Director of Procurement Transformation & Strategy

Overview

Harvard University’s Central Administration and Strategic Procurement function seek to transform procurement into a strategic, value‑generating function. This role partners with the Chief Procurement Officer to drive enterprise change, manage a five‑year strategic roadmap, and institutionalize AI enablement across the procurement lifecycle. It requires high‑level diplomacy, executive presence, and the ability to influence without direct authority across a decentralized university environment.

• 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 to drive predictable execution, benefits realization, risk management, and reporting cadence.
• Design, implement, and refine the target operating model—processes, roles, controls, and system-enabled workflows—to improve efficiency, compliance, and user experience.
• Lead critical projects that serve as primary transformation platforms, driving adoption, risk reduction, and applied standard work.
• Champion AI enablement across procurement by integrating generative AI and machine learning into workflows and analytics to progress from descriptive to predictive and prescriptive insights.
• Identify and integrate enabling technologies that remove low-value transactional work and unlock capacity for strategic category management and supplier innovation.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional leaders to design and execute change management, communications, and training programs that embed modernization and cultural transformation.
• Build and lead a Procurement Center of Excellence and cross‑director support model, creating playbooks, tools, standards, and metrics to institutionalize best practices across the University.
• Lead complex, cross‑functional programs from concept through stabilization with defined scope, success measures, timelines, and governance.
• Develop business cases and implementation plans; track value realization and continuously optimize based on performance data.
• Drive stakeholder engagement and executive communications; prepare materials for senior forums and facilitate decision‑making.
• Manage external partners and vendors to ensure outcomes, quality, and value for money.
• Identify and mitigate risks; ensure controls, policy alignment, and compliance with University requirements.
• Build and develop high‑performing teams; clarify expectations, coach talent, and foster accountability and collaboration.

• Bachelor’s degree required or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience leading enterprise transformation, operating model modernization, or large‑scale program management.

• Demonstrated success influencing senior stakeholders and delivering measurable outcomes in complex, matrixed organizations.
• Strong analytical and communication skills, with the ability to translate strategy into executable plans and present to executive audiences.
• Experience modernizing procurement functions, including deployment of eProcurement, CLM, P2P, supplier management, and analytics solutions.
• Hands‑on experience with AI, automation, data platforms, and advanced analytics in a procurement or related operational context.
• Formal change management and/or program management credentials (e.g., Prosci, PMP, Lean/Six Sigma) preferred.
• Experience in higher education or similarly decentralized institutions with complex stakeholder landscapes.

• Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) preferred

Harvard University’s Central Administration supports the university’s excellence by understanding and serving the needs of schools, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and surrounding communities. CADM provides services to help schools achieve their goals through dynamic, collaborative partnerships.

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package to support work‑life balance and wellbeing. The package includes, but is…