Organizational Overview:

By 2025, KIPP DC will build upon two decades of proven results to develop into a more impactful, innovative, and inclusive school system that provides joyful, identity-affirming learning experiences so that all students and alumni achieve extraordinary outcomes.

Our work is grounded in a commitment to excellence, equity, and justice. We believe all students have the right to rigorous, relevant, and joyful learning experiences led by exceptionally talented and diverse educators who promote student achievement and a sense of belonging. We believe students and teachers best succeed when surrounded by an ecosystem of supports, including our central headquarters team that supports KIPP DC’s 20 schools, 7,300 students, and 1,300 teachers, leaders, and staff members dedicated to this mission.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Manager of Strategic Purchasing is a member of a three person procurement team consisting of the Director of Strategic Purchasing and two Managers of Strategic Purchasing. Both Managers of Strategic Purchasing serve as KIPP DC’s experts on strategic sourcing, vendor management, and overall purchasing for the organization and work closely together to achieve team goals. The Manager of Strategic Purchasing plays a critical role in ensuring that KIPP DC remains in good standing with the Public Charter School Board (PCSB) and other outside agencies by training staff on internal purchasing policies and supporting in selecting the best vendors. This role is also responsible for identifying and capitalizing on opportunities to leverage scale and vendor relationships to drive cost-savings, standardization, and efficiencies in the purchasing process. The Manager of Strategic Purchasing is an exempt position and reports to the Director of Strategic Purchasing and is a member of the finance team.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Procurement - 45%

  • Serve as primary owner of the federal grant procurement process with support from program leads and the legal team.

  • Manage and enhance a system to track all active procurements that will be reimbursed with a federal grant (program lead, status, PCSB notification, Finance Committee approval, effective date, signature, file management, documentation, etc.).

  • Collect and manage all federal grant procurement documentation, including a document storage system and process.

  • Work with the Grants Management team to set up systems to ensure that all federal grant reimbursement requests have gone through the federal grant procurement process.

  • Coordinate with the Finance, Accounting, and Development teams on grant applications, budget, reimbursements, and tracking.

  • Lead the request for proposals (RFP) process.

  • Ensure timely reporting to external and internal stakeholders.

  • Train staff on procurement policies and procedures annually and as needed throughout the year.

  • Work with the Director of Strategic Purchasing and other operations, finance, and legal resources to streamline and re-design the procurement process as necessary.

  • Assist in the research, development, procurement and implementation of a procurement or purchase order system, in collaboration with the Director of Strategic Purchasing and other operations and finance resources.

  • Assume on-going functional ownership of the procurement or purchase order system.

  • Work with the operations team to set up systems for tracking delivery, receipt, and inventory of all centralized purchases.

  • Procure certain centralized goods and services network-wide, such as insurance, translation services, travel, etc.

• Strategic Sourcing and Vendor Management - 45%

  • Identify and execute on cost savings opportunities for Headquarters and the wider network through price and program evaluation, bulk/mass purchasing, and vendor negotiation.

  • Proactively reach out to new and prospective vendors to build relationships

  • Support with vendor selection.

  • Source and verify new vendors. Onboard new vendors, including the collection of required documentation, such as W-9, ACH information, vendor point of contact, certificates of insurance, preferred vendor applications, etc.

  • Systematize ongoing vendor management to track and leverage vendor spending and maintain and elevate existing and prospective vendor relationships, as well as tracking required documentation.

  • Increase support for minority and women owned businesses through the purchasing process.

  • Collaborate with program leads to optimize the request for proposals (RFP) process to ensure the selection of the best vendors that provide the best value to KIPP DC.

• Other duties as assigned - 10%

  • The above key responsibilities represent the overall functions of the Manager of Strategic Purchasing, the role will continue to evolve as the procurement team works together to improve existing processes and policies, build new systems, and map the future direction and priorities of the team.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree required

• Three to five years of relevant experience in contract management, procurement of goods and services, and vendor relationships

• Federal grants procurement experience preferred but not required

• Excellent time management skills and a detail- and results-oriented team player who is dedicated to getting the job done

• Comfort with working in a fast-paced, nonprofit environment along with an ability to multitask, prioritize, manage and execute projects with autonomy

• Strong verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook required

• Unquestioned integrity and commitment to KIPP DC’s mission and to advancing its antiracist ambition through their work with staff, students, alumni, and families

HOW TO APPLY:
The priority application deadline is November 11th. All interested applicants should visit online at http://www.kippdc.org/careers/apply-now/ and the job posting located under “Regional Roles” section. If you have any questions, please contact the Recruitment Team via e-mail at careers@kippdc.org.

When it comes to compensation, at KIPP DC we strive for clarity, equity, and to be highly competitive. We look at compensation benchmarks in the education and non-profit sector to determine our starting salaries. The anticipated starting salary for this position is $78,777-$93,782.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

KIPP DC Public Schools does not discriminate against, or tolerate discrimination against, employees or applicants for employment on any legally-recognized basis or protected class including, but not limited to, actual or perceived race, color, national origin, immigration status (except as necessary to comply with federal, DC, state, or local law), religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity or expression), marital status (including domestic partnership status), genetic information, political affiliation, pregnancy, family responsibilities, personal appearance, veteran status, uniform service member status, status of being unemployed, status of victim a survivor of domestic violence, sexual offense or stalking, matriculation or any other protected class under federal, state, DC, or local law.

Click here or here to review KIPP DC’s non-discrimination policy and KIPP DC’s Title IX Coordinator’s contact information.

KIPP DC requires all staff to provide proof that they have had all doses of a primary COVID vaccine or obtain approval for exemption for medical or religious reasons before beginning employment. New hires who have not received all doses of a primary vaccine or who are waiting approval for exemption will not be able to begin employment.

All KIPP DC staff are strongly encouraged to stay up to date on their vaccinations. The CDC currently defines being up to date on the COVID vaccine as having had all doses of a primary vaccine and as having received a booster, if eligible.