Chief Procurement Officer
Apply now (https://secure.dc4.pageuppeople.com/apply/1021/gateway/default.aspx?c=apply&lJobID=494125&lJobSourceTypeID=796&sLanguage=en-us) Job No: 26009
Department: CFO & Vice President for Admin
Work Type: Staff - Full Time
Location: Main Campus (Houghton, MI)
Full Time / Part Time: Full Time
Categories: Management, Administrative/Business/Professional
Applications Close: 22 Feb 2026 Eastern Standard Time
Michigan Technological University is an R1 technological research university founded in 1885 in Houghton. Our rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's scenic Upper Peninsula and is home to nearly 7,500 students from more than 60 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan's flagship technological university offers more than 185 undergraduate (https://www.mtu.edu/admissions/academics/majors/) and graduate (https://www.mtu.edu/gradschool/programs/degrees/) degree programs. Research focus areas include defense, health, energy, automotive, environment, and aerospace.
The area's waters, forests, and snowfall support year-round recreation, including skiing, snowboarding, hiking, biking, and paddling. The University is an integral part of the region, supported by a friendly and welcoming community that takes pride in being a true college town. We embrace our size, climate, sense of adventure, and originality.
Summary
The Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) provides strategic, operational, and policy leadership for all university procurement, contracting, sourcing, supplier management, and purchasing compliance activities. This is a newly created institution-wide senior leadership role responsible for establishing Michigan Tech's first centralized Procurement & Contract Management Office.
The university is transitioning from a decentralized purchasing environment to a unified, strategic procurement model. The CPO will lead the development of modern procurement processes, implement enterprise tools and systems, establish institutional standards, and build a cohesive structure to support Michigan Tech's long-term financial sustainability and operational integrity. The CPO will also oversee Michigan Tech's existing Purchasing and Insurance Program Office, integrating its operations into the centralized procurement structure and aligning its work with university-wide strategy and standards.
The CPO will be responsible for creating the Universities procurement and contract management infrastructure from the ground up, developing university-wide policies, standardizing processes, implementing technology platforms, creating governance structures, and establishing clear institutional oversight. This position will bring Michigan Tech in line with higher-education best practices and support the university's operational and financial goals.
The CPO partners with the Office of General Counsel (OGC) for legal review while retaining full operational ownership of procurement strategy, sourcing, vendor management, and the entire contract lifecycle processes.
Responsibilities and Essential Duties
Strategic Leadership & Transformation
Build and lead a centralized Procurement & Contract Management Office for the university.
Develop and implement a university-wide procurement strategy aligned with Michigan Tech's financial and administrative priorities.
Establish policies, procedures, and governance structures for procurement and contracting.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives to modernize processes, improve cycle times, and increase transparency.
Develop KPIs, dashboards, and analytics to support data-driven purchasing and contract decisions.
Integrate and provide strategic leadership to the existing Purchasing and Insurance Program Office.
Procurement Operations
Oversee the full procure-to-pay lifecycle, including competitive bidding, sourcing, purchase orders, contracting, and vendor onboarding.
Standardize contract templates, playbooks, and workflows across all units.
Implement scalable procurement systems, including enterprise contract management software and related procurement tools.
Coordinate all campus purchasing activities to ensure consistency, compliance, and value optimization.
Align purchasing and insurance functions within the centralized procurement model.
Contract Management
Own the enterprise contract lifecycle management (CLM) function-routing, tracking, negotiation coordination, and compliance monitoring.
Ensure contracts receive appropriate financial, operational, risk, and legal review within standardized workflows.
Establish and maintain a university centralized contract repository, including tracking of key terms, reporting, expirations, renewals, and contract performance metrics.
Lead the development of Michigan Tech's first institution-wide contract management system and processes.
Vendor & Category Management
Develop and manage strategic supplier relationships to enhance reliability, cost structure, and service quality.
Lead major campus-wide sourcing initiatives (e.g., IT procurement, facilities, auxiliary services, research supplies).
Oversee vendor performance monitoring, contract compliance, and risk assessments.
Compliance & Risk Management
Ensure compliance with federal/state procurement regulations (including Uniform Guidance and state procurement standards) and university policies.
Partner with OGC for legal term review while retaining operational ownership of contracting workflows.
Ensure alignment with audit requirements and lead corrective action plans when needed.
Strengthen institutional internal controls through centralized oversight and standardized practices.
Required Education, Certifications, Licensures
Bachelor's degree in business, supply chain management, finance, public administration, or related field.
Required Experience
10+ years of progressively responsible experience in procurement, contracting, or supply chain management.
Demonstrated experience managing contract lifecycle processes and leading strategic sourcing initiatives.
Strong understanding of public-sector or higher-education procurement regulations.
Proven leadership experience implementing organizational change in a complex environment.
Experience building or modernizing procurement or contract management functions is strongly preferred.
Desirable Education and/or Experience
Master's degree (MBA, MPA, or related field).
Prior experience in higher education or a large public-sector environment.
Certifications such as CPSM, CPPO, or equivalent.
Experience implementing procurement technologies or contract lifecycle management systems (e.g., Jaggaer, SciQuest, Workday Procure-to-Pay).
Required Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities
Strategic thinking and operational discipline
Strong negotiation and vendor-management skills
Ability to establish trust and credibility across diverse stakeholders
Change management expertise
Strong understanding of contract law fundamentals (not as a lawyer, but as a procurement expert)
Commitment to transparency, accountability, and service excellence
Ability to build new systems, processes, and structures from inception
Required Training and Other Conditions of Employment
Every employee at Michigan Technological University will receive the following 4 required trainings; additional training may be required by the department.
Required University Training:
Employee Safety Overview
Anti-Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation Training
Annual Data Security Training
Annual Title IX Training
Background Check:
Offers of employment are contingent upon and not considered finalized until the required background check has been performed and the results received and assessed.
Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) % (1=100%)
1
FLSA Status
Exempt
Appointment Term
12 months
Pay Rate/Salary
The minimum salary for this position is $150,000. However the final salary will depend on experience and qualifications.
Title of Position Supervisor
CFO and VP for Administration
Posting Type
Internal & External
Dependent on Funding
No
Special Instructions to Applicants (if applicable)
Please submit a cover letter with your resume.
Additional Information
Application deadline is February 22, 2025 at 11:59pm.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
If you require any auxiliary aids, services, or accommodations during Michigan Tech's hiring process please notify the Human Resources office at 906-487-2280 or hr-help@mtu.edu.
Other Conditions of Employment:
Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of your appointment, and maintain eligibility without sponsorship throughout your appointment.
Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (https://www.mtu.edu/publicsafety/pdfs/annual-report.pdf) contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. Michigan Tech will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the Michigan Tech Public Safety.
In compliance with the federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (DFSCA) and its implementing regulations (34 CFR Part 86), Michigan Tech is committed to maintaining a drugfree campus environment and actively promoting the health and safety of its community. Find our notice (https://www.mtu.edu/hr/current/docs/aod-notification.pdf) that outlines the University's policies, legal sanctions, health risks, and available support resources related to the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol.
Required Education, Certifications, Licensures* (minimum requirements)
Advertised: 05 Feb 2026 Eastern Standard Time
Applications Close: 22 Feb 2026 Eastern Standard Time
