Executive Director, Maryland Enterprise Education Consortium (MEEC)

University System of Maryland Office • Adelphi, MD

2d • $180,000 - $195,000

About The Position

The Executive Director leads the Maryland Enterprise Education Consortium (MEEC), a technology-focused consortium of more than 200 K-20 education entities, in carrying out the vision and strategy established with its Board of Directors. MEEC creates efficient, cost-effective contracting vehicles for goods and services. Located and managed within the University System of Maryland Office, MEEC is self-supporting, and its staff are USM Office employees.

The Executive Director provides strategic and operational leadership, oversees staff and organizational resources, and guides MEEC's procurement strategy and contract portfolio. The role oversees procurement for new products and services, supports members and vendors throughout the contract lifecycle, collects feedback on contract performance and future needs, and maintains vendor relationships. It also provides executive oversight of member engagement and professional learning, including workshops, webinars, the annual member meeting, and vendor showcases, while pursuing opportunities to grow MEEC's member and vendor communities.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Business Administration, Public Administration, Information Technology, Higher Education Administration, Procurement, Communications, Marketing, or a related field.
• Eight years of progressively responsible professional experience in technology, procurement, contract administration, consortium management, higher education administration, business operations, or a closely related field.
• Five years of experience leading programs, projects, departments, or organizations involving multiple stakeholders.
• Experience in strategic planning, organizational leadership, program administration, and performance measurement principles.
• Experience managing vendor relationships, strategic partnerships, contracts, or procurement-related activities.
• Experience developing and presenting recommendations to executive leadership, boards, committees, or governing bodies.
• Knowledge of technology products, services, and industry trends relevant to educational institutions and technology procurement.
• Knowledge of procurement, strategic sourcing, contract administration, vendor management, and contract lifecycle management practices.
• Knowledge of Maryland procurement requirements and ability to interpret and apply applicable laws, regulations, and USM policies governing procurement, financial, and personnel activities.
• Knowledge of cooperative purchasing agreements.
• Skill in developing, managing, monitoring, and reporting on organizational budgets and financial performance in collaboration with governing bodies, including board finance committees.
• Skill in building and maintaining relationships with educational leaders, procurement professionals, vendors, legal counsel, governing boards, and public-sector partners.
• Skill in analyzing business, operational, procurement, and technology needs; gathering stakeholder requirements; evaluating alternatives; and developing recommendations and solutions.
• Skill in facilitating collaboration, building consensus, and leading discussions among groups with diverse interests and priorities.
• Strong oral, written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex information to executive leaders, governing boards, vendors, members, and external stakeholders.
• Ability to develop and implement strategic initiatives, operational plans, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Ability to manage multiple complex initiatives, establish priorities, exercise sound judgment, and bring projects and processes to completion.
• Ability to represent the organization before member institutions, boards of directors, procurement officials, vendors, professional associations, and other stakeholder groups.
• Ability to operate with substantial independence while balancing governing-body direction and the administrative requirements of a host organization.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA), Public Administration (MPA), Higher Education Administration, Information Technology Management, Procurement, or a related field.
• Professional certification such as CPPO, CPPB, PMP, CPSM, or a comparable procurement, contract management, or project management certification.
• Experience within higher education, state government, K-12 education, or a membership-based consortium.
• Experience overseeing competitive solicitations, RFP processes, and contract lifecycle management.
• Experience working with Maryland procurement laws, regulations, and public-sector contracting.
• Experience supporting boards of directors, advisory councils, or governance committees.
• Experience managing conferences, professional learning programs, member engagement initiatives, or large stakeholder events.
• Experience leading technology-related purchasing, strategic sourcing, or IT service programs.
• Knowledge of Maryland procurement law, Board of Public Works processes, and USM procurement policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of technology licensing, software agreements, cloud services, cybersecurity products, and related IT procurement practices.
• Understanding of K-20 education institutions' operational and technology needs.
• Ability to identify emerging technology trends and translate them into strategic opportunities for consortium members.
• Skill in negotiating complex agreements and resolving stakeholder issues.
• Ability to foster collaboration among institutions with differing priorities and missions.
• Ability to represent the organization before executive leaders, state agencies, professional organizations, and vendor partners.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for MEEC and implement priorities established with the MEEC Board.
• Use market intelligence, member feedback, business analysis, and emerging technology trends to establish organizational priorities, guide service development, and determine future initiatives.
• Oversee consortium operations; lead and develop staff; manage financial, personnel, and organizational resources; monitor service quality; and ensure services meet member institutions' evolving technology and procurement needs.
• Build and sustain relationships with current and prospective members, vendors, procurement officers, institutional leaders, and other stakeholders.
• Facilitate communication, gather feedback on contracts and emerging needs, resolve service issues, and promote effective use of MEEC agreements.
• Represent MEEC at professional conferences and vendor expo activities and seek opportunities to expand member and vendor participation.
• Establish procurement priorities and contract portfolio strategy based on member needs, market conditions, technology trends, resources, and organizational objectives.
• Determine how technology trends and changes in the educational technology marketplace should influence sourcing strategies, procurement priorities, and member services.
• Identify member needs; prioritize solicitations and renewals; coordinate RFP development; support evaluation and award processes; monitor contract performance; and align procurement with Maryland requirements and USM policies.
• Set strategy and priorities for member engagement and professional learning, and provide executive oversight of conferences, showcases, workshops, webinars, user groups, and informational forums.
• Help members understand contract offerings, share best practices, and identify opportunities for collaboration.
• Serve as MEEC liaison to procurement officers, USM administrative offices, the Attorney General’s Office, and other oversight or governance entities.
• Support contract review, compliance, policy interpretation, risk management, and approval by applicable governing bodies.
• Apply Maryland procurement law, sound business practices, and USM Board of Regents policies governing personnel, financial, and procurement activities.

Benefits

• 22 days of annual leave, 15 days of sick and safe leave, 16–17 holidays, 3 personal leave days, and 12 weeks of paid family medical leave.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with flexible spending accounts.
• Mandatory and supplemental retirement plan options with providers including Fidelity and TIAA.
• Optional term life and AD&D benefits through MetLife.
• Tuition remission for employees and their families.
• Free professional development conferences and unlimited LinkedIn Learning access.
• Eligibility for membership in SECU, Maryland’s largest credit union.
• Free counseling, legal, financial, and work-life support through the Employee Assistance Program.

What This Job Offers

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