We believe in the power and joy of learning
At Cengage Group, our employees have a direct impact in helping students around the world discover the power and joy of learning. We are bonded by our shared purpose - driving innovation that helps millions of learners improve their lives and achieve their dreams through education.
Our culture values diversity, engagement, and discovery
Our business is driven by our strong culture, and we know that creating an inclusive and diverse workplace is absolutely essential to the success of our company and our learners, as well as our individual well-being. We recognize the value of diverse perspectives in everything we do and strive to ensure employees of all levels and backgrounds feel empowered to voice their ideas and bring their authentic selves to work. We achieve these priorities through inclusive programs, benefits, and initiatives that are integrated into the fabric of how we work every day. To learn more, please see
https://www.cengagegroup.com/about/inclusion-and-diversity/ .
The VP has responsibility for a centralized purchasing function within Cengage and develops and implements purchasing strategies and policies that help the organization obtain necessary products and services while minimizing costs. This role will own the execution of strategic and innovative activities related to the procurement of all assigned categories, labor, technology, consulting, and business services.
Primary Job Duties:
Establishes a centralized purchasing strategy across functions that ensures a consistent supply of goods and services, reduces duplication of purchases, and uses bulk purchasing power to secure price discounts.
Develops category-specific criteria to be used during vendor evaluation and selection. Establishes and embeds consistent practices across Cengage Group for applying criteria to improve vendor selection.
Sets goals and identifies metrics measuring performance of purchasing processes. Builds procurement scorecards to create insight into performance across Cengage.
In collaboration with the executive and senior leadership team, may establish purchasing budgets and align departmental strategy or direction with the overall goals of the organization.
Responsible for developing relationships with main Cengage Group vendor relationship leads to understand organizational sourcing needs.
Responsible for strategic sourcing for several key spend categories across Cengage Group; for example, supply chain and information technology spend.
Develops sourcing strategy to deliver savings across key spend categories each year.
Negotiates high-value vendor contracts. Responsible for overseeing contracts negotiations for the procurement of supplies and services.
Manages relationships/partnerships with key suppliers.
Establishes procurement practices and policies to provide visibility, appropriate controls, and enables higher quality purchasing decisions. Develops policies, practices, and procedures that have a significant impact across all of Cengage Group.
Will have primary responsibility for developing procurement procedures to support implementation of new ERP system over the next 12-24 months. Support process development and change management as a part of implementation.
Leads and develops Group procurement team, with direct responsibility for designing the team, hiring, development, and performance management. Leader of procurement & sourcing community across Cengage, establishing standard methodologies and development approach for teams across business units and functions.
Willing and able to work independently and as team leader.
Develops Supplier Scorecards and establishes supplier Quarterly Business Reviews (QBR).
Lead the procurement and sourcing transformation that will parallel the development of a new ERP.
Provide future state thought leadership on operational procure to pay processes as well as an understanding of their impacts.
Collaborate with a broad cross functional ERP implementation team to solve challenges as they arise (includes Finance, Legal, Technology, etc.).
Experience and Education:
Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Engineering, Business, or a technical field
15 or more years of strong progressive management experience in Sourcing or Supply Chain Operations role/function with Team leadership and Strategic Sourcing direction setting experience
Ability to develop and mentor others
Decision-making and ability to drive strategic direction
Ability to build collaborative relationships
Proven negotiating skills with very strong Project Leadership experience
Ability to identify and seek needed information/research skills
Knowledge and experience with SAP preferred
Ability to travel domestically and internationally, 10% of time
Cengage Group is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, parental status, cultural background, organizational level, work styles, tenure and life experiences. Or for any other reason. You may view Cengage's EEO/Affirmative Action Policy signed by CEO Michael Hansen (https://p.widencdn.net/pdvq6j/EEO_Policy_Statement_January_2017) and Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law notice (http://embed.widencdn.net/pdf/plus/cengage/ybs5gt19ik/eeopost-merged.pdf) by visiting their corresponding links.
Cengage Group is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at accommodations.ta@cengage.com or you may call us at +1 (617) 289-7917.
If you are a Colorado state resident, please email jobpostinginquiries@cengage.com to receive compensation information for this role. Please be sure to include this posting's job ID in the subject line of the email to help ensure a timely response.
About Cengage Group
Cengage Group, a global education technology company serving millions of learners, provides affordable, quality digital products and services that equip students with the skills and competencies needed to be job ready. For more than 100 years, we have enabled the power and joy of learning with trusted, engaging content, and now, integrated digital platforms. We serve the higher education, workforce skills, secondary education, English language teaching and research markets worldwide. Through our scalable technology, including MindTap and Cengage Unlimited, we support all learners who seek to improve their lives and achieve their dreams through education.
