Description
Suffolk County Community College is the largest community college in the State University of New York (SUNY) system, enrolling more than 26,000 students at its three campuses in Selden, Brentwood, and Riverhead, as well as its Culinary Arts Center in Riverhead. Established in 1959, the college offers a wide array of transfer-oriented associate degrees in the liberal arts and sciences; business; communications and the arts; computing and cybersecurity; health sciences; and many other areas. Career-facing degrees and certificates are offered in allied health professions, automotive technology, culinary and baking, manufacturing, and many other areas. The college provides high school concurrent enrollment opportunities to thousands of students each year through both Suffolk’s Beacon program and through on-campus early college classes. Designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic Serving Institution, Suffolk enrolls thousands of students in English Language Learning courses, and also serves more service veterans and military-connected students than any other college in the SUNY system.
SUNY Suffolk is searching for a full-time (12-month) College Associate Director of Business Operations. This is a 12-month Guild position, and, as such, the salary and benefits for this position are determined according to the salary and benefits plan for the Guild of Administrative Officers.
The Associate Director of Business Operations supports the Director of Procurement and Business Operations in overseeing the day-to-day activities of the Procurement Office, Central Receiving, Mailroom, and Print Shop. This leadership role is responsible for managing formal competitive bidding and RFP processes, developing operational policies and procedures, and driving strategic procurement initiatives to enhance efficiency and cost-effectiveness across departments.
The Associate Director plays a key role in budget planning, performance analysis, vendor management, and continuous improvement efforts. This position requires strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills, along with a demonstrated ability to lead teams, mentor staff, and foster cross-functional collaboration. A commitment to fairness, transparency, and equity in procurement practices is essential.
Key Responsibilities:
Oversees and manages the preparation of documents for formal competitive bids and Request for Proposals (RFP). Manages the bidding and RFP processes through contract award.
Assists in the development and documentation of policies, processes and protocols to ensure a smooth and efficient operation of multiple college departments.
Participates in strategic planning activities. Works with college departments to develop a proactive approach to the procurement process. Develops and supports partnerships with vendors to increase the college’s buying power.
Creates and analyzes spend reports to identify procurement opportunities.
Assists the Director of Procurement and Business Operations in the budget preparation for Procurement, Central Receiving, Mailroom and Print Shop.
Monitors Print Shop requests and output. Recommends and implements operational improvements to increase efficiencies and reduce cost of print jobs.
Creates presentations and conducts meetings and training sessions, as needed.
Manages and tracks workload to ensure assignments are completed in a timely manner.
Proven ability to lead teams, mentor staff, and build collaborative relationships across departments.
Demonstrated commitment to fair, transparent, and equitable practices in vendor outreach and contracting.
Requirements
Minimum
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Supply Chain Management, or a closely related field.
A minimum of eight (8) years of experience in procurement and business operations with a minimum of two (2) years in a supervisory capacity.
Alternatively, an Associate degree with fifteen (15) or more years of relevant experience.
Knowledge of General Municipal Law and New York State procurement laws and regulations.
Experience in purchasing, contracts, and supply chain management, including complex solicitations (RFPs, RFQs, IFBs) and vendor performance management.
Demonstrated ability to manage complex processes, interact with multiple stakeholders and develop positive relationships within the organization.
Ability to interpret and apply complex regulations and ensure compliance.
Strong leadership and time management skills.
Strong analytical skills: experience developing reporting requirements and performing analysis of large amounts of data.
Proficiency with ERP and e-procurement systems and standard office software (Excel, Word, etc.).
Preferred
Master’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related discipline.
Experience in the governmental or higher education sector.
Experience with BidNet Direct, Unimarket or similar cloud-based e-procurement software platforms.
Experience with eProcurement system implementations and training
Certifications: One or more professional procurement certifications below:
CPM – Certified Purchasing Manager, CPPO – Certified Public Procurement Officer, NIGP-CPP – Certified Procurement Professional, CPSM – Certified Professional in Supply Management.
