Strategic Procurement Agent

Rhode Island School of Design•Providence, RI

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

RISD’s Procurement Services department seeks a talented, enthusiastic, experienced, and customer-service-oriented individual to serve as a Senior Strategic Procurement Agent. Reporting to the Director of Procurement Services, the successful candidate will support RISD’s sourcing and procurement activities. The individual will work with RISD internal stakeholders to develop and execute RISD supply strategies for specific suppliers and supplier categories; assist in developing a RISD-wide strategic sourcing strategy; administer and manage procurement processes; negotiate price agreements; and review transactions for contract compliance as required. This position will serve as an internal consultant to the RISD community and will be the principal contact and liaison for departments, internal clients, suppliers, and other pertinent constituencies on all things procurement. The agent is expected to work independently and with minimal supervision in a work environment of multiple and conflicting priorities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of education and professional experience required.
Seven or more years of related experience, with at least four years of contract negotiation experience, is required.
Ability to identify, build, manage, and maintain vendor relationships.
Demonstrated ability to develop and implement processes and procedures, which drive operational efficiencies.
Demonstrated contract management and contract compliance skills.
Analytical skills.
Excellent organizational skills with particular ability to prioritize work in an environment with multiple and conflicting interests.
Proven project and/or program management skills.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
Flexibility and a customer service mindset are extremely important.
Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
Ability to handle complex and confidential information with discretion.
Competency using a variety of computer software required.
Commitment to supporting an inclusive work environment and the ability to work respectfully and effectively across differences in background, role, and perspective.

Nice To Haves

Experience with the Workday financial system is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Performs product and service research by developing and maintaining an effective vendor base to procure services and products.
Recommends the most appropriate and efficient method for formation of strategic sourcing initiatives/agreements for the College from the analysis of institutional spend, end-user activity, and Workday procurement/financial data.
Responsible for all aspects of the RFP and RFI business cycle, and works with RISD purchasers to identify alternatives that meet the client’s needs and provide the best value.
Negotiates strategic sourcing agreements and any changes in vendor contracts in accordance with RISD, state, and federal rules and regulations.
Negotiates with vendors/contractors to obtain maximum benefit to the College from contracts.
Develops and maintains current knowledge of changing commodity-related business trends in the marketplace and the possible impact to the College.
Writes, recommends, implements, and educates the RISD community on purchasing policies and procedures.
Identifies, develops, evaluates and implements systems, tools and models to create efficiencies, ensure administrative ease, and support strategic sourcing planning.
Develops and implements Small Business development initiatives to better enable their inclusion and participation in strategic sourcing initiatives.
Creates content for Procurement info.risd.edu web site.
Serves as a procurement consultant to internal constituents.
Contributes to unit goals by accomplishing related duties as required.
Overview the Workday workflow for the requisition to purchase order process.
Oversee Punchout suppliers in Workday.
Perform other related duties as requested.