Managing Director, Strategic Procurement Services

About EAB

At EAB, our mission is to make education smarter and our communities stronger. We work with more than 2,800 institutions to drive transformative change through data‑driven insights and best‑in‑class capabilities. From kindergarten to college to career, EAB partners with leaders and practitioners to accelerate progress and drive results across enrollment, student success, institutional strategy, data analytics, and advancement. We work with each partner differently, tailoring our portfolio of research, technology, and marketing and enrollment solutions to meet the unique needs of every leadership team, as well as the students and employees they serve.

At EAB, we serve not only our partner institutions but each other— that is why we are always working to make sure our employees love their jobs and are invested in their communities. See how we’ve been recognized for this dedication to our employees by checking out our recent awards.

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EAB is launching a new, differentiated Strategic Procurement Services business for higher education, built in partnership with an established operating partner. The model combines EAB’s deep relationships with cabinet‑level leaders, advanced analytics, and change management capabilities with a partner that delivers core procurement know‑how and capabilities in the areas of sourcing and contracting.

We are seeking an entrepreneurial general manager to lead this effort from concept refinement through pilot execution and into scale. This role owns the end‑to‑end success of the business, including strategy, go‑to‑market positioning, supplier and category strategy, partner governance, and cross‑functional coordination across EAB.

This hire may ideally be based in our Washington, D.C. headquarters and is also open to hires based in our Richmond, VA office.

This position will require occasional travel to customers and our operating partner.

• Refine the concept and partnership model based on market feedback, early learnings, and stakeholder input.
• Translate the vision into a practical, testable operating model ready for pilot launch.
• Define success metrics for the pilot across supplier participation, institutional adoption, ROI, and operational stability.
• Monitor pilot execution and report clearly on outcomes, risks, and recommendations.

• Serve as EAB’s senior relationship owner for the operating partner.
• Hold the partner accountable for delivery of their core components.
• Continuously assess and refine the division of responsibilities as the business evolves.
• Establish and manage governance structures, including:
  • Clear role definitions and decision rights.
  • Operating cadences and escalation paths.
  • Performance expectations and reporting.

• Own the supplier and category strategy for the business, even where execution is partner‑led.
• Shape contract economics and pricing structures to balance institutional value, supplier incentives, and sustainable margins.
• Act as the senior executive “face” to supplier leadership, reinforcing a partner‑oriented and win‑win ethos.

• Work with commercial teams to develop the GTM strategy and positioning, helping to create and deliver executive‑level pitch materials.
• Participate directly in sales conversations with CFOs, CPOs, and cabinet‑level leaders, serving as the “face” of the business.
• Support development of diagnostics, business cases, and change management narratives to motivate institutional commitment.

• Lead through influence in a matrixed environment.
• Create operational visibility and stability across internal and external stakeholders involved in the pilot and beyond.

• Use performance data, supplier feedback, and member outcomes to refine:
  • Category prioritization.
  • Contract structures.
  • Partner operating model.
  • Ongoing member benefits.

• 10‑12+ years of professional experience, including ownership of a business, product line,…