Director of Purchasing

Position Summary:

The Director of Procurement provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for Delaware Valley University's procurement and purchasing functions. This role ensures effective stewardship of institutional resources by developing and implementing procurement strategies, policies, and processes that deliver best value, ensure compliance, and support the University's academic and operational mission. The Director partners with academic and administrative departments to streamline purchasing workflows, manage supplier relationships, oversee contracts, and leverage procurement systems and analytics to enhance transparency, efficiency, and cost control.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Recruits, hires, trains, and supervises staff and student workers
• Oversees daily workflow, workload prioritization, and service delivery
• Conducts performance evaluations and provides ongoing coaching and feedback
• Establishes annual goals, metrics, and professional development plans
• Approves staff time off and ensures adequate coverage

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Procurement Strategy & Policy

• Leads the University's centralized purchasing function, including the development, maintenance, and enforcement of procurement policies, procedures, and approval thresholds
• Ensures procurement practices align with institutional financial controls, audit expectations, and risk‑management standards
• Serves as a strategic advisor to Finance and senior leadership on procurement risks, opportunities, and cost‑containment initiatives

Contracting, Sourcing & Vendor Management

• Oversees competitive sourcing activities, including RFPs, RFQs, and bid evaluations
• Negotiates pricing, service levels, contract terms, and renewals in collaboration with University stakeholders
• Manages the University's contract review and approval process to ensure appropriate authorization and compliance with institutional policy
• Develops and maintains systems to track contract expirations, renewals, escalators, and budget impacts
• Manages vendor relationships, performance reviews, and corrective actions as needed

Purchasing Operations & Systems

• Oversees purchase requisitions, purchase orders, and related workflows through the University's ERP and e‑procurement systems
• Administers and monitors the University's purchasing card (P‑Card) program, including training, auditing, and compliance reviews
• Coordinates closely with Accounts Payable to ensure timely and accurate invoice processing
• Maintains procurement documentation, records retention, vendor insurance certificates, and related compliance files

Analytics, Reporting & Process Improvement

• Develops and utilizes procurement analytics to evaluate spend patterns, vendor utilization, contract compliance, and savings opportunities
• Identifies opportunities for standardization, consolidation, and participation in purchasing consortia
• Leads continuous improvement efforts to reduce cycle times, improves customer service, and strengthens internal controls

Asset Management & Auxiliary Support

• Oversees strategic liquidation or disposition of obsolete or decommissioned assets to maximize recovery value
• Manages campus‑wide document shredding coordination to ensure secure disposal
• Provides leadership and budget oversight for the University Mail Center and serves as operational backup as needed

Training & Campus Collaboration

• Provides training and guidance to budget managers and campus users on procurement policies, systems, and best practices
• Partners with academic departments, Facilities, IT, Advancement, and auxiliary units to support institutional priorities
• Promotes ethical, responsible, and cost‑effective purchasing practices across campus

Other Duties

• Performs other related duties as assigned in support of University operations

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated experience in higher education or similarly regulated procurement environments
• Knowledge of competitive bidding, contract negotiation, and supplier management
• Experience with ERP and procurement systems (e.g., ESM/ESchoolMall, Ellucian Colleague)
• Experience administering purchasing card programs and audit controls
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem‑solving skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with a service‑oriented approach
• High level of integrity, ethical judgment, and attention to detail

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in business, finance, supply chain management, or a related field
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in purchasing or procurement
• Higher education procurement experience preferred

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Primarily office‑based work environment
• Prolonged periods of sitting and computer use; intermittent standing and walking
• Occasional lifting up to 25 pounds
• Occasional evening, on‑call, or travel requirements

About the University:

Delaware Valley University (DelVal) is a private, comprehensive, nonprofit university educating students with a curriculum that emphasizes and requires experiential learning. Located in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, about 30 miles north of Philadelphia, the University offers 28 undergraduate majors in business, arts and sciences, and agricultural and environmental sciences; 12 master's degrees; and a doctorate in education. Founded in 1896, DelVal has been cited by the National Society for Experiential Education as having the country's top experiential learning program, by Princeton Review as one of the best colleges in the Northeast, and by College Factual as having one of the top 20 animal science programs in the country.

Delaware Valley University is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce.