Associate Director, Purchasing Contracts (Pullman, WA)

Washington State University • Pullman, WA

6d • Onsite

About The Position

Washington State University Finance & Operations is seeking an Associate Director of Purchasing Contracts. This role involves leading the WSU Contract Services team and overseeing the University’s most strategic and complex procurement, non-procurement, revenue-generating, and other contracting documents. The Associate Director will train and supervise the contracts team, and directly draft and negotiate the University’s most complex contracts requiring senior administrative oversight. Responsibilities include ensuring the quality, timeliness, and legal soundness of the contracts team’s work, including drafting, review, negotiation, amendments, extensions, terminations, and renegotiations. The role also involves shaping policies, procedures, and process improvements for all contract types, conducting risk analysis, and advising the Director on priorities for contracts, overarching agreements, and strategic sourcing agreements. The Associate Director will also be responsible for enhancing customer service and compliance through education, training, developing template contracts, collaborating with departments, and maintaining custody of processed contracts.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in a related field.
• At least two (2) years of management experience.
• Demonstrated ability to draft, negotiate, and implement complex contracts and purchasing documents.
• Demonstrated knowledge of contractual issues and their application in a complex organization.
• Resume
• Cover Letter

Nice To Haves

• Master’s Degree/Law Degree
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Experience in problem solving
• Computer proficiency

Responsibilities

• Lead the WSU Contract Services team.
• Oversee the University’s most strategic and complex procurement, non-procurement, revenue-generating, and other contracting documents.
• Train and supervise the contracts team.
• Directly draft and negotiate the University’s most complex contracts requiring senior administrative oversight.
• Ensure the quality, timeliness, and legal soundness of the contracts team’s work.
• Oversee all contract work including drafting, review, negotiation, amendments, extensions, terminations, and renegotiations.
• Shape the policies, procedures, and process improvements that govern all contract types.
• Conduct risk analysis for contracts and related processes.
• Advise the Director on priorities and goals for the University’s contracts, overarching agreements, and strategic sourcing agreements.
• Implement priorities within Contract Services.
• Achieve enhanced customer service and compliance related to contracts processing through education and training.
• Develop and deploy model or template contracts to assist contract staff.
• Collaborate with University departments and colleges in the development and management of contracts.
• Maintain custody of contracts processed to ensure full execution and record-keeping.

Benefits

• Paid sick and vacation leave
• Paid holidays
• Medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents
• Retirement
• Deferred compensation
• Optional supplemental retirement accounts
• Training and development
• Employee tuition waiver

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager