Director of Procurement Transformation & Strategy

Company Description

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

Financial Administration (FAD) is dedicated to advancing Harvard University’s teaching and research mission by stewarding its resources; providing support, guidance, and consultation; ensuring compliance with university and federal guidelines; mitigating risk; pursuing operational excellence; and promoting the financial health of the University.

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Within and across the University, we aim to be exemplary colleagues, trusted partners, valued advisors, and agents of positive change. Within our own community, we aspire to:
Engage with respect, honesty, and integrity;
Cultivate equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging;
Welcome innovation, collaboration, and flexibility;
Enjoy our work, grow professionally, and aim for the extraordinary.

Learn more about Financial Administration (harvard.edu) and our eight reporting units.

Harvard University’s Strategic Procurement Department is a central administrative function that serves all Harvard schools, institutes, and administrative units. Our mission is to create value for Harvard by optimizing the procurement of goods and services while upholding the highest standards of integrity, compliance, and supplier partnership. We manage over $3.5 billion in annual addressable spend and are committed to practices that support balance of trade, environmental sustainability, and the University’s long‑term financial health.

The Director of Procurement Transformation and Strategy (the Director) is the driving engine of Strategic Procurement's future‑state operating model. Partnering closely with the Chief Procurement Officer (CPO), this leader orchestrates enterprise change that shifts procurement from transactional oversight to a strategic, value‑generation function. The Director operationalizes, manages projects in support of, and mobilizes the five‑year strategic roadmap and maturity model into a governed portfolio that delivers measurable ROI, risk reduction, and a superior stakeholder experience.

This role is responsible for leading and overseeing the adoption of critical projects and initiatives, and effectively institutionalizes AI enablement (generative AI, predictive analytics, and hyper‑automation) across the procurement lifecycle.

This position requires high‑level diplomacy, executive presence, and the ability to influence without direct authority across a decentralized University environment. The job responsibilities listed are representative, but not exhaustive; additional duties may be assigned in support of departmental and University priorities.

• Own the multiyear strategic roadmap and maturity model, translating vision into a sequenced portfolio of initiatives with defined outcomes, interdependencies, and clear ownership.
• Establish and lead transformation governance (e.g., decision rights, stage gates, benefits realization, risk management, and reporting cadence) to drive predictable execution and sustainable adoption.
• Design, implement, and continuously refine the target operating model—including processes, roles, controls, and system‑enabled workflows—to improve efficiency, compliance, and user experience.
• Lead critical projects, which serve as the primary transformation platforms, driving speed, quality, organizational readiness, and strong adoption while embedding standard work and controls that reduce risk.
• Champion AI enablement across procurement by integrating generative AI and machine learning into workflows and analytics to advance from descriptive reporting to predictive and prescriptive insights.
• Identify, evaluate, and integrate enabling technologies that remove low‑value transactional friction and unlock capacity for strategic category management and supplier driven innovation.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional leaders to design and execute change management, communications, and…