Procurement and Contracts Manager

Location

University of Redlands, 1200 E Colton Ave, Redlands, CA 92374, USA

Procurement & Contracts Manager (Administrative, Exempt – 12 months, Full-time 40 Hours)

$90,000 - $100,000

The Procurement & Contracts Manager is the university’s primary procurement authority, responsible for leading procurement and contracting activities. The role oversees competitive sourcing, contract negotiation, supplier evaluation, policy development, procurement governance, and day‑to‑day operations. The Manager will initially focus on implementing the university’s new procurement system and developing procurement policies and workflows; thereafter, the Manager will assume full responsibility for strategic sourcing, contract management, procurement operations, system administration, and campus support.

• Procurement System Implementation & Administration
  • Lead implementation of the new procurement system, including requirements gathering, workflow design, testing, and go‑live support.
  • Develop and document procurement processes, approval workflows, and system procedures.
  • Administer the procurement system after implementation, including configurations, vendor records, approval hierarchies, category structures, and punch‑out catalogs.
  • Monitor procurement workflow queues and ensure timely routing and processing of transactions.
  • Collaborate with IT, Finance, and external vendors to troubleshoot issues and support system enhancements.
  • Provide training, guidance, and ongoing support to campus users.
• Procurement Operations & Transactional Support
  • Manage end‑to‑end procurement transactions across multiple categories, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and policy compliance.
  • Review and process purchase requests, ensuring appropriate documentation and approvals.
  • Assist departments in developing and processing purchase requests and providing procurement guidance.
  • Maintain supplier, contract, and category master data in the ERP/procurement system.
  • Support qualification and onboarding of new vendors in alignment with university standards.
  • Resolve order discrepancies, defective goods, invoice issues, and delivery problems in coordination with relevant stakeholders.
  • Maintain and update punch‑out catalogs.
• Strategic Procurement & Sourcing
  • Conduct supplier searches, product evaluations, and market research to identify optimal sources.
  • Administer RFIs, RFQs, and RFPs; evaluate proposals and market trends to ensure competitive sourcing decisions.
  • Negotiate contract terms, pricing, payment schedules, and delivery requirements.
  • Contribute to long‑term procurement strategy, including spend optimization, category management and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Lead cross‑functional initiatives involving Finance, IT, Legal, and campus departments.
• Contract Management
  • Oversee the full contract lifecycle, including intake, review, negotiation, execution, renewal tracking, amendments, and close‑out.
  • Collaborate with the Office of General Counsel on contract review and risk mitigation.
  • Ensure contracts align with university policies, risk management practices, and regulatory requirements.
  • Maintain contract records and master data in the university’s ERP/procurement system.
• Policy Development & Compliance
  • Develop, document, and maintain procurement policies, procedures, and approval workflows.
  • Ensure procurement activities comply with university policies and applicable regulations.
  • Provide authoritative guidance to departments, senior leadership, and external partners.
  • Promote supplier diversity and environmentally responsible purchasing practices.
• Data Analysis & Process Improvement
  • Compile and analyze procurement data to support trend analysis and cost‑saving initiatives.
  • Recommend and implement procurement process enhancements that increase efficiency and strengthen controls.

• Required
  • Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, Public Administration, or related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
  • 3–5 years of progressively responsible procurement, purchasing, or sourcing experience.
  • Experience in higher education, public sector, or a similarly regulated environment.
  • Experience…