SENIOR OPERATIONS MANAGER, STRATEGIC SOURCING

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Position Base
Oakland

Location
UCOP - Franklin Building

Department Overview
UC Systemwide Procurement is the procurement/supply chain hub for the University of California system, with over $10 billion in annual spend. We partner with campus procurement offices to develop and implement systemwide supply chain strategies and policies that leverage UC's vast purchasing power to optimize spend and deliver positive social and environmental impact. Systemwide Procurement is transforming how UC purchases goods and services to maximize benefit to the UC system while improving quality and service to our campuses and beyond. We apply best-in-class sourcing methods with emphasis on sustainability and supplier diversity, invest in leading tools and technology, and cultivate strategic supplier partnerships to source the highest quality products and services for the absolute best value. Nationally, UC Procurement is a public procurement role model. As a lead agency for cooperative purchasing, UC contracts are leveraged by over 3,500 public education and government agencies in all 50 states. These organizations depend on and benefit from UC's expertise, knowledge, reputation, and economies of scale to minimize spend and maximize value. UC Systemwide Procurement fosters an environment for continuous improvement and a growth mindset culture. Our team of approximately 50 dedicated professionals is comprised of specialized portfolio sourcing managers, highly skilled data analysts, efficiency-driven business analysts, knowledgeable functional area administrators, and responsive support staff. UC Systemwide Procurement is a high-performing strategic department essential to the financial and operational health of the University of California, with high impact at the state and national levels.

Position Summary
The Senior Operations Manager, Strategic Sourcing, at the University of California leads the operational backbone of UC's systemwide sourcing function, driving consistency, efficiency, and visibility across the system. This role provides leadership during UC's sourcing transformation, championing new processes, technology, and performance standards that elevate strategic procurement. By guiding stakeholders through change and enabling high-performing sourcing operations, the manager helps position UC for long-term, enterprise-wide success. Applies strong expertise in sourcing operations, procurement processes, and supplier engagement to lead the end-to-end administration of competitive sourcing events across the UC system, including RFPs, RFIs, and RFQs across a wide range of goods and services. Utilizes advanced professional concepts and aligns sourcing activities with organizational objectives to design effective solicitations, evaluate complex proposals, and deliver compliant, transparent, and efficient sourcing outcomes. Manages sourcing projects of broad and varied complexity, requiring in-depth analysis of supplier responses and evaluation of multiple factors such as cost, technical requirements, service quality, and risk. Exercises sound judgment in selecting appropriate sourcing methods, developing evaluation criteria, facilitating cross-functional reviews, and supporting negotiation and award recommendations. Collaborates extensively with internal stakeholders, subject-matter experts, and external suppliers at all organizational levels to gather requirements, guide the sourcing process, ensure alignment, and manage timelines.

Key Responsibilities

• 20% Project Management: The Senior Operations Manager, Strategic Sourcing, will be part of the UC systemwide procurement team supporting a diverse range of categories across the UC system. The categories will include Life Sciences, Professional Services, Facilities and Maintenance, and IT. In this role, the person will be responsible for leading multiple complex RFP's with support from the project management team, analysts, and e-sourcing specialist. The role will help lead the establishment of timelines, defining requirements, coordinating cross-functional stakeholders, and ensuring all deliverables are completed on schedule. They manage scope, risk, and decision alignment while providing structured communication, issue resolution, and milestone tracking to keep sourcing initiatives on track.

• 20% Operations: The role will oversee the operational rhythm of the RFP lifecycle, standardizing workflows, optimizing processes, and ensuring all sourcing events follow consistent procedures. This includes managing intake, documentation, evaluation logistics, supplier communications, and internal review steps to drive efficiency, accuracy, and repeatable results across the enterprise.

• 20% Compliance: The role ensures all RFP activities adhere to UC policies, audit requirements, and regulatory guidelines by maintaining proper documentation, enforcing governance standards, and monitoring process integrity. They proactively identify compliance gaps, support internal audits, and ensure that ethical sourcing practices and transparent evaluation methods are consistently applied.

• 20% Technology: Optimize the utilization of best-in-class E-Sourcing and Contract Management tools to deliver projects across the UC. Work with procurement technology partners to drive solutions that optimize sourcing technology platforms, ensuring accurate configuration, workflow automation, template management, and data integrity. Responsibilities include leading the use of AI across digital sourcing tools, user training, quality control, governance, and reporting capabilities to improve decision-making and operational visibility.

• 20% Relationship Management: The Senior Operations Manager, Strategic Sourcing, cultivates strong partnerships with campus units, UC Office of the President departments, legal, finance, and other stakeholders to align sourcing strategies with organizational goals. They also manage supplier relationships throughout the RFP process, facilitating clear communication, expectation setting, and collaborative problem-solving to ensure high-quality proposals and outcomes. Conducts themselves with a high degree of emotional intelligence, with experience in building relationships, managing conflict, and influencing without authority.

Experience
Required Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years Category Management, Strategic Sourcing, Procurement, or equivalent related experience.

Skills and Abilities
Required Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of experience in strategic sourcing, supply chain management, procurement or related experience. The 8 years includes a minimum of 3 years demonstrated high-level product/service expertise, including leading negotiations for a specific Center of Excellence category. Builds and maintains credibility as an expert within a specific category with key stakeholders.

• Demonstrated experience working in a collaborative team environment, building consensus, promoting an exchange of information among technical and business collaborators and leading stakeholder teams and multi-party negotiations.

• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience using various proven negotiation methods, and the ability to critically analyze a negotiation. Excellent experience with cost modeling and related financial analyses.

• Demonstrated knowledge in the development of opportunity assessments, category profiles, and strategic sourcing plans.

• Demonstrated ability to lead and advise cross-organization workgroups.

• Required skills associated with directing a purchasing function, ensuring adherence to purchasing practices and guidelines.

• Very strong customer service and interpersonal skills and the ability to coordinate work with others, both internally and externally, to accomplish tasks. Demonstrated effective written communication skills; including RFP and contract development, concise business memos presented to executives to make recommendations, and written announcements that will be read by a wide audience. Demonstrated verbal communication skills, including the ability to manage one on one conversations, small team meetings and groups of campus stakeholders. Demonstrated ability to develop visual presentation materials and deliver effective and persuasive presentations of strategies and progress to leadership.

• Demonstrated experience in use of Microsoft suite of productivity applications with a minimum of 8 years of experience in preparing spreadsheets for analytical purposes, and 5 years developing PowerPoint presentations.

• Demonstrated ability to analyze problems, identify and consider potential solutions, and make timely recommendations. Works with others to effectively address issues when they occur. Excellent organization skills, including meeting facilitation and decision making.

• Demonstrated understanding of and ability to comply a complex array of University policies and state and federal laws that govern acquisitions. Knowledge of the specific category field in higher education, including suppliers, distribution models, products, and equipment. Knowledge of business and delivery models including research cores, centralized warehousing, and storehouses.

• Bachelor's degree in related area. Professional certification preferred.

Education
Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training.

Licenses and Certifications
Preferred Qualifications

• Negotiation Training

• Certified Professional in Supply Chain Management

• Legal Training or Certification

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

This position has been approved for a hybrid work arrangement. The person hired must report to work two days on-site in Oakland or at a campus location near their home. If in Oakland, the person hired is required to be on-site at UC's Office of the President (UCOP) on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, subject to change. If at a campus, the two days on-site is dependent upon the campus, subject to change. The person hired is required to reside in the State of California.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Job Title
Strategic Sourcing Professional 4

Job Code
005917

Salary Grade
Grade 25

Payscale:
$140,000 - $165,000, commensurate with experience

Benefits: For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University visit: Benefits of Belonging

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

HOW TO APPLY

Please be prepared to attach a cover letter and resume with your application.

APPLICATION REVIEW DATE

The first review date for this job is January 12, 2026. The position will be open until filled.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Background Check Process: Successful completion of a background check is required for this critical position. Background check process at UCOP

Smoke Free Work Environment: The University of California, Office of the President, is smoke & tobacco-free as of January 1, 2014. UC Smoke & Tobacco Free Policy

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs, as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
  • UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
  • UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties
  • APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

EEO STATEMENT

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

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