Senior Manager of Procurement

Art and Wellness Enterprises•Bentonville, AR

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Manager of Procurement leads procurement and contracting activities for Art and Wellness Enterprises (AWE) and its portfolio of supported organizations across healthcare, arts, education, and philanthropy. This role establishes enterprise-wide procurement processes, leads strategic sourcing initiatives, and oversees the full lifecycle of procurement and contracts to ensure consistency, compliance, and value across the ecosystem. Key responsibilities include sourcing strategy, market analysis, proposal evaluation, contract negotiation and administration, vendor management, and cost optimization. The Senior Manager partners closely with Finance, Legal, IT, Campus Management, and entity leadership to align procurement activities with financial controls, governance requirements, and operational priorities, while providing both strategic leadership and hands-on execution. Success in this role requires strong judgment, analytical capability, and the ability to balance strategic priorities with operational execution. The Senior Manager builds effective relationships across a distributed ecosystem, leads and develops the procurement team, and continuously improves procurement practices to support AWE’s mission and long-term objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, supply chain management, logistics, finance, accounting, operations, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.
Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) or similar certification preferred.
7-9+ years of progressive experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, contract management, supply chain, or related functions, with demonstrated growth in responsibility and scope.
Proven experience leading enterprise-wide procurement and contracting activities, including sourcing strategy, RFP/RFI development and evaluation, supplier selection, negotiation of competitive and sole-source procurements, contract execution, and full lifecycle management of procurement and contracts.
Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in complex, multi-entity or matrixed environments, including shared services or distribution procurement models.
Strong working knowledge of contract law, procurement best practices, vendor risk management, and compliance requirements, including federal grant procurement under Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) and other applicable regulatory considerations at the local, state, and federal levels.
Experience partnering closely with Finance, Legal, IT, and senior leadership to support organizational priorities, manage risk, and ensure alignment with financial and governance frameworks.
Ability to provide hands-on leadership and execution in a lean department, including direct involvement in complex, high-risk, or high-value procurements and negotiations.
Demonstrated success identifying and implementing cost savings, value creation, and process improvement opportunities through data-driven analysis and market insight.
Strong analytical and quantitative skills, with the ability to assess vendor proposals, total cost of ownership, and procurement performance metrics to inform decision making.
Proficiency with ERP and procurement systems; experience with Workday Spend Management and contract management platforms (e.g., Evisort) preferred.
Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, with advanced Excel skills; experience with reporting, dashboards, and data visualization tools preferred.
Demonstrated leadership capability, including direct supervision and development of team members, as well as functional leadership across a broader ecosystem.
Exceptional communication (verbal, written, presentation) and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders and lead cross-functional teams.
Excellent decision-making and critical thinking skills in a fast-paced, innovative environment where change is constant.
Proven ability to manage competing priorities in high-pressure environments, orchestrate multiple activities, and coordinate across diverse teams for optimal efficiency.
Strong negotiation and conflict resolution skills, with sound judgment and the ability to navigate sensitive situations with professionalism.
High level of integrity and discretion in handling confidential and organizational information.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred.
Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) or similar certification preferred.
Experience in startups, healthcare, higher education, museum/cultural institutions, philanthropy, or similar environments is strongly preferred.
Proficiency with ERP and procurement systems; experience with Workday Spend Management and contract management platforms (e.g., Evisort) preferred.
Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, with advanced Excel skills; experience with reporting, dashboards, and data visualization tools preferred.