Job Details

Director of Procurement and Payment Services

Position Number: 6899232
Location: Golden, CO
Position Type: Business and Financial Management

Director of Procurement and Payment Services

Posting Number: JR108093
Location: Colorado

Engineering a world of possibilities
The Colorado School of Mines is a public R1 research university focused on applied science and engineering, producing talent, knowledge and solutions to service industry and benefit society. Mines has a strong reputation and celebrates high rankings due to its STEM-focused education and research results.

The Office of Finance, Administration and Operations (FA&O) provides critical support to the mission and forward-thinking strategic initiatives while managing $325 million in operating activity, stewarding $1 billion in assets, and supporting 1400 faculty and staff. The office of Procurement and Payment Services (PPS) is within FA&O and provides oversight for the institution's entire "procure-to-pay" lifecycle. This role is responsible for ensuring that the acquisition of goods and services, accounts payable functions, travel reimbursements, and expense card programs are conducted efficiently, transparently, and in strict compliance with state and federal regulations and institutional policies. The Director of PPS will provide strategic leadership to the procurement, contracting, accounts payable, and expense management teams.

The Director of PPS manages a team of approximately 15 professional and classified employees. They are responsible for ensuring sound financial business processes and internal controls. This position will provide strategic leadership in the acquisition of goods and services for the institution and will represent PPS in a wide range of activities, committees, and meetings. The Director will collaborate and interact with many internal and external constituencies including campus administration and academic departments, other higher education institutions, governmental agencies, and the public. The Director of PPS will implement and maintain systems and subsequent enhancements to financial and administrative systems, along with maintaining data integrity of the University financial system.

This position can be hybrid in Colorado but requires a majority of time with on-campus presence. Colorado School of Mines provides dedicated professional development and training. Onboarding for this position includes training on policies and procedures, and technical training opportunities for systems and technology required for this role.
Primary Responsibilities

Strategic leadership and customer service excellence

Develop and implement a strategic roadmap for PPS that transitions the department from a transactional function to a value-added strategic partner. This includes, but is not limited to:
Ensure advantageous payment terms (e.g., net 30).
Ensure optimal payment mechanisms (e.g., check, ACH, wire, virtual cards) and analyze rebate opportunities.
Lead strategic vendor management, including the development of preferred and pre-vetted vendor programs.
Ensure contractual terms and conditions are consistently advantageous to Mines, with a thoughtful balance of risk and benefit.
Develop strategies and partnerships (e.g., with state agencies and other higher education institutions) to leverage collective purchasing power for the benefit of Mines.
Drive digital transformation by identifying and implementing emerging technologies (e.g., AI-driven invoice processing, automated workflows) to reduce cycle times and manual errors.
Serve as the primary advisor to executive leadership and campus departments on complex payment workflows, regulatory compliance, and travel policies.
Lead change management initiatives to drive organization-wide adoption of new procurement tools, policies, and best practices

Policy, compliance, and training

Lead the drafting, update, and interpret school policies related to purchasing, travel, and disbursements. Audit existing purchasing, travel, and payment policies to ensure they are clear, accessible, and minimize the administrative burden on faculty and staff.
Lead the development and delivery of comprehensive campus-wide training programs to educate faculty and staff on procurement and AP workflows and compliance requirements.
Serve as the primary point of contact for internal and external audits.
Monitor internal controls to prevent duplicate payments, fraud, and unauthorized expenditures.
Stay current on state-mandated travel regulations and ensure all faculty/staff reimbursements meet IRS "accountable plan" requirements.

Team leadership and development

Develop and maintain a highly skilled and engaged team through managing the organizational structure, roles, and responsibilities of the PPS teams: the Procurement/Purchasing Office and the Accounts Payable & Travel Office fostering a service-oriented team environment.
Develop and maintain an inclusive and respectful work environment with a team capable of working through new challenges, responsive to ad hoc requests, able to meet important deadlines, and is highly accountable for accuracy in their work product.
Ensure high quality, elite customer advising services to the campus community and implement service metrics and feedback reporting.
Ensure performance plans include role-based professional development goals to drive exceptional quality work products.
Develop performance-based metrics and ensure robust feedback loops between supervisors and employees are regularly utilized and documented.
Foster a culture of professional development and continuous improvement within the staff. Shift the department's perception from a "bottleneck" to a "solution provider" by streamlining support and user-facing resources.
Ensure the development and maintenance of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all PPS functions.

Functional oversight

Procurement & Contract Management

Oversee all institutional purchasing activities, including formal bidding processes (RFPs, RFQs), contract negotiations, and vendor relationship management.
Cultivate strategic vendor partnerships to ensure long-term value, ethical sourcing, and risk mitigation across the organizational supply chain.
Ensure all procurement activities adhere to school policies and federal and state regulations, including diversity of spend goals (MWBE) and sustainability initiatives.
Oversee the lifecycle management of institutional contracts, to mitigate risk and ensure favorable terms. Contracts include funded procurement and expense contracts, construction contracts, fee for service revenue contracts, revenue/expense neutral contracts, donation agreements, and facility and land use agreements

Accounts Payable & Expense Management

Direct the Accounts Payable functions to ensure timely and accurate payments to vendors. Ensure the daily activities of the AP and Travel staff, including invoice processing, payment runs (check, ACH, wire), and travel voucher audit function.
Oversee the Travel Reimbursement program, ensuring faculty and staff travel is processed according to school policies and federal and state guidelines.
Manage the Expense Card (P-Card) program, including issuance, auditing, and fraud prevention protocols.
Ensure all disbursements are made in accordance with institutional policy and state/federal tax laws (including 1099 reporting).
Act as the final point of escalation for complex payment discrepancies or vendor disputes.
Coordinate with other finance offices such, General Accounting, Budget, Payroll, Bursar, as necessary to ensure appropriate fiscal year end entries (accruals and deferrals), appropriate accounting of payments and management of cash advances.

System, Report and Data Management

Establish Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and data-driven reporting to measure departmental performance and impact on campus impact initiatives. Responsible for all data reporting out of PPS including operational reporting or strategic reporting to school leadership.
Collaborate with Finance and IT to ensure seamless integration between procurement systems and the broader Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) environment. Management of the PPS related software systems or ERP modules. Monitoring upcoming releases and managing the implementation of any future systems.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Public Administration, or a related field.
Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in procurement and contracting, or financial operations, with at least 5 years in a leadership/supervisory role.
Exceptional analytical and communication skills.
Ability to advance the university's strategic procurement goals while delivering compliant, efficient, and customer-focused solutions.
Demonstrated ability to drive change within a large, complex organization while maintaining high service standards and meeting strict reporting deadlines.
Proactive, collaborative approach with the ability to work effectively across diverse groups to resolve complex and unique challenges.

Preferred Qualifications

Master's degree (Juris Doctorate, Certified Public Accountant, Masters Business Administration or Master's Public Administration)
Professional certifications such as Certified Public Procurement Officer, Certified Professional Public Buyer, or Certified Public Manager
Experience with e-procurement platforms
Experience implementing "P2P" (Procure-to-Pay) technologies

Salary and Benefits

$135,000 - $145,000 annual salary

Mines takes into consideration a combination of candidate's education, training and experience as well as the position's scope and complexity, the discretion and latitude required in the role, work location, and external market and internal value when determining a salary level for potential new employees.

Colorado School of Mines offers a robust portfolio of benefits for all employees. For this role, that includes:

Flexible health and dental care options
Generous sick/vacation time: 13 paid holidays per year - including a week-long winter break for entire campus.
Fully vested retirement plan on first day of employment, with generous employer contribution
Tuition benefits (6 credits per year for employees, 50 percent discount for dependents)
Free RTD Ecopass

All Mines employees also have access to discount programs through the State of Colorado and free tickets for Mines Athletics home games, as well as access to the state of the art Recreation Center (fitness classes and training, swimming pool and more) and equipment rentals through the Outdoor Rec Center. We are proud to have recently opened an on campus daycare center. For more details about benefits at Mines, visit mines.edu/human-resources/benefits.

How to Apply

Complete an online application (personal information, demographic information, veteran status)

Upload a resume or CV
Upload a cover letter

Candidates must be currently authorized to work in the United States. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

This posting may be used to fill more than one vacancy based on business needs.

References will not be contacted until later in the selection process and you will be informed before that contact is made.

Application review will begin February 9, 2026. This posting will remain open until filled and may close without notice after that date. For best consideration, apply by February 8, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. as applications received after that date may not be reviewed.

It is the intent of Mines to comply with the applicable requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008, and their implementation rules and regulations, in support of equal opportunities for qualified applicants with disabilities. To meet this goal, Mines will make reasonable accommodations during the employment selection process and within our working environment.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on our site as a result of your disability. You can request a reasonable accommodation by contacting our Human Resources team at hr@mines.edu or 303.273.3250 for assistance.

Successful Completion of a Background Investigation is Required for this Position.

About Mines & Golden, CO

When the world looks for answers, the world looks to Mines.

Colorado School of Mines is a top-ranked public university solving the grand challenges facing our society, particularly those related to the Earth, energy and the environment. Founded in 1874 with specialties in mining and metallurgy, Mines' scope and mission have continually expanded to meet the needs of industry and society. Today, we are the No. 36 public university in the nation, recognized for our innovation and undergraduate teaching in science, technology engineering and math (U.S. News and World Report, 2025).

Mines graduates are change makers, boundary breakers and problem solvers. Since our earliest days, a Mines education has been and continues to be a transformational opportunity, with one of the strongest returns on investment out there for talented STEM students of all backgrounds.

At the same time, Mines faculty members are pushing their fields in new directions, whether that's manufacturing, space resources, quantum engineering, carbon capture or more. Mines was recently classified as a R1 "Very High Activity" research institution by Carnegie, a notable feat for any university but particularly one of our size.

That size - roughly 8,200 undergraduate and graduate students - also translates to a close-knit campus community, where employees have opportunities to get involved in multiple ways, continued professional learning is valued and everyone can make an impact.

Community Alliance groups bring together employees for professional development, networking, and community involvement, and all Mines employees also have access to the wealth of activities happening every day on campus - nationally-renowned speakers, special events and Mines traditions like Engineering Days, just to name a few.

And don't get us started on our hometown. We are located in the heart of Golden, Colorado --with its charming historic downtown and nearby hiking trails - and in close proximity to all that Denver and the Rocky Mountains have to offer. That includes the sunny, high-altitude climate and outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities that make the Denver area an ideal place to live, work and play.

Are you looking for an inspiring, mission-driven workplace where you can contribute to solving the world's problems and educating the next generation of change makers? Are you an individual who values a community where our individual perspectives and experiences enrich the educational and work experience?

Look to Mines.

Additional Information and Reasonable Accommodation Requests
It is the intent of Mines to comply with the applicable requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008, and their implementation rules and regulations, in support of equal opportunities for qualified applicants with disabilities. To meet this goal, Mines will make reasonable accommodations during the employment selection process and within our working environment.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on our site as a result of your disability. You can request a reasonable accommodation by contacting our Human Resources team at hr@mines.edu or 303.273.3250 for assistance.

Successful completion of a background investigation is required for this position.

Equal Opportunity

Colorado School of Mines is committed to equal opportunity for all persons. Mines does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), ancestry, creed, marital status, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status or current military service. Further, Mines does not retaliate against community members for filing complaints regarding or implicating any of these protected statuses.

Mines' commitment to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and equal access is reflected in the administration of its policies, procedures, programs and activities and in its efforts to achieve a talented student body and workforce.

Through its policies, procedures and resources, Mines complies with federal law, Colorado state law, administrative regulations, executive orders and other legal requirements to prevent discrimination (including harassment or retaliation) within the Mines campus community and to address potential allegations of inequality or concerns for safety.

Colorado's premier engineering and applied science university for 150 years and counting

Apply online at https://mines.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Mines_Careers/job/Colorado/Director-of-Procurement-and-Payment-Services_JR108093