(Hybrid) Category Analyst - Procurement, Contracting & Payment Services

Description

The Procurement, Contracting and Payment Services unit at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a Category Analyst.

Primary roles of the Category Analyst include supporting development of strategic sourcing category/ commodity strategies, assisting in execution against those strategies, and ensuring that assigned commodities are properly managed and support stakeholder/ supplier requests. Analyst will effectively partner with the Category Manager responsible for IT and other categories to ensure that the greatest value is realized for assigned spend categories. Provides other duties and functions as assigned or required.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year
• 18 sick days per year
  
  (for when you're ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family's, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits (this position is a benefits-eligible non-classified staff position)
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ's.
• Wellness programs

What you'll do:

Support strategic sourcing efforts for predominantly IT related category / commodity areas:

• Assists in sourcing efforts beginning with spend analysis through contract execution
• Conducts research as requested on market trends in assigned category areas
• Conducts supplier market analysis as needed to understand supplier base, supplier trends, and potential new technologies and new entrants
• Identifies and supports sourcing and procurement process improvement efforts
• Correctly applies Strategic Sourcing best practice processes
• Assess opportunities, sets and assists Category Manager in category/ commodity strategies
• Prepare business case, cost/benefit and benefit realization analyses
• Analyzes, documents and creates category and commodity operational/financial data
• Writes and edits commercial documents (RFPs, RFBs, RFQs, Contracts, Terms & Conditions, etc.)
• Coordinates legal review / approval process for procurement / sourcing contracts and agreements
• Develops negotiation strategies and assists in negotiations to obtain most favorable terms with suppliers
• Supports supplier evaluation and selection process

Assist with Development and execution of supplier management strategy and program:

• Oversees supplier management program for assigned categories / commodities
• Attends / assists in supplier performance reviews
• Leads and assists in efforts to create SLA ' s with preferred supplier/stakeholder
• Audits contract pricing and address unfavorable variances
• Identifies and leads process/ continuous improvement efforts
• Monitors and measures supplier performance and compliance; identifies and recommends ways to resolve performance issues
• Manages broader group of supplier contracts
• Supports Procurement & Sourcing integration efforts in instances of Vendor M&A
• Uses appropriate technology tools to continually measure savings, performance and internal levels of service
• Monitors supplier contract expiration dates
• Support contract renewals as appropriate in coordination with Category Manager(s)

Manage procurement operational support

• Leads and encourages cross-business unit collaboration through sourcing and supplier management teams
• Facilitates stakeholder meetings to assess needs and identify issues/documents issues
• Recognizes, documents and accurately resolves sourcing and procurement related operational issues (invoice allocation, vendor payment issues, etc.)
• Supports Freedom of Information Act and other requests related to assigned categories and suppliers
• Solicits feedback and incorporates improvements to category, supplier management programs
• Identifies and implements operational process improvements and cost savings by working with stakeholders and suppliers to understand key value and cost drivers of relevant operations and categories
• Uses understanding and expands knowledge of supply market or ability to analyze supply market including raw material trends and cost drivers
• Builds/maintains positive business relationships with category/commodity stakeholders and routinely works with mid and upper-level management
• Oversees or assists with strategic planning (potential projects, process, procedural, policy changes, team directives & initiative)
• Performance of all required position functions in a remote/hybrid atmosphere
• Performs other functions as assigned or required to meet the needs of the University

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in any of the following: Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Economics, Information Technology, Industrial Engineering, or other related degree or equivalent combination of education and related work experience.
• 6 months experience in procurement and contracting
• Administrative and/or professional experience in an office setting
• Experience with and proficiency in Microsoft products
• Experience with an ERP system is preferred (Workday, Oracle, SAP, Ariba, etc.)
• Experience in procurement, supply chain, or related field of expertise, preferred
• Strategic sourcing preferred
• Ability to conduct and interpret project analysis
• Document review and analysis
• Familiarity with solicitation and contract development, interpretation, and administration
• Effectively manage multiple and competing priorities, and strong organizational skills
• Ability to be creative, innovative and solve complex issues
• Ability to prepare comprehensive reports and present ideas clearly and concisely
• Ability to understand, adhere to, and ensure correct application of University's supplier diversity program requirements
• Understands and correctly applies total cost of ownership (TCO) principles
• Knowledge of Procure to Pay (P2P) processes
• Can apply knowledge of demand management to assist Stakeholder(s) with understanding price trends and to negotiate pricing with
• Vendors when appropriate. and written communication skills
• Work ethic necessary to perform in a remote/hybrid environment
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment