Director, Major Purchases & Contracts

Department: Fiscal Services

Classification: Administrative Faculty

Job Category: Administrative or Professional Faculty

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

Financial Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

The Purchasing and Accounts Payable Department at George Mason University plays a vital role in supporting the university's mission by ensuring efficient and accurate management of financial transactions. As a key subset of the Fiscal Services Department, the Purchasing and Accounts Payable team is responsible for overseeing the complete procure-to-pay and strategic sourcing cycle, to include the procurement of goods and services, contract negotiation, processing invoices, and ensuring timely payments to vendors. Our department is dedicated to best practices in procurement, maintaining compliance with all local, state, federal, and university policies, providing excellent customer service, and fostering transparency and accountability in all financial operations. We are committed to supporting the university community by delivering streamlined and effective purchasing and payment solutions that align with the institution's goals and values.

About the Position:

The Director of Major Purchases & Contracts is a key leadership role within the Purchasing and Accounts Payable Department at George Mason University. This position is responsible for overseeing high-value procurements, managing complex contracts, and ensuring compliance with federal, state, and institutional procurement regulations. The Director will serve as the university’s principal negotiator for multi-million-dollar contracts and play a strategic role in advancing procurement policies, supplier engagement, and cost-saving initiatives.

As a key member of the procurement leadership team, the Director will work closely with departmental leadership, academic units, administrative departments, and external stakeholders to design and implement procurement strategies that align with the university’s financial and operational goals. This role requires deep expertise in public procurement, contract negotiation, strategic sourcing, and supplier relationship management.

The Director of Major Purchases & Contracts will also provide high-level mentorship and oversight to procurement personnel, ensuring best practices in competitive negotiation, and contract execution. The successful candidate will be a proven leader with a strong understanding of higher education procurement, public sector purchasing laws, and large-scale acquisition strategies.

Responsibilities:

• Provide executive leadership in the formulation, execution, and governance of high-value procurement activities through the RFP process. Serve as the university’s principal negotiator for complex, multi-million-dollar contracts, orchestrating strategic supplier engagement, mitigating procurement risks, and ensuring compliance with federal, state, and institutional procurement policies. Develop solicitation frameworks, construct rigorous evaluation methodologies, and drive stakeholder collaboration to establish procurement strategies that maximize institutional value while balancing cost efficiency, service excellence, quality assurance, and supplier diversity.
• Provide executive leadership in the formulation, execution, and governance of high-value procurement activities through the cooperative procurement and sole source process. Serve as the university’s principal negotiator for complex, multi-million-dollar contracts, orchestrating strategic supplier engagement, mitigating procurement risks, and ensuring compliance with federal, state, and institutional procurement policies.
• Architect and implement university-wide procurement policies that align with long-term strategic goals. Establish robust supplier relationship management frameworks, leveraging data analytics to optimize vendor performance, drive cost efficiencies, and enhance procurement outcomes. Develop and apply key procurement performance metrics—such as cost savings realization, contract adherence, procurement cycle efficiencies, and supplier performance indices—to inform data-driven decision-making and ensure continuous procurement innovation.
• Provide high-level mentorship and strategic oversight to the Assistant Director—Information Technology and Facilities, and the Associate Director—Contracts. Define and enforce performance objectives, foster leadership development, and institutionalize best procurement practices. Extend expert guidance to non-direct reporting procurement personnel, ensuring standardized and efficient execution of RFX activities. The Director will also provide advice and guidance to the university’s construction department for shared departmental procurement actions.
• Engage with executive university leadership, academic units, and administrative departments to define procurement needs and design cost-effective acquisition strategies. Spearhead cross-functional initiatives that enhance interdepartmental collaboration, streamline procurement workflows, and align purchasing activities with institutional financial and operational mandates.
• Support federally funded university research by establishing fully compliant procurement processes and templates, contract documents and processes to maintain compliance with a Federally Approved CPSR certified systems.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Extensive experience (generally ten or more years) managing large-scale procurement processes, particularly in a public sector or higher education environment;
• Demonstrated experience overseeing all aspects of the RFP process and negotiating multi-million-dollar contracts;
• Experience liaising with high-level university leadership to balance deadlines with achieving maximum procurement value;
• Extensive knowledge of procurement regulations, public-sector purchasing practices, and strategic sourcing principles;
• Extensive knowledge of large-scale procurement operations, negotiating supplier agreements, and optimizing purchasing decisions;
• Proven understanding of Virginia state procurement laws and higher education purchasing requirements;
• Proven analytical and problem-solving skills, with expertise in cost optimization, spend analysis, and contract negotiation;
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with experience in presenting procurement strategies, developing policies, and influencing executive leadership;
• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and develop procurement teams in a fast-paced, compliance-driven environment; and
• Virginia Contracting Officer (VCO) or equivalent required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in related field;
• Extensive experience (generally ten or more years) managing large-scale procurement processes in a higher education environment;
• Extensive experience overseeing RFP processes and negotiating multi-million-dollar contracts across all commodities to include Information Technology, Construction, Facilities, Human Resources, Consultants, Library Operations, Auxiliary Operations, MRO and all general goods and services;
• Considerable experience in the procurement of goods or services related to federal grants and contracts with prior experience helping to ensure the university maintains a CPSR compliant system;
• Extensive experience in contract management;
• Prior experience overseeing personnel and processes for related purchasing functions such as Accounts Payable and PCard;
• Prior experience overseeing supplier diversity goals and initiatives;
• Prior experience incorporating sustainability initiatives into major purchasing initiatives;
• Extensive knowledge of Virginia state procurement laws and higher education purchasing requirements;
• Advanced knowledge of e-procurement platforms and contract lifecycle management systems;
• Knowledge of sustainability initiatives and diversity supplier programs in procurement;
• Demonstrated ability to manage procurement policies, enhance vendor management practices, and lead procurement transformation initiatives;
• Outstanding negotiation skills with the ability to carefully balance price, deliverables, contract terms, quality, and other critical procurement components while staying on schedule; and
• Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO) or Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) preferred.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for the Director, Major Purchases & Contracts at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a cover letter and resume.

Posting Open Date:  March 28, 2025

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  April 10, 2025

Open Until Filled:  Yes