Executive Director, Strategic Sourcing and Supplier Partnerships

The College Board • New York, NY

266d • $156,000 - $230,000 • Remote

About The Position

The Strategic Sourcing team at College Board supports the purchasing needs of all divisions across the organization. Our category coverage is extensive and encompasses a wide range of areas such as contingent workforce, enterprise software systems, contact centers, custom consulting engagements, cloud services, conferences and events, and building and construction projects. The team of category managers work directly with leaders from all parts of the organization to help define and deliver College Board products and services. College Board is transforming its business at a rapid pace and the strategic sourcing team plays a crucial role in shaping and driving this change. As the Executive Director and leader of Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Partnerships, you are ambitious, strategic, and forward-thinking, ready to transform how we source, spend, and partner. You'll build and lead our Sourcing & Supplier team, a newly envisioned team at the center of how we negotiate, source, and manage our relationships with third-party vendors. You will have strategic oversight of how we source, negotiate, and manage $400 million in annual third-party spending across the organization. One of your first opportunities will be to reorganize the procurement function around strategic categories or divisions, driving greater efficiency, visibility, and alignment across the organization. You'll set a bold vision to evolve procurement from a transactional function to a collaborative, value-generating partner that delivers both operational excellence and enterprise-wide impact. You are a strong manager who enjoys coaching, developing, empowering, and challenging your team. If you are passionate about leading a team and driving strategic change, this is a fantastic opportunity for you to make a lasting impact.

Requirements

• Experience and a proven track record leading a high-performing, results-oriented Procurement team.
• A proven track record of leading transformation and identifying innovative sourcing solutions.
• Excellent change management capabilities.
• A deep understanding of Procurement industry best practices.
• Executive presence and the ability to take initiative.
• Experience as a highly collaborative leader with ability to influence others and build strong relationships across internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong communication skills.
• Strong data and analytical skills that allow you to see successes and opportunities based on quant/qual data.
• A strong sense of accountability for your work, your team, and your impact.
• Mission-aligned mindset and a commitment to finding solutions that advance organizational goals.
• Bachelor's degree is required.
• The ability to travel to in-person events 4-6 times a year.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute a multi-year strategic sourcing transformation roadmap that aligns with enterprise priorities.
• Architect a comprehensive spend management approach that treats different categories according to their strategic importance.
• Redesign procurement operations in conjunction with Finance Operational Excellence team to reduce complexity and accelerate decision-making through process innovation and AI automation.
• Develop forward-looking category strategies that anticipate market changes and organizational needs.
• Create a data-driven framework for identifying consolidation opportunities and spend patterns across the organization.
• Design a supplier innovation program that taps into vendor expertise to solve business challenges.
• Pioneer the deployment of AI-powered procurement tools that transform our sourcing capabilities.
• Partner with senior leaders to understand their programmatic needs and translate them into effective sourcing strategies.
• Establish procurement as a value-adding function rather than a bureaucratic hurdle.
• Cultivate strong relationships with internal stakeholders, including Finance divisional leadership and leaders across other teams to drive procurement initiatives.
• Develop a supplier relationship management program that emphasizes strategic partnership, innovation, and mutual growth and ensure effective delivery by vendors.
• Elevate procurement's role from transaction processor to strategic business enabler across the organization.
• Leverage AI insights to identify strategic alignment opportunities with key stakeholders.
• Proactively address issues with vendor performance.
• Lead and develop a team of procurement professionals, fostering a culture of strategic thinking, curiosity, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Cultivate and lead a data-driven, high-performance culture that fosters inclusivity, collaboration, and team engagement.
• Establish performance metrics that encourage innovative thinking and value creation beyond conventional cost cutting.
• Model effective communication, promote transparency and ensure alignment to organization, division and team priorities.
• Mentor team members to think beyond transactional procurement toward strategic sourcing and business partnership.
• Upskill the team in AI-enabled procurement capabilities and next generation sourcing techniques.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid time off.
• Paid parental leave.
• Fertility benefits.
• Pet insurance.
• Tuition assistance.
• Retirement benefits.
• Recognition of exceptional performance through annual bonuses.
• Salary growth over time through market increases.
• Opportunities for merit raises and promotions based on increased scope of responsibility.
• Double contribution to TIAA retirement plan after six months of employment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Industry: Educational Services
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree