Assistant Director, Strategic Sourcing & Contracting Service

Overview

The Assistant Director of Strategic Sourcing and Contracting supports the leadership and daily operations of the University of Arizona’s strategic sourcing and contracting functions within the Supply Chain organization. Reporting to the Senior Director of Strategic Sourcing and Contracting, this position plays a key role in implementing sourcing strategies, managing and negotiating procurement and non-procurement university contracts, analyzing spend, and supporting category management initiatives.

The Assistant Director ensures compliance with institutional policies and public procurement regulations, and supports efforts to optimize cost savings, supplier performance, and service delivery across the university.

When you join our organization, you become part of a smart, driven team that thrives on solving complex challenges. We align our business practices with the university’s priorities and cultivate talented teams who find purpose in creating simpler, more effective systems that drive institutional success. Our focus is clear: developing our people, transforming our work, and elevating our role.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!

The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs. For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocation services, please contact the employer.

Strategic Sourcing, Category Management, Leadership, &

Collaboration:

• Lead institutional strategic sourcing initiatives in alignment with university and divisional goals, ensuring integration across departments and units.
• Direct category spend analyses and develop institutional sourcing recommendations to optimize value, achieve savings, and mitigate risk.
• Oversee sourcing events (RFx processes), including development of specifications, bid evaluations, and supplier negotiations for high-value, complex procurements.
• Establish and maintain preferred supplier programs and long-term sourcing strategies that enhance value and supplier performance.
• Supervise and develop Sourcing and Contracting staff, providing guidance, performance feedback, and competency growth opportunities.
• Serve as a senior resource and advisor to university leadership and departments on sourcing best practices.
• Cultivate cross-functional collaboration with academic and administrative leaders to achieve institutional procurement objectives.

Contract Management:

• Oversee and manage the full contract lifecycle, including the negotiation of complex and high-value supplier agreements, ensuring institutional goals are achieved.
• Ensure enterprise-level compliance with ABOR codes, state/federal procurement laws, and internal contract governance requirements.
• Partner with Legal, Risk Management, and senior stakeholders to develop standard processes and resolve contractual issues that affect multiple units.

Supplier Relationship and Performance Management:

• Develop and lead supplier relationship strategies to ensure supplier performance, delivery, and continuous improvement meet institutional standards.
• Conduct supplier performance reviews and coordinate resolution of performance or compliance issues across university departments.
• Establish and sustain long-term strategic supplier partnerships that advance university priorities and operational excellence.

Operations, Process Improvement, and Compliance:

• Lead and oversee process improvement and digital transformation initiatives to enhance sourcing efficiency, transparency, and service levels.
• Oversee implementation and optimization of procurement systems (e.g., Jaggaer, UAccess) to support institutional objectives and drive operational excellence.
• Ensure continuous compliance with procurement policy, audit standards, tax regulations, and reporting obligations.
• Establish documentation standards and accountability frameworks that align with regulatory and internal…