Executive Director, Maryland Enterprise Education Consortium (MEEC)

University System of Maryland Office • Adelphi, MD

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About The Position

The Executive Director leads the Maryland Enterprise Education Consortium (MEEC), a technology-focused consortium of Maryland education entities that develops efficient, cost-effective contracting vehicles for goods and services. The Executive Director guides MEEC’s technology and procurement professionals in carrying out the vision and strategy established with the MEEC Board of Directors. MEEC is a self-supporting K–20 consortium with more than 200 education-entity members, located and managed within the University System of Maryland Office; MEEC staff are USM Office employees.

The role provides strategic and operational leadership, develops priorities with the Board, oversees consortium operations and staff, and manages financial, personnel, and organizational resources. It establishes procurement priorities and contract portfolio strategy; oversees sourcing, solicitations, contract awards and performance; and ensures activities comply with Maryland procurement requirements and USM policies. The Executive Director builds relationships with members, vendors, procurement officers, institutional leaders and other stakeholders; gathers feedback; resolves service issues; and seeks opportunities to grow MEEC’s member and vendor communities.

The Executive Director also sets priorities for member engagement and professional learning, providing executive oversight of conferences, showcases, workshops, webinars, user groups and informational forums. The role serves as MEEC’s liaison to procurement officers, USM administrative offices, the Attorney General’s Office and other oversight or governance entities, supporting contract review, compliance, policy interpretation, risk management and required approvals. Best consideration date for applications: Friday, November 13, 2026.

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, while stewarding resources effectively.
• 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 communicating 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 effectively 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 host-organization administrative requirements.

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 Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO), Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB), Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM), or 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 the operational and technology needs of K–20 education institutions.
• 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.

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 set organizational priorities and guide services and initiatives.
• Oversee consortium operations; lead and develop staff; manage financial, personnel and organizational resources; monitor service quality; and respond to members’ 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.
• Identify member needs; prioritize solicitations and renewals; coordinate RFP development; support evaluation and award processes; monitor contract performance; and ensure compliance with Maryland procurement 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 collaboration opportunities.
• 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 and 3 personal leave days.
• 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 Employee Assistance Program counseling, legal, financial and work-life support services.

What This Job Offers

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