Daily Sustainability Job Post

* The link and job description provided was active on August 16, 2021 – the date this was posted. Please refer to the employer’s website for up to date information. This is not our search, we are providing these links as a service to the community of sustainability and ESG jobseekers.

Position Overview:

The Procurement Service Center (PSC) provides leadership to the University of Colorado in the procurement of goods and services and in paying debts to vendors and travelers by combining sound business controls with efficient and timely service. The functional areas of the PSC include Purchasing Services, Strategic Sourcing, Supplier Relationship Management, Payable Services, Commercial Card Program, Travel Program, Small Business Program, Contract Services, and Procurement Systems. PSC is the system owner of CU Marketplace and Concur Travel and Expense.

Position Summary
The Sustainable Procurement Manager exists to support both the University as a whole, and individual campuses, in developing, measuring, and achieving a broad spectrum of sustainability goals. This position works closely with the Director of Strategic Procurement, Procurement Service Center (PSC) staff, and the University of Colorado (CU) campuses to identify sustainability opportunities that intersect with the procurement process and help to promote, integrate, and advance sustainability throughout CU’s procurement process. These opportunities include, but are not necessarily limited to, product selection and usage, life cycle cost analysis, awareness campaigns, participation in appropriate sustainability organizations and conferences, identification of critical supplier partnerships, and building relationships with key University and supplier stakeholders. This position also has ownership of outfacing sustainability activities and awareness, including website content, campus events, scheduled communication, and direction of enterprise wide sustainability steering committee meetings and objectives. In coordination with the Director, this position assists in establishing and monitoring a strategic approach to product usage and product catalog content.

Success in this position will be heavily dependent on identifying opportunities and relationships that enhance overall sustainability goals. This role will also support campus sustainability leadership and student groups on impactful projects, such as infrastructure, sustainability awareness, energy planning, and reporting. This position works with all units within the PSC to facilitate these goals, including the strategic procurement, purchasing and contracting, and customer engagement teams, as well as supporting the PSC’s small, local and diverse supplier objectives.

This position reports to the Director of Strategic Procurement and is exempt from the State of Colorado State Classified System.

Duties
Duties and responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

Sustainability Initiative Maintenance and Creation:

• Maintain and enhance roadmap of procurement related sustainability initiatives.
• Collaborate with internal procurement stakeholders in implementing sustainability initiatives.
• Maintain current knowledge of applicable sustainability laws, regulations, products, programs, and best practices and ensure that information is distributed appropriately to stakeholders. Read articles, participate in workshops and webinars, etc. (i.e. Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education [AASHE]).
• Measure and report progress for sustainability initiatives.
• Respond to sustainability requests from PSC customers.
• Provide input to department business plans and initiatives to ensure continuous achievement of department goals as it relates to commitment to sustainable practices.

Measuring Success:

• Create meaningful measurements and success indicators for the program, including assisting campuses with their reporting requirements as appropriate.

Campus Engagement and Outreach:

• Coordinate the Sustainability Steering Committee activities including scheduling, meeting organization, room reservations, fielding participant questions, capturing meeting minutes, and meeting facilitation.
• Prioritize and organize campus outreach events, end-user engagement surveys, communication with stakeholders, and website content related to sustainability.
• Act as primary point of contact and resource for sustainability practices.
• Create and maintain sustainability content on PSC website and sustainable procurement guidelines.

Supplier Engagement:

• Create meaningful sustainability supplier partnerships by building upon existing and new supplier relationships to insure product selection, price point, sustainable product attributes, and catalog functionality are all aligned with overall sustainability goals.
• Works with key suppliers to ensure their supply chain also meets our goals (i.e. packaging and logistic activities).

Who we are: System Administration, which also houses the Office of the President, is located in the uptown neighborhood of Denver with a few smaller offices located on the campuses.However, this position is located in Denver, but is open to remote work. Many of our departments support the educational and research missions of the four University of Colorado campuses, but System Administration is not considered a campus. We provide diverse opportunities for professional development, innovation, and collaboration with talented staff and faculty. Learn more about CU System Administration.

The University of Colorado has been proactive in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can visit our COVID-19 webpage for more information.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)
To be successful in this position, candidates will need the following:

• Demonstrated experience with data management tools and reporting.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office.
• Demonstrated experience working with multiple internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to quickly learn the business and organizational structure of CU
• Collaboration skills, including the ability to work with others from different areas and backgrounds to reach a common goal
• Computer skills, including the ability to utilize Microsoft Office programs (i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and learn and experiment with new software and systems
• Interpersonal skills, including the ability to facilitate interaction, communication, and teamwork between others
• Oral, written, and listening communication skills, including the ability to accurately interpret what others are saying and convey messages, information, concepts, and details accurately and clearly
• Organizational skills, including the ability to set and meet goals and deadlines, manage appointments, create schedules, coordinate and facilitate meetings, and make decisions
• Presentation skills, including the ability to collect, evaluate, display, and deliver information to a variety of audiences in a way that is easily understandable
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and reliable professional judgment, as well as collaboratively with a team to achieve desired results
• Ability to maintain a strong work ethic, positive problem-solving attitude, and enthusiasm for the work performed
• Ability to self-start and take initiative in completing daily tasks and special projects
• Ability to focus on activities that have the greatest impact on meeting work commitments
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and ages

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements

Please ensure your resume includes any and all relevant experience to be accurately assessed against these qualifications. You must meet all minimum requirements listed at the time of application to be considered for this role.

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education, or equivalent professional experience (professional experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis)
• Three (3) years’ experience coordinating, developing, maintaining, and/or managing sustainability activities, initiatives, and/or programs
• Local and regional travel around the Denver area to CU campuses. Travel is required on an “as needed” basis

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or post-baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education in the field of Environmental Science, Sustainability, or related field.
• Five (5) years’ experience coordinating, developing, maintaining and/or managing sustainability activities, initiatives, and/or programs.
• Experience in Higher Education
• Experience in a Procurement Environment
• Professional certification such as a Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM), Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM), Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB), Certified Public
• Procurement Officer (CPPO), or Certified Sustainability Professional (ISSP)