Executive Director, Strategic Procurement

The Office of Business and Financial Affairs is comprised of a diverse group of experts in multiple fields supporting financial, operational, and administrative activities for the University of Denver. Our passion is working together and collaborating with other departments to reduce the administrative burden on Faculty and Staff so that they can focus on supporting the education of our students. We strive to be a trusted and innovative partner delivering exemplary administrative services in support of the DU community.

The Executive Director of Strategic Procurement is a high-impact leadership role for a strategic, forward-thinking professional who can shape and modernize the University’s procurement-to-pay operations. This leader provides enterprise-wide leadership for strategic sourcing, procurement, contract management, tax compliance, accounts payable, and travel management, while leading a talented team of more than 11 professional and administrative staff. The role offers the opportunity to influence institutional strategy, strengthen operational excellence, and deliver meaningful value through innovation, implementation of leading-edge technologies, process improvement, and data-informed decision-making.

The Executive Director partners with senior leaders across the University, including deans, vice chancellors, business officers, faculty, staff, students, and external suppliers, to build strong relationships, enhance service delivery, and advance institutional priorities. Reporting to the Senior Vice Chancellor for Business and Financial Affairs, and in close collaboration with the Controller’s Office, Enterprise Risk Management, Office of the Provost, and the Office of General Counsel, this leader ensures sound stewardship, regulatory compliance, and effective governance while championing modern solutions that elevate the University’s business operations and long-term success.

• Provide enterprise leadership for the University’s procurement-to-pay functions, including strategic sourcing, procurement, contract management, accounts payable, tax compliance, and travel management.
• Set and execute a strategic vision that strengthens procurement operations, modernizes service delivery, and supports institutional priorities.
• Lead high-value sourcing initiatives, supplier negotiations, and contracting strategies to optimize cost, quality, service, and risk management.
• Drive transformation through policy development, process redesign, technology enablement, and data-informed decision-making.
• Partner with senior leaders and campus stakeholders to identify opportunities for operational improvement, strategic investment, and enhanced customer experience.
• Advance a culture of accountability, service excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement across the organization.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, governance requirements, and University policies through strong cross-functional collaboration and effective controls.
• Provide financial and operational leadership through planning, performance monitoring, risk assessment, and resource stewardship.
• Use market intelligence, supplier insights, and institutional data to inform strategy, guide decision-making, and enhance outcomes.
• Recruit, develop, and lead a high-performing team while fostering professional growth, engagement, and clear accountability for results.

This role requires a confident, strategic, and highly collaborative leader who can operate effectively in a complex environment and bring credibility to executive-level conversations and institutional decision-making. The Executive Director must be able to lead through change, influence across organizational boundaries, and inspire a high-performing team to deliver exceptional results. The successful candidate will combine strong operational discipline with a forward-looking mindset and a commitment to building an inclusive, service-oriented culture that values innovation, partnership, and accountability.

• Ability to build and foster a high performing culture and organization
• Strategic leadership…