Assistant Director, Strategic Sourcing & Contracting Service

University of Arizona•Tucson, AZ

47d

About The Position

The Assistant Director of Strategic Sourcing and Contracting supports the leadership and daily operations of the University of Arizona's strategic sourcing and contracting functions within the Supply Chain organization. Reporting to the Senior Director of Strategic Sourcing and Contracting, this position plays a key role in implementing sourcing strategies, managing and negotiating procurement and non-procurement university contracts, analyzing spend, and supporting category management initiatives. The Assistant Director ensures compliance with institutional policies and public procurement regulations, and supports efforts to optimize cost savings, supplier performance, and service delivery across the university. When you join our organization, you become part of a smart, driven team that thrives on solving complex challenges. We align our business practices with the university's priorities and cultivate talented teams who find purpose in creating simpler, more effective systems that drive institutional success. Our focus is clear: developing our people, transforming our work, and elevating our role. 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 click here.

Requirements

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 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 varied and occasionally conflicting needs and perspectives of the campus community and the institution.
Strong understanding of public procurement principles, strategic sourcing, and contract lifecycle management.
Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data and provide actionable insights.
Effective negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and support institutional change initiatives.
Strong attention to detail, documentation, and regulatory compliance.
Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional-level experience.
Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in procurement, sourcing, or contracting, with at least 3 years of managerial experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Public Administration, or a related field.
Experience in higher education, government, or large public-sector procurement.
Professional certification (e.g., CPSM, CCA, CPPO, or equivalent) preferred.
Experience with enterprise systems such as Jaggaer, Oracle, SAP, or Workday.

Responsibilities

Lead institutional strategic sourcing initiatives in alignment with university and divisional goals, ensuring integration across departments and units.
Direct category spend analyses and develop institutional sourcing recommendations to optimize value, achieve savings, and mitigate risk.
Oversee sourcing events (RFx processes), including development of specifications, bid evaluations, and supplier negotiations for high-value, complex procurements.
Establish and maintain preferred supplier programs and long-term sourcing strategies that enhance value and supplier performance.
Supervise and develop Sourcing and Contracting staff, providing guidance, performance feedback, and competency growth opportunities.
Serve as a senior resource and advisor to university leadership and departments on sourcing best practices.
Cultivate cross-functional collaboration with academic and administrative leaders to achieve institutional procurement objectives.
Oversee and manage the full contract lifecycle, including the negotiation of complex and high-value supplier agreements, ensuring institutional goals are achieved.
Ensure enterprise-level compliance with ABOR codes, state/federal procurement laws, and internal contract governance requirements.
Partner with Legal, Risk Management, and senior stakeholders to develop standard processes and resolve contractual issues that affect multiple units.
Develop and lead supplier relationship strategies to ensure supplier performance, delivery, and continuous improvement meet institutional standards.
Conduct supplier performance reviews and coordinate resolution of performance or compliance issues across university departments.
Establish and sustain long-term strategic supplier partnerships that advance university priorities and operational excellence.
Lead and oversee process improvement and digital transformation initiatives to enhance sourcing efficiency, transparency, and service levels.
Oversee implementation and optimization of procurement systems (e.g.., Jaggaer, UAccess) to support institutional objectives and drive operational excellence.
Ensure continuous compliance with procurement policy, audit standards, tax regulations, and reporting obligations.
Establish documentation standards and accountability frameworks that align with regulatory and internal control requirements.
Provide executive-level guidance to ensure continuous improvement and success of the sourcing and contracting teams.
Champion institutional adherence to state and federal procurement laws, ABOR codes, and ethical procurement practices.