Job Summary
The Commodity Procurement Lead IT Software/Services serves as a strategic procurement leader for Procurement Shared Services, overseeing the sourcing, contracting, and acquisition of designated commodity categories related to IT Software and Services for participating universities. The position directs and supervises procurement staff, develops procurement strategies and policies, ensures compliance with federal, state, and PASSHE regulations, and leads strategic sourcing initiatives to achieve…
cost savings, operational efficiency, and value-driven purchasing outcomes. The role is responsible for managing complex procurement activities, supplier negotiations, contract administration and negotiation, working with PASSHE legal counsel, and stakeholder support while ensuring effective, compliant, and customer-focused procurement services.
This position is remote but occasional travel to System headquarters in Harrisburg or other locations for meetings may be required. Pennsylvania residency is required.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in business administration or related field
- Minimum three years’ experience in procurement
- Demonstrated history of supervisory experience
- Experience with integrated ERP systems
- Experience using various software including but not limited to Microsoft Office, Outlook, Dropbox, etc.
- Strong management skills including but not limited to directing tasks and project assignments, effective planning, organization, problem solving, oral, and written communications
- Citizenship or work authorization to work in the United States required
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in a higher education setting, SAP, C.P.M. or CPPB certification
- Knowledge of centralized purchasing procedures, knowledge of Commonwealth, PASSHE, or public procurement guidelines
- Microsoft Office skills
- Demonstrated ability to work with diverse populations
- Experience procuring SaaS, software licenses, and cloud-based services, including perpetual, subscription, and enterprise agreements
- Working knowledge of software licensing models, maintenance/support renewals, true-up processes, and vendor audit provisions
- Familiarity with IT terms and risk areas such as data privacy, cybersecurity, indemnification, service levels, accessibility, data ownership, and exit/transition support
- Ability to partner with IT, information security, legal, privacy, finance, and end users to evaluate software requirements and contract risk
- Experience managing a portfolio of software renewals, expirations, and escalations to prevent service lapses and auto-renewal risk
- Knowledge of software procurement approval workflows, including business case review, total cost of ownership, and budget alignment
- Experience with RFPs for software and technology services, including requirements gathering, evaluation criteria, demos, scoring, and negotiations
- Understanding contract language for software implementations, hosting, support, SLAs, uptime, penalties, and data return/destruction
