Assistant Director of Procurement - Child Nutrition Program (Immediate Opening)

Assistant Director of Procurement - Child Nutrition Program
Role Mission: IDEA’s Assistant Director of Procurement - CNP manages the department staff that facilitate the procurement of instructional materials, school furniture, and other commodities as determined by the Director of Procurement. The Assistant Director of Procurement will oversee the RFP/Bid process and manage contracts related to specific areas of assignment and is responsible for providing support to all financial management users related to the procurement process. The Assistant Director of Procurement supports the organization’s procurement process as outlined by TEA and is committed to continuously improving processes to advance the goals of IDEA Public Schools. The vision of the Assistant Director of Procurement is to provide the highest level of customer satisfaction by facilitating the efficient acquisition of goods and services while keeping in compliance with policy and procedures.
Supervisory Responsibilities: Directly manage Procurement Analyst(s) and Procurement Administrator(s) for assigned responsibilities
Location: ​​ This is a full-time on-site/remote position based in Texas, with preference given to candidates who live in Austin, El Paso, Houston, Permian Basin (Midland/Odessa), Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, and Tarrant County (Fort Worth), or who are willing to relocate.
Travel Expectations: Occasional travel to IDEA training events or step-backs may be required - up to 20% of the time.
What You’ll Do – Accountabilities
Essential Duties:
Procurement Leadership: Lead and develop the Procurement Analyst and Administrator Buyer to ensure all purchasing aligns with cost, quality, and delivery targets while maintaining full compliance with IDEA policies.
Sourcing and Vendor Management: Oversee vendor sourcing, evaluation, and negotiation to ensure 100% compliance with local, state, and federal regulations and to foster strong, strategic supplier relationships.
RFP and Bid Management: Direct the full lifecycle of RFPs and bids—from planning through award—ensuring accurate tracking, record retention, and adherence to competitive procurement standards.
Process Improvement: Analyze data and identify opportunities to streamline procurement workflows, reduce costs, and enhance efficiency through continuous improvement and strategic initiatives.
Process Improvement: Analyze data and identify opportunities to streamline procurement workflows, reduce costs, and enhance efficiency through continuous improvement and strategic initiatives.
Vendor Maintenance: Maintain accurate vendor records in Tyler Munis, including required documentation (CIQ, SB9, SAM.gov, W9), correct 1099 coding, and regular vendor cleanups.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Finance, Grant Management, and campus/department leaders to resolve vendor issues, ensure regulatory compliance, and improve the overall procurement experience.
Additional Duties and Responsibilities:
Monitor supply continuity and communicate risks affecting operations.
Provide regular updates and reports on procurement trends, performance, and special projects.
Conduct onboarding and ongoing development for procurement staff within two weeks of hire.
Support end users through conference calls and on-site training to strengthen procurement knowledge.
Participate in weekly check-ins and financial manager user calls to align on compliance and strategy.
Attend TASBO and other professional trainings to stay current on laws and best practices.
Contribute to annual Beginning of Year committees and departmental meetings.
Assist in quarterly updates of purchasing policies, procedures, and HUB website resources.
Ensure no vendor engagement occurs with debarred entities and that all grant-related contracts meet public procurement requirements.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Knowledge and Skills – Competencies
Build a Culture of Trust: This team member fosters a team culture where individuals genuinely care for one another both personally and professionally. They lead with transparency, encourage open communication, including healthy conflict—and promote reliability and consistency, while regularly seeking and responding to team feedback to enhance the collective experience.
Communicate Deliberately: