Procurement Manager

VARSITY SPIRIT, A VARSITY BRANDS COMPANY - THE DRIVING FORCE IN SPIRIT ACROSS CHEER, DANCE, BAND AND YEARBOOK

For over 50 years, Varsity Spirit has been the leading global source for all things spirit, including cheerleading, dance team, performing arts and yearbook. Focused on safety, entertainment and traditional school leadership, Varsity Spirit’s 5,000+ employees are dedicated to celebrating school spirit. A leader in apparel innovation, educational camps, clinics, competitions, and yearbook, Varsity Spirit impacts more than a million athletes each year.

OUR COMMITMENT TO SAFETY

At Varsity Spirit, the safety and wellbeing of the young people we serve is of the utmost importance. Since our inception 50 years ago, we have been – and remain – steadfastly committed to doing our part to create a safe and positive environment for our participants’ physical, emotional, and social development, and promoting an environment free from abuse and misconduct. Varsity has a zero tolerance for abuse in its programs, events, and associated business activities. Varsity is committed to reporting all suspicions, allegations, and incidents of abuse in full accordance with local laws and reporting requirements. Learn more at Our Commitment to Safety - Varsity.com.

WORK TYPE: Full Time

LOCATION DETAILS: Remote but must be based in Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, or Texas

TRAVEL: Event travel and attendance at staff meetings & trainings is required.  Event travel and work will include overnight stays for events.  Corporate travel to industry related conferences and Varsity offices will also be required and include overnight stays. As part of the event operations team, during the event season which runs from October thru May, this role is expected to be available to work 2-3 weekends per month. Outside of event season expect to travel about 1 to 2 weekends per month in support of business needs and initiatives.  

COMPENSATION: The pay for this position is $61,500-92,500 annually, plus the opportunity to earn an annual bonus based on personal and company performance.

The base salary will vary based on criteria such as education, experience and qualifications of the applicant, location, internal equity, and alignment with the market.

HOW YOU WILL MAKE AN IMPACT 

As the Procurement Manager, you will be responsible for overseeing the strategic sourcing and procurement of event venues for our organization. Your primary focus will be to identify and secure suitable venues that align with our events' objectives and budgetary constraints. You will engage with sales, finance and operations and collaborate closely to ensure successful event execution.

WHAT YOU WILL DO 

• Venue Sourcing Strategy: Develop and implement a comprehensive venue sourcing strategy that optimizes costs while maintaining the quality and suitability of event locations.
• Vendor Relationship Management: Establish and maintain strong relationships with venue vendors, negotiating favorable terms, and securing the best possible rates and contracts.
• Leadership: Lead by example, providing guidance, training, and support to ensure the delivery high-quality results along with presentations to multiple departments and leadership teams.
• Budget Management: Work closely with finance and event planning teams to develop budgets and cost estimates for venue procurement, ensuring cost-effectiveness and adherence to financial guidelines.
• Venue Research and Selection: Conduct market research to identify potential venues that align with event requirements. Evaluate and compare venue options, considering capacity, location, amenities, and accessibility.
• Contract Management: Draft and review contracts with venues, including terms, conditions, cancellation policies, and liability agreements. Ensure all contracts comply with legal and organizational standards.
• Risk Mitigation: Analyze potential risks associated with selected venues and implement risk mitigation strategies to safeguard event success.
• Event Collaboration: Serves on regional regional leadership team to collaborate with event operations and management teams to understand event objectives, audience needs, and event logistics to ensure venues meet all necessary requirements.
• Sustainability Initiatives: Advocate for sustainable venue practices and work towards integrating eco-friendly options in venue selection.
• Performance Analysis: Measure and track the performance of venue procurement initiatives, identifying areas for improvement and implementing strategies to enhance efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

QUALIFICATIONS 

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES ​

• Strong negotiation and contract management skills.
• Excellent organizational and project management abilities, with the capacity to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
• High level of customer service acumen.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with internal teams and external stakeholders.
• In-depth knowledge of the events industry, venue trends, and best practices.
• Familiarity with sustainability practices and their application in event venues is advantageous.
• Results-oriented and able to work independently to meet deadlines and handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in business, hospitality management, or related field a plus.
• Proven experience in venue procurement, sourcing, or event planning, with a minimum of 5 years in a similar role.
• Experience in the cheerleading/dance space is a plus.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS  

The physical demands that are described as required are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.   

• While not participating in an event this job operates in a professional office environment. Ability to sit or stand for long periods through meetings and while operation office equipment, PC’s, laptop, telephone will be required.
• During events the ability to stand and walk for long periods of time (5 hours plus) is required.  The ability to communicate with customers and colleagues using the following but not limited to radio, walkie talkie, text message and email is required.  The ability to lift, bend, push, pull and manipulate equipment that is a minimum of 30lbs is required.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the employee for this job.

JOIN THE BEST TEAM IN SPORT & SPIRIT

At Varsity Brands, we believe every student deserves the opportunity to succeed and every educator wants to make a difference. It takes a team to make a real impact, and through our two divisions – BSN SPORTS and Varsity Spirit – and our network of 6,000+ employees and independent representatives, we are proud to partner with a wide range of educational institutions and club and professional sports to transform the student journey in SPORT and SPIRIT.

OUR VALUES

Service - We lead with heart. We champion community.

Passion - We love what we do. It fuels our purpose.

Integrity - We do what we promise. We own our actions and decisions.

Respect - We earn it by giving it. Because everyone deserves it.

Innovation - We never stop striving to be better. For ourselves and our community.

Transparency - We are committed to openness and honesty in everything we do.

OUR BENEFITS

We are committed to putting you and your families first. For benefits eligible roles, we offer a variety of choices and costs as well as program enhancements that align with our responsibility to elevate the employee experience. Some of our offerings include:

• Comprehensive Health Care Benefits
• HSA Employer Contribution/ FSA Opportunities
• Wellbeing Program
• 401(k) plan with company matching
• Company paid Life, AD&D, and Short-Term Disability
• Generous My Time Off & Paid Holidays
• Varsity Brands Ownership Program
• Employee Resource Groups
• Access to Financial Coaching and member-owned Credit Union
• St. Jude Partnership & Volunteer Opportunities
• Employee Perks including discounts on personal apparel and equipment!

Varsity Brands companies are equal opportunity employers. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran’s status, age or disability.