Procurement Manager 25.26SY

WELCOME TO INDIANAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS!

At IPS, we believe in the transformative power of education. We work collectively every day to prepare our students for success in the classroom and in life by providing equitable, high-quality educational experiences across our family of schools. IPS is a place to make an impact, grow your career, and ensure every student has access to a high quality education, all while earning a good living in a district on the move. While the work is challenging, it is deeply meaningful and impactful. We seek innovators and trailblazers who bring varying experiences and expertise and share our belief that every child deserves access to an exceptional education. As part of TeamIPS, you’ll create lasting connections, find a sense of belonging, and feel supported to make a meaningful difference in students’ lives.

In return, no matter your role here, we expect a commitment to excellence and accountability. You’ll be held to high standards. Resilience and passion are key—you must be adaptable, handling adversity with flexibility while putting students at the heart of everything you do. Ethical conduct, clear communication, and mutual respect are fundamental. Being a dependable, collaborative team player who builds meaningful relationships is essential.

Together, we are Proving What’s Possible by building a community where everyone belongs and each student has the opportunity to fulfill their potential.

A Career in IPS Offers…

Purpose and Impact:

• Essential Contributions: In every non-teaching and non-leadership role, your work directly supports the success of IPS students and schools. Whether you’re maintaining facilities, providing student services, or managing administrative operations, you play a key part in ensuring an equitable and high-quality educational environment.
• Belonging and Community: IPS is a place where every employee is valued. You’ll join a supportive community that promotes respect, teamwork, and a shared commitment to serving students and families.

Professional and Personal Growth:

• Training and Development Opportunities: IPS offers a variety of training programs to help staff build new skills and grow professionally. This includes access to development opportunities for administrative, technical, and operational roles, as well as pathways to becoming a certified teacher.
• Skill Enhancement: Whether you’re new to your role or seeking to deepen your expertise, IPS provides resources and support for continuous improvement.

Comprehensive Compensation and Benefits:

• Fair Compensation: IPS ensures competitive wages and regularly reviews pay structures to maintain equity.
• Extensive Benefits Package: Employees enjoy comprehensive health coverage, dental and vision plans, life insurance, disability insurance, and retirement plans. Additional financial benefits include flexible spending accounts and eligibility for federal loan forgiveness programs.

Work-Life Balance and Well-being:

• Generous Leave Policies: IPS offers vacation, personal, and sick leave, along with paid holidays. Twelve-month employees benefit from floating holidays, and unused personal leave rolls into the sick leave balance.
• Wellness Programs: IPS prioritizes staff well-being with access to wellness initiatives, including health screenings and an employee assistance program for confidential support and counseling.

What We Expect:

• Professionalism and Reliability: Every role at IPS is vital to the district’s success. We expect staff to demonstrate professionalism, dependability, and a commitment to providing excellent service to students, educators, and families.
• Collaboration and Communication: IPS values teamwork. Working collaboratively with your colleagues ensures a supportive environment for all. Clear communication and mutual respect are key to maintaining this culture.
• Flexibility and Problem-Solving: As a large, dynamic district, IPS needs staff who are adaptable and proactive in solving problems to meet the ever-changing needs of students and schools.

JOIN US!

Indianapolis Public Schools is more than a workplace; it’s a community where purpose, impact, and belonging come together to help Prove What’s Possible – in your career and in your school. If you’re ready to embrace challenges, strive for excellence, and make a meaningful impact, IPS is the place for you.

SUMMARY OF OPPORTUNITY:

The Procurement Manager drives the overall procurement strategy of the district and oversees the central procurement team. With responsibility of the team that executes the procurement strategy, the Procurement Manager ensures day to day activities align to procurement best practices. Further, the Procurement Manager will ensure central purchasing practices deliver savings, efficiency, and follow board policy and state procurement law. This position will review weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual reports which will yield action steps to ensure contracts are maintained, purchase orders are liquidated or closed, encumbrance issues impacting the general ledger are resolved, internal policies are being followed and departmental goals are being met. The Procurement Manager serves as the first escalation point of contact for any procurement or vendor-related issue resolution needed.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

The following outlines what your core duties and responsibilities will be for this position and provides a sample overview of what your day-to-day may look like.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead the district’s procurement strategy, policy and procedures; making changes when necessary and ensuring state and federal compliance.
• Ensure procurement strategy is aligned to district initiatives and the central purchasing division is adding value internally and externally to the organization
• Define and track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Service-Level Agreement’s (SLAs) related to purchasing strategy, policies, procedures, and initiatives – savings, diversity, team performance, compliance, etc.
• Provide oversight and direction to Procurement Coordinator aiding them in strategic sourcing of district goods and services considering Indiana Code 5-22 and 4-13.
• Maximize the value, for the district, from the vendor community for products, services, and construction projects needed.
• Maintain contracts for the entire district portfolio ensuring contracts stay current and running monthly reports demonstrating which are up for renewal and taking action if necessary.
• Continuously train and support Procurement Coordinators to ensure compliance with IPS purchasing policies and procedures.
• Perform periodic audits of vendor contracts and SLAs over the lifecyle of the vendor relationship
• Prepare monthly reports for review and approval by the Board of School Commissioners (i.e. General Purchasing Report, Supplier Diversity Report, and Capital Expenditure Report).
• Provide timely communication and superior customer service via district applications and resources including but not limited to Outlook, Microsoft Suite products, MUNIS, Spendbridge, and other procurement platforms and tools.
• Perform other purchasing responsibilities as assigned.

“Day In the Life” Overview

On a regular day, as the Procurement Manager, you might:

• Provide leadership and direction to the Procurement team ensuring inquiries are answered timely and satisfactorily.
• Engage with district leadership teams to advance the strategic goals and initiatives
• Serve as the point of contact when procurement issues arise, and need resolved.
• Analyze data, take lead on delegating forecasted sourcing needs, delegate special projects, provide direction to warehouse inquiries and review key performance indicators for optimal team outcomes.

WHAT YOU’ll BRING: SKILLS AND MINDSETS:

As an ideal candidate for this role, you will be able to achieve the following:

• Be a strong strategic and analytic thinker. You are a natural problem solver who can efficiently grasp and act on a big picture, quickly analyze the root causes and define new ways forward. Your ability to chart a clear course, juggle many tasks and priorities, and work efficiently in a fast-paced environment will bring clarity to the complex projects you lead.
• Embrace a fast-moving organization. Deadlines, changing priorities and new projects don’t overwhelm you or the quality of your work. Instead, they inspire you to rise to the occasion. Your planning will be the backbone of an efficient and productive team. The team will look to you to establish systems, develop project plans, and support implementation. You will manage up and across different pieces of work to ensure the team meets goals.
• Deliver crisp, clean messages. Whether in writing or on the phone, your communications are articulate and concise. You understand your audience and know how to deliver inspiring messages and tough news with ease and tactful finesse.
• Partner with education leaders. You’ll regularly interact with stakeholders, motivating them to make incremental change and take quantum leaps.
• Be willing to step up to the plate. You’re eager to contribute and learn, and willing to help identify solutions independently.
• Have an unwavering belief that ALL children can learn. A passion for education is essential to being successful in this role.

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Supply Chain Management, Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration
• Two to Five years’ experience in procurement, contract negotiation, or financial accounting.
• This position will oversee the district’s four Procurement Coordinators

FLSA CLASSIFICATION:

Exempt

ELIGIBILITY FOR REMOTE WORK:

Eligible per supervisor’s discretion.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand and walk. The employee is occasionally required to sit; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

EEOC STATEMENT:

Indianapolis Public Schools, in accordance with its nondiscrimination policies, will not discriminate in its programs, facilities, or employment or educational opportunities on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, veteran or military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, familial status, domestic violence victim status, homelessness or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations, or ordinances. Indianapolis Public Schools does not tolerate any form of retaliation or bias-based intimidation, threat, or harassment that demeans individuals’ dignity or interferes with their ability to learn or work.

DISCLAIMER:

Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the above representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This job description is illustrative only, and is not a comprehensive list of all essential functions and duties performed by the occupant of this position. Factors such as regular and punctual attendance are not routinely listed in job descriptions, but are an essential function.