Director of Purchasing, 2025 - 2026

Position Title: Director of Purchasing

Payroll/Personnel Type: 12 Month

Job #: 8776

Reports to: Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer

Shift Length: 8 Hours a Day

Union Eligibility: Not Eligible

Starting Salary: $140,000

• We reserve the right to close this job posting at any time based on the needs of the district and the applicant pool. Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to ensure consideration.

Position Summary:

The Director of Procurement provides strategic leadership and executive oversight of the St. Louis Public Schools' procurement operations. This position is responsible for enforcing district-wide procurement strategies, policies, and systems to ensure ethical, efficient, and cost-effective sourcing of goods, services, and construction. The Director ensures alignment with Board policy, federal/state/local regulations, and district priorities. This position will manage three functional areas/ functions (Procurement, Travel, Accounts Payable) and will develop internal policies and procedures that support the procurement of supplies, services, construction using formal advertising or negotiation procedures; the evaluation of contract price proposals; and the administration or termination and closing out of contracts. The work requires knowledge of the legislation, regulations, and methods used in contracting, and knowledge of business and industry practices, sources of supply, cost factors, and requirements characteristics.

Essential Functions:

• Develops and implements a comprehensive procurement strategy that aligns with district goals and optimizes cost-efficiency, transparency, and equity in purchasing processes.
• Ensures compliance with socioeconomic goals, including promoting small, minority-owned, and disadvantaged business participation.
• Maintains district-wide awareness of procurement compliance requirements and provides advisory services to central and school-based staff.
• Manage specialized procurement programs such as the district's purchasing card (P-Card) program, E-Rate submissions, and travel coordination.
• Overseas surplus property disposition, including auction planning and legal compliance.
• Prepares and presents procurement recommendations for approval to the Board of Education.
• Assist the CFO as the secondary liaison with legal counsel, finance, technology, operations, and instructional departments on all procurement matters.
• Identifies and proposes cost-saving initiatives, process improvements, and procurement technology enhancements.
• Responsible for the direct supervision and evaluation of district purchasing staff.
• Responsible for soliciting, evaluating, negotiating, and awarding contracts with commercial organizations, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and Federal, State, local governments.
• Coordinates all district bids, RFPs, and RFQ's
• Analyzing and evaluating cost or price proposals and accounting systems data.
• Planning, establishing, or reviewing contracts, programs, policies, or procedures.
• Administering contracts by assuring compliance with the terms and conditions of contracts, including resolution of problems concerning the obligations of the parties.
• Terminating contracts by analyzing, negotiating, and settling claims and proposals
• Manages the district's submissions through the Schools and Libraries Program of the Universal Service Fund E-Rate)
• Coordinates and manages district travel.
• Negotiates and resolves problems relating to vendor performance, delivery, product quality, invoice corrections; reviews and controls department/school requests.
• Plans for the sale of surplus equipment and property; advice on bidding procedures to be used; issues notice of sales; make awards.
• Administers and seeks out cooperative purchasing opportunities for the district.
• Works with the sale and disposal of surplus property
• Manages other duties as required such as serving on various committees, attending meetings, planning, and maintaining purchasing calendar and supervising maintenance of various files.
• Prepares correspondence; responds to telephone inquiries; conducts sales interviews; reviews products and services.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of state law and district policy regarding purchasing
• Ability to develop technical specifications and review contracts
• Knowledge of a wide variety of commodities and their sources of supply

Experience:

• Experience managing a purchasing or similar department/team
• Experience working with construction costs and construction project planning
• Experience working with purchasing card programs
• Excellent technology skills including proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Word
• Experience with Business+ (PowerSchool Finance/HR/ERP) if possible
• Knowledge of state law and district policy regarding purchasing
• Ability to develop technical specifications and review contracts
• Knowledge of a wide variety of commodities and their sources of supply
• Ability to direct, organize, and provide professional guidance to staff
• Excellent communication skills - both oral and written
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with District officials, other employees, vendors, and general public

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in business administration or related field supplemented by relevant purchasing experience (required)
• Master's Degree (preferred)
• Minimum of 8-10 years' experience in Contracts, Procurement (preferred)

Physical Requirements:

• Must be physically able to operate a motor vehicle
• Must be able to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, and pull or otherwise move objects
• Light work usually requires walking or standing to a significant degree

Working Conditions and Environment:

• Work is routinely performed in a typical interior/office environment
• Very limited or no exposure to physical risk

Disclaimer:

The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.

SLPS believes in taking care of its employees. We offer a fully-insured health care plan along with some amazing perks! Here are some of the highlights of our benefits plan and perks, but you'll want to check out www.slps.org/careers for all of the details.

• Fully-paid health insurance for self
• $30,000 of tuition reimbursement (certificated staff)
• $40,000 group term life insurance
• Eligibility for federal loan forgiveness programs
• Pension plan
• Robust wellness programs

Please note benefit and perk eligibility may vary by employee status, employment date, and job classification.