Manager, Procurement

Western Governors University•Raleigh, NC

3d•$104,000 - $187,200•Onsite

About The Position

WGU is seeking a strategic and collaborative sourcing leader to plan, direct, and coordinate procurement of academic software and services across the university. The role oversees a team of sourcing professionals while managing complex, high-value, strategic sourcing initiatives. The position requires negotiation expertise, sound business judgment, and a focus on delivering value through supplier management, procurement processes, and stakeholder partnerships. This is a full-time, in-office position in WGU’s Raleigh, North Carolina office, requiring five days per week onsite. Occasional travel of up to 20% is required, including attendance at designated company summits, typically one to two per year, and potentially conferences, company locations, and other business events. The position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience as determined by the hiring manager.
At least 5 years of experience in procurement or purchasing.
At least 1 year in a leadership role.
Strong negotiation and organizational skills.
Excellent decision-making and problem-solving abilities.
Excellent skills in Microsoft Office Suite.
Ability to learn new technologies and adapt to changing priorities.
Ability to communicate effectively to improve teamwork, decision-making, and collaboration.
Ability to work cooperatively across teams and organizational levels to achieve shared objectives.
Ability to navigate ambiguity, manage risk, and make informed decisions with incomplete information.
Ability to remain confident under pressure and effectively manage challenging situations.
Strong outcomes-based orientation with a proven ability to set and achieve goals.
Ability to foster belonging, build team morale, and lead cross-functional collaboration.
Ability to take on new challenges, quickly learn unfamiliar tasks, and share knowledge with others.
Able to work five days per week in the Raleigh, North Carolina office and travel occasionally, up to 20%.
WGU is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this role.

Nice To Haves

Experience with competitive bidding.
Experience in higher education.
Experience supporting procurement technology platforms such as Workday and ServiceNow.

Responsibilities

Lead sourcing, tendering, due diligence, and contract negotiation for software, services, and other assigned categories.
Review planning, forecasting, and trend analysis to anticipate business needs and support sourcing strategies.
Oversee the development and review of specifications for software, services, and supplies before market engagement.
Guide stakeholders and vendors through sourcing and competitive bidding processes, evaluating vendor capabilities, strengths, and gaps.
Negotiate pricing, terms, and conditions to minimize risk and maximize value for the university.
Monitor marketplace trends and pricing to maintain competitiveness across assigned categories.
Manage and develop a team of sourcing specialists, including hiring, coaching, performance management, and cross-functional coordination.
Support the Procure-to-Pay purchasing process, including vendor registration, requisition management, and purchase order issuance.
Promote effective use of procurement technologies, including Workday, ServiceNow Procurement and Event Management, and other sourcing tools.
Contribute to procurement policies, procedures, training materials, instructions, and webinars that promote organizational best practices.
Perform other job-related duties as assigned.