteria
  • Collect and maintain committee input and consensus documents
  • Notify Suppliers of selection decisions
  • Populate and maintain Procurement File in appropriate systems
  
  
  
  

• Conduct Supplier management
  
  
  
  • Oversee management of Suppliers for assigned categories/commodities
  • Plan/facilitate Supplier business reviews
  • Audit contract pricing and address unfavorable variances
  • Identify and lead process improvement efforts
  • Monitor and measure Supplier performance and compliance; identify and recommend ways to resolve performance issues
  • Use appropriate technology tools to continually measure savings, performance and internal levels of service
  • Conduct Supplier Risk Scorecard reviews
  
  
  
  

• Manage procurement operational support
  
  
  
  • Lead and encourage cross-functional collaboration through sourcing and Supplier management teams
  • Facilitate stakeholder meetings to assess needs and identify issues/document issues
  • Recognize, document and resolve sourcing and procurement related operational issues (invoice issues, payment issues, supplier registration support, etc.) which may include working cross-functionally with the appropriate department(s).
  • Solicit feedback and incorporate improvements to category, supplier management programs
  • Identify and implement operational process improvements and cost savings by working with stakeholders and Suppliers to understand key value and cost drivers of relevant operations and categories
  • Builds and maintains positive business relationships with category/commodity stakeholders and routinely works with mid and upper-level management
  
  
  
  

• Staff Management and Development
  
  
  
  • Coaches staff to drive compliance with purchasing policies and procedures
  • May manage some assigned staff by setting expectations, assessing performance, and ensuring that day-to-day operations and assigned tasks are completed on time and with a high level of quality and accuracy
  • Understands and employs team-based, cross business-unit sourcing strategy
  • Assists in driving departmental process and organizational changes
  
  
  
  

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, Finance, Economics, or similar degree
• A minimum of two (2) years of experience in the following:
  
  
  
  • Familiarity with contracting environment
  • Experience in writing, editing and understanding contracts/legal documents
  • Procurement or Supply Chain environment
  • Category management, strategic sourcing
  
  
  
  
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Excellent internal and external negotiating skills
• Excellent customer service skills
  
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
  
• Knowledge of industry leading Procure to Pay (P2P) process
  
• Strong data analytics skills using Microsoft Excel

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in procurement, supply chain, or related field of expertise
• ISM, CPM, CPSM or similar certification

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.

At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values - service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation - unite us as Mountaineers.

We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and engaging working environment and actively seek candidates who bring diverse ideas, approaches and experiences.

Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and received an NSF ADVANCE award for gender equity. We value diversity among our faculty, staff and students and invite applications from all qualified applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, nationality, genetics, disability, or Veteran status.