Assistant Director of Procurement

Working/Functional Title

Assistant Director of Procurement

Position Summary

MSU Procurement is seeking an Assistant Director to lead day-to-day procurement operations and supervise the leaders responsible for delivering procurement and contracting services to the University. This role advances MSU's teaching, research, outreach, and operational missions by strengthening procurement execution, improving service delivery, supporting compliant contracting practices, and developing the people and processes needed for a high-performing procurement organization.

This role manages the operational procurement function for Michigan State University. The Assistant Director works closely with the MSU Chief Procurement Officer, Procurement leadership, purchasing staff, University partners, and suppliers to translate procurement strategy into consistent operations, sound decisions, and measurable results.

The Assistant Director leads procurement operations supported by a team of supervisors, also known as Strategic Contracts Managers, who directly manage procurement professionals responsible for sourcing, buying, contracting, supplier engagement, and purchase order execution. The role also supervises a Contract Coordinator individual contributor who reviews low-risk contract redlines, provides feedback to buyers and expeditors, and supports timely routing and resolution of contract language issues. As a manager of supervisors, the Assistant Director is accountable for aligning team practices, developing supervisory capability, resolving escalations, monitoring performance, and ensuring Procurement delivers consistent service to campus customers.

The Assistant Director provides operational leadership for complex procurement activities, high-risk or politically sensitive purchases, contract management practices, supplier performance review processes, policy implementation, compliance controls, and continuous improvement efforts. The role uses procurement data and performance metrics to identify workload trends, service gaps, savings opportunities, supplier performance concerns, and process improvement needs.  This position serves as a senior procurement authority and operational resource for campus procurement matters, represents Procurement in campus discussions, supports departments in resolving complex procurement and contracting issues, and ensures that Procurement practices align with federal, state, local, sponsor, and University requirements.

The Assistant Director is expected to model sound judgment, integrity, service excellence, collaboration, inclusion, and practical problem solving. The position requires the ability to balance daily production needs with long-term improvements in procurement systems, procedures, training, customer experience, compliance, and staff development. May act on behalf of the Chief Procurement Officer in assigned operational, administrative, or decision-making matters. Supports procurement operational budgeting and resource planning and allocation.

Work Modality:

This position is based in East Lansing, Michigan on the campus of Michigan State University. This position is "remote-friendly", with the expectation of on-campus presence periodically. This is typically referred to as "Hybrid", with the flexibility of regular remote work mixed with in-office work as mutually agreed upon with the supervisor.

What You'll Do:

Operational procurement leadership:

• Manage Procurement operations through a team of supervisors responsible for entry- through senior-level procurement professionals.
• Establish and enforce consistent operational goals, service expectations, workload practices, and performance measures for procurement teams.
• Monitor operational data, purchasing trends, contract cycle times, supplier performance, and customer feedback to identify and implement improvements.
• Serve as the first escalation point for complex, high-risk, high-value, or politically sensitive procurement and contracting issues.
• Ensure consistent use of procurement tools, contract management processes, purchase order practices, and spend analytics.

Supervision and leadership development:

• Directly supervise Procurement Supervisors/Strategic Contracts Managers and the Contract Coordinator.
• Coach supervisors on workload management, performance planning, employee development, compliance expectations, stakeholder management, and service recovery.
• Conduct performance planning, performance reviews, staff development discussions, and succession-oriented talent planning for direct reports.
• Develop consistent supervisory practices across procurement teams and addresses performance, skill, capacity, or process gaps.
• Promote an environment that supports accountability, professional growth, inclusion, collaboration, innovation, and service excellence.

Contracting, compliance, and policy execution:

• Provide oversight for contract review, sourcing, negotiation, purchase order, supplier management, and contract administration practices within Procurement operations.
• Supervise the Contract Coordinator responsible for reviewing low-risk contract redlines and providing feedback to buyers and expeditors.
• Partner with University legal counsel, risk, finance, information technology, academic units, and other stakeholders to support appropriate resolution of contract language and business terms.
• Interpret procurement policy and support updates to policies, standard operating procedures, templates, guidance, and training materials.
• Maintain current knowledge of federal, state, local, sponsor, and University requirements that affect procurement operations and coordinates operational changes as needed.
• Ensure procurement operations are fully aligned with supplier risk management, internal controls, audit readiness, and compliance requirements.

Stakeholder and supplier management:

• Engage with campus stakeholders and suppliers to ensure procurement services, contracts, and supplier relationships support University needs.
• Participate in business partner meetings, client committees, and planning discussions related to procurement strategy, value analysis, sourcing, and contract performance.
• Advise departments on procurement policy, sourcing strategy, contracting approach, purchase order requirements, and supplier performance issues.
• Investigate and resolve escalated user or supplier concerns in a manner consistent with University policies and Procurement service expectations.

Continuous improvement and communication:

• Identify, evaluate, and implement process, technology, training, reporting, and policy improvements that strengthen Procurement operations.
• Develop metrics, reports, and recommendations that support productivity, efficiency, compliance, savings, risk management, and customer service goals.
• Coordinate Procurement communications related to operational changes, policy updates, training, customer guidance, and supplier-facing matters.
• Represent Procurement on campus committees, workgroups, and special projects as requested.

Minimum Requirements

Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in Supply Chain Management, Business or Public Administration, or closely related area, including course work in procurement, materials management, personnel and labor relations, business law, accounting, information systems and industrial engineering; more than eight years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in supervising operational activities in procurement or supply chain; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Certified Public Purchasing Manager (CPM) or Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) or equivalent certification is desired.

Desired Qualifications

• Master of Business Administration, Juris Doctorate, Master of Supply Chain Management, CPSM, CPPO, CPPB, or equivalent certification strongly desired.
• Experience in higher education, public procurement, research procurement, or another complex regulatory environment.
• Experience managing supervisors or managers responsible for procurement, sourcing, contracting, supplier management, or related operations.
• Broad supply chain experience including operations, compliance, contracting, payables, supplier performance, spend analytics, and process improvement.
• Experience with e-procurement systems, contract management tools, spend analytic tools, project management, policy development, standard operating procedures, and training development.
• Demonstrated ability to develop staff, lead organizational change, resolve complex issues, build strong stakeholder relationships, communicate with tact and discretion, and exercise sound judgment under pressure.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Application Materials

Resume

Cover Letter

Three Professional References

Special Instructions

Work Modality:

This position is based in East Lansing, Michigan on the campus of Michigan State University. This position is "remote-friendly", with the expectation of on-campus presence periodically. This is typically referred to as "Hybrid", with the flexibility of regular remote work mixed with in-office work as mutually agreed upon with the supervisor.

Salary:

Salary is commensurate with experience.

Work Hours

STANDARD 8-5

Website

https://procurement.msu.edu/

Remote Work Statement

MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.

Bidding eligibility ends June 9, 2026, 11:55 PM