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Posting Period:
November 05, 2026 - Until Filled
Employee Type:
NEASO NEA Staff Organization, OO125 Business & Financial Services Department (BFS)
Position Type:
Regular
Salary Range:
$102,062.00 - $158,178.00
Rank:
NEASO Rank 7
Position Details:
POSITION EMPHASIS: Founded in 1857, the National Education Association (NEA) is America’s oldest and largest organization committed to advancing the cause of public education. Headquartered in Washington, DC, NEA proudly claims nearly 3 million members devoted to the following mission: to advocate for education professionals and to unite our members and the nation to fulfill the promise of public education by preparing every student to succeed in a diverse and interdependent world. Our vision is a great public school for every student. The NEA is also the single largest labor union in the United States, advocating for the excellent and equitable public education system that all students, educators, and communities deserve.
POSITION SUMMARY: The Senior Procurement Specialist is responsible for leading and supporting the management of NEA’s contracting and procurement functions to ensure the timely, cost-effective, and compliant acquisition of goods and services in accordance with industry standards, collective bargaining agreements, and Association policies and procedures. This role supports the oversight of contract development, vendor relations and negotiations, procurement operations, request for proposals, and policy compliance while partnering closely with internal stakeholders and business units. The incumbent establishes standardized procurement processes and practices that are cost-efficient and effective, conducts market analysis and research, mitigates risk, optimizes contract terms, and ensures alignment with organizational strategy, regulatory requirements, and internal controls. The incumbent will be responsible for engaging with industry experts and using a variety of resources to perform analyses and recommend solutions that align with organizational goals, drive efficiency, support continuous improvement, and maintain a high standard of customer experience. The incumbent will be a contract and procurement functional subject matter expert for the Unit4 ERP system, create vendor tracking and evaluation mechanisms, conduct budget and cost analyses, conduct and participate in training, and ensure compliance and user adoption.
Key Responsibilities:
Contracts and Vendor Management
Coordinate the full lifecycle of contracts, including drafting, negotiation, execution, monitoring, amendments, and close-out.
Negotiate pricing, terms, service levels, and performance standards to achieve best value and manage organizational risk.
Develop and maintain strategic vendor relationships and manage vendor performance, compliance, and issue resolution.
Oversee purchase order processes and ensure proper documentation, approvals, and audit trails are maintained.
Support the coordination of RFPs, including identifying potential bidders, scheduling and coordinating briefs and conferences, and establishing an evaluation system for RFP bidders.
Strategic Sourcing
Conduct ongoing market research and industry analysis to identify qualified suppliers, emerging vendors, pricing trends, and innovative sourcing opportunities.
Develop and maintain a vetted supplier portfolio and preferred vendor lists to support efficient and compliance procurement decisions.
Partner with program leaders to evaluate vendor suitability for complex, high-risk, or mission-critical procurements.
Budget Analysis/Cost Optimization
Lead cost-optimization initiatives to identify savings opportunities, analyze historical spending patterns, contract utilization, and supplier performance to recommend consolidation, renegotiation, or alternative…