"LSA Procurement Manager"

Since 1841, the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) has been the heart of The Michigan Difference, educating young leaders through a rich liberal arts curriculum and creating new knowledge through world-class research and scholarship. LSA offers more than 100 degree programs in over 75 academic departments and programs. Every LSA program is among the best in the U.S., with more than 40 programs in the top 10, and 5 programs are the best in their fields. Our alumni network is over 200,000 living LSA graduates, and 90% of our seniors go on to enter the workforce or attend graduate school. Learn more about LSA at http://www.lsa.umich.edu/.

As part of the largest college at the University of Michigan, LSA Finance employs more than 90 employees who collectively provide financial, research administration, and procurement support to over 100 units within the College of LSA. As an integral support structure within the college, our procurement team is charged with providing exceptional service in all facets of procurement operations to LSA faculty, students, and staff. This centralized procurement operation is responsible for coordinating, tracking, and meeting the fulfillment of requests related to the acquisition of goods and services, payment of invoices, and resolution of related activities.

Provide management and oversight of the College's centralized procurement and payment function for acquisition. Facilitate both expansion and participation of this function to improve efficiencies, reduce administrative burden on units, and deliver reliable, responsive support to faculty, staff, and students. The procurement manager is responsible for ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of all procurement activities, including order placement, delivery coordination, supplier issue resolution, invoice processing, and payment verification, to support the College's academic and operational goals.

The selected candidate will lead the procurement team by providing strategic and operational oversight. This includes supervising staff, ensuring they have the training tools and performance metrics needed to process purchase requests and invoices accurately and efficiently. The manager will establish clear goals, performance indicators, and expectations to drive continuous improvement and maintain a positive, results-oriented work culture. Responsibilities also include mentoring, counseling, and working with staff on performance activities, including annual performance planning and evaluations.

The selected candidate will facilitate a positive customer experience by ensuring that faculty, staff, and students can easily place orders, request supplier payments, and receive support for acquiring goods and services. They will design and implement feedback mechanisms to monitor satisfaction and align services with LSA operational needs. This role provides guidance to chief administrators, department managers, and financial staff on procurement policies, procedures, and compliance requirements.

As the escalation point for complex or highly sensitive purchases, the manager will advocate for the best interests of the college. They will develop and refine processes that define clear operational workflows, ensure documentation of procedures, and support both continuity and succession planning. The Manager will also evaluate and optimize tracking and management systems to enhance customer service and improve operational efficiency.

The procurement manager will collaborate with stakeholders and LSA units to identify needs and recommend solutions that enhance operational efficiency. The manager will collaborate with key managers and University officials to expand and leverage relationships within U-M Procurement and Shared Services. Evaluate and provide input to improve key administrative systems, including M-Pathways, LSA's in-house systems, and other management tools. They will also oversee the selection, development, testing, implementation, and ongoing management of procurement tools or software solutions.

Provide relevant information for measuring productivity and establishing meaningful benchmarks. Analyze fulfillment lead times to identify opportunities for improvement and reduce delays and related expenditure. Proactively seek cost-saving strategies by evaluating trends, volumes, and purchasing patterns to inform future procurement methods and optimize pricing for the College. Assess and advise on outcomes related to internal controls and compliance with University policies and audit requirements.

Bachelor's degree in accounting, business administration, or a related field, or equivalent 5-8 years of previous business experience, including supervision and experience with procurement processes. General financial knowledge and stewardship. Excellent verbal and written communication skills Strong organizational skills; able to multitask, set priorities, and work independently. Experience building business relationships with people at various levels. Experience with process improvement, evaluation, and change management. Ability to work effectively with a wide range of faculty, staff, and students by recognizing and valuing each individual's unique contributions to the team. Demonstrates behaviors that are aligned with the values and ethics of the organization.

Broad experience and understanding of University policies and procedures, its administrative systems, related financial structures, and overall procurement processes. Two or more years of supervisory experience over multiple individuals. Experience with all aspects of procurement, including contracts, negotiation, and the administration of procurement systems.

Salary range is $100,000 - $110,000, with a higher salary possible based on the experience of the selected top candidate.

As one of the world's great liberal arts colleges, LSA pushes the boundaries of what is understood about the human experience and the natural world, and we foster the next generation of rigorous and empathetic thinkers, creators, and contributors to the state of Michigan, the nation, and the world.

To learn more about LSA's Mission, Vision and Values, please visit lsa.umich.edu/strategicvision.

Mission Statement The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.