Senior Manager, Procurement Operations

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Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:

Job Description

***This Sr. Manager position will work from our Raleigh, North Carolina Office that will open in the Spring of 2026. The candidate selected will work from a home office until that time***

The Senior Manager, Procurement Operations is responsible for overseeing the source-to-pay systems and process, other procurement related tools and systems, technological and operating process improvements, data analysis, reporting, supplier registration, project management, budget preparation, team operations, meeting logistics, and global procurement training programs. They will deliver best practices in procurement operations across the entire Procurement group by establishing and evaluating industry benchmark metrics and key performance indicators. The Senior Manager will lead a team of direct and indirect reports with responsibility for hiring, coaching, and team development.

Job Duties

• Serves as a bridge between the strategic and tactical elements of Sourcing and Vendor Engagement.
• Serves as a leader to a team to drive engagement and results and supports initiative teams in their work. Provides measurable feedback to direct reports and suggestions for improved performance. Coaches, mentors, and assists in the professional development of team members.
• Participates in department and area staffing activities, including candidate interviewing, selection, and onboarding.
• Takes the lead in driving business processes and ensuring the organization is executing to max potential.
• Influences the data analytics process to define research and extract business intelligence from the analysis.
• Manages complex projects that span numerous organizational functions and have non-linear dependencies.
• Creates a positive impact on peers and associates that help coordinate and deliver with a change-centric environment, while staying focused on customer satisfaction.
• Ensures that business best practices are followed via quality checks.
• Collaborates across multiple areas of the university system, emphasizing serving department operations' needs.
• Leads the communication strategy for Procurement process improvement projects and initiatives.
• Oversees project managers for Procurement and Procurement systems and tools.
• Partners in the development of departmental strategies consistent with the assigned department.
• Catalogues, collates, vets, maintains, and as required, develops Procurement instructions, policies, and procedures. Communicates and educates employees to ensure compliance.
• Ensures vendor registration is completed and regularly maintained.
• Oversees the approval and processing of Purchase Requisitions and Purchase Orders in the ERP System. Will review purchase orders and contracts for conformance to company policies.
• Supports the Vice President, Procurement in creating, tracking, and maintaining the Procurement department budgets and initiatives.
• Maintains records of activities and processes.
• Administers Procurement systems.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

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Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Ability to learn new technologies and adapt to moving priorities
• Strong negotiation and organization skills
• Excellent decision-making skills
• Strong critical thinking skills
• Excellent skills in Microsoft Office suite
• Ability to communicate to improve and promote teamwork, decision-making, and problem-solving
• Communicates appropriately to gain support and adjusts message and style to fit the audience. Provides timely and helpful feedback.
• Ability to work cooperatively with others across the organization and at various levels to achieve shared objectives. Can represent own interests while being fair to others and their areas and can partner to get work done.
• Deals comfortably with uncertainty of change and effectively handles risk. Can decide to act without knowing all details.
• Ability to be confident under pressure and handle and manage crises effectively. Maintains a positive attitude despite adversity.
• Strong outcomes-based orientation. Can set and achieve goals.
• Ability to create a feeling of belonging and strong team morale. Creates a team that works well cross-functionally.
• Ability to take on new challenges and unfamiliar tasks and learn quickly. Expands knowledge base and shares knowledge with others.

Minimum Qualifications

***This Sr. Manager position will work from our Raleigh, North Carolina Office that will open in the Spring of 2026. The candidate selected will work from a home office until that time***

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain, or a related field
• 7 years of experience managing operational functions or Procurement functions
• 3 years of experience leading direct reports
• Equivalent relevant experience performing the essential functions of this job may substitute for education degree requirements. Generally, equivalent relevant experience is defined as 1 year of experience for 1 year of education and is the discretion of the hiring manager.

Preferred Qualifications

• Broad management knowledge to lead the department
• Advanced Procurement knowledge and skills with understanding of work impact on other departments
• Experience in implementing procurement related tools and systems (i.e eSourcing)
• Experience overseeing risk management programs
• Certification in Supply Management (CPSM, CPM, CPPO, etc.)

Position & Application Details

How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.

Additional Information

Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It's not all-inclusive.

Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at recruiting@wgu.edu.

Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.