Associate Director - Procurement & Business Services

Job description / Role

Position Summary
The Associate Director of Procurement & Business Services ensures core business operations of procurement, contracts, housing, and travel management are running optimally.
The Finance and Business Services Team is responsible for financial operations (AR/AP), accounting, revenue tracking, budget management, procurement, housing, and travel management, with a focus on continuous improvement, technology, and adopting scalable solutions.

Job Responsibilities
• Guides business decisions by developing and reviewing policies and procedures for the procurement and housing functions and ensuring clear and timely communication to internal and external stakeholders.
• Manages and oversees procurement services, continuously working to ensure they are as streamlined and efficient as possible.
• Oversees the relationship with the end user from identifying requirements to determining overall satisfaction with goods or services, ensuring continuous communication throughout the process.
• Oversees the development of importation routes to ensure timely processing through Qatar entry points, including customs clearance.
• Fosters relationships with local and international vendors. Develops new relationships in order to establish and maintain effective preferred supplier lists. Develops and implements sourcing strategies and continuously evaluates the performance of vendors.
• Thinks strategically about the procurement service offering, continuously monitoring and evaluating the process and making recommendations for improvements.
• Oversees the end-to-end tendering process. Reviews and interprets contract provisions.
• Evaluates procurement activities and suggests new courses of action through effective use of data. Presents strategies and recommendations to Deans, Directors and Budget Holders.
• Works collaboratively with the business to understand housing requirements. Prepares quarterly budget reviews and develops divisional metrics to ensure alignment of requirements and strategy.
• Oversees all housing related activities ensuring effective and efficient provision of services.
• Leads and develops procurement, contracts, housing, and travel management staff, providing guidance on work distribution and processes. Conducts performance appraisals, mentoring, training, and staff recruitment.

Requirements

Education
• Bachelor's Degree

Experience
• MBA, CPP, CIPS or other advanced degree in supply chain or operation management desired.
• 10+ years of supply chain experience in a complex mission oriented organization.
• Three or more years of experience of using a commitment accounting procurement package attached to a large financial database.
• Strong understanding of how various modules of an ERP work together (preparation of ERP business processes, testing and implementing).

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel - vlookups, pivot tables, etc. and MS Access.
• Operation management related experience in higher education institution an advantage.
• Excellent leadership and management skills. An ability to empower, mentor and guide others to develop and nurture high performing teams
• English language fluency (written and oral).
• Advanced level knowledge of health related, academic related, research related and general merchandise within the local and overseas markets.
• Develops and implements innovative sourcing and housing operation strategies generating cost savings and process improvement, not afraid to defy assumptions and look at things with a critical eye to challenge status quo and offer new/creative perspectives
• Proven experience in contract negotiations and administration both pre- and post-award.
• Broad experience across various supply chain functions including procurement, logistics, materials management and materials planning/forecasting.
• Demonstrates professional and effective negotiation skills with a natural ability to influence and gain buy-in through effective communication and collaboration
• Previously demonstrated advanced level multi-tasking ability in a results oriented environment.
• Previously demonstrated advanced level communication and interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to foster and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders

About the Company

Founded in 1898 and affiliated with what is now New York - Presbyterian Hospital (NYPH) since 1927, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) is one of the top-ranked clinical and medical research centers in the U.S. It is committed to excellence in research, teaching and patient care, and the advancement of the art and science of medicine.

In addition to the degree in medicine, Weill Cornell offers PhD programs in biomedical research and education at the Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences; a joint MD-MBA program with Cornell's Johnson School of Management; and a joint MD-PhD program with Rockefeller University and Sloan-Kettering Institute.