Associate Vice Chancellor, Supply Chain Management

About the role

• Location
• SAINT LOUIS, MO 63112
• Scheduled Hours
• 40

Position Summary

Washington University in St. Louis seeks an experienced and strategic Associate Vice Chancellor of Supply Chain Management to provide institutional leadership for supply chain strategy, purchasing services (procurement), supplier engagement and development, furniture and design services, and mail and receiving services. This role reports to the Vice Chancellor University Business Services and supports the University's academic, facilities, research, and patient care missions, including its close partnership with the School of Medicine and affiliated clinical enterprises.

The Associate Vice Chancellor will lead the development of an enterprise-wide supply chain management strategy that balances fiscal stewardship, service excellence, and sustainability, while enabling flexibility for schools, departments, and research and clinical units with highly specialized needs.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

Enterprise Supply Chain Strategy

• Develop and execute a comprehensive supply chain management strategy aligned with the University's academic, capital projects, research, clinical, and community missions.
• Drive enterprise value through thoughtful demand management, strategic sourcing, lifecycle cost analysis and supplier management.
• Establish governance frameworks, policies, and performance metrics that promote transparency, accountability, and effective decision-making across decentralized units.
• Advance the modernization of procurement technology and utilization of AI tools to maximize efficiencies and optimize analytics.
• Support logistical operations (ex. student mail, last mile deliveries, mail metering, etc.) for various stakeholders such as students, faculty and staff across campus.

Procurement Leadership in a Decentralized Environment

• Provide leadership and oversight for procurement in a complex, decentralized environment encompassing schools, departments, research centers, and clinical operations.
• Balance centralized strategy and compliance with localized execution to support diverse academic, research, and clinical requirements.
• Oversee strategic sourcing, contract management, supplier performance, and risk management across a wide range of categories, including clinical, research, and capital purchases.
• Advance supplier diversity and responsible sourcing initiatives consistent with university values.

Asset Optimization

• Develop and execute comprehensive asset reutilization programs to maximize value, reuse, and responsible disposition of institutional assets.
• Implement processes that support redistribution within the University, resale, donation, or recycling in compliance with regulatory, grant, and environmental requirements.
• Partner with sustainability and facilities stakeholders to reduce waste and extend asset lifecycles.

Sustainability and Stewardship

• Integrate sustainability principles into supply chain and procurement strategies, including waste reduction, environmentally preferable purchasing, and lifecycle-based decision-making.
• Collaborate with University sustainability leadership to measure and report the environmental impact of supply chain activities.

Stakeholder Engagement and Change Leadership

• Serve as a strategic advisor and build collaborative relationships across enterprises to drive adoption of best practices while respecting institutional culture and autonomy.
• Lead change initiatives to modernize systems, processes, and tools, enhancing user experience and operational effectiveness.

Team and Operational Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop high-performing teams across the supply chain organization.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, service excellence, ethical conduct, continuous improvement, and inclusion.

Additional information

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.

Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree

Certifications /Professional Licenses

No specific certification/professional license is required for this position.

Work Experience

Leadership In Resource Management, Materials Management, Procurement, Or Related Field (8 Years)

Skills: Not Applicable

Driver's License: A driver's license is not required for this position.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, supply chain management, finance, public administration, or a related field; advanced degree strongly preferred.
• Significant senior-level leadership experience in supply chain management, procurement, or resource management within a large, complex organization.
• Demonstrated success leading procurement operations in a highly decentralized environment.
• Experience overseeing logistics, asset management, or reutilization programs.
• Strong strategic, financial, analytical, and organizational change leadership skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to influence diverse stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education or health care organizations, particularly those that include a medical school or academic health center.
• Familiarity with clinical supply chains, research procurement environments, and regulatory requirements associated with academic medicine.
• Experience advancing sustainability, environmental stewardship, or responsible sourcing initiatives within a large institution.

Preferred Qualifications

Education: Master's degree

Certifications/Professional Licenses

No additional certification/professional licenses unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

Work Experience

No additional work experience unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

Skills

Communication, Procurement Operations, Strategic Leadership, Strategic Management, Strategic Solutions, Supply Chain Leadership, Supply Chain Management (SCM)

• Grade
• G00
• Questions

For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.

Accommodation

If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.

Pre-Employment Screening

All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.

Benefits Statement

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to providing a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to our employees. Benefits eligibility is subject to employment status, full-time equivalent (FTE) workload, and weekly standard hours.