Procurement Operations Specialist

Job Description: Procurement Operations Specialist

Overview

Based in Austin, National Veterinary Associates ("NVA") is the largest private owner of unbranded freestanding veterinary hospitals in North America, with over 800 companion animal veterinary hospitals and pet resort locations in the United States and Canada.

NVA has grown rapidly over its history and continues to aggressively execute its growth plans via a combination of acquisition, de novo and same-store initiatives. NVA competes in a $25 billion industry that has grown faster than GDP over 20+ years with few exceptions. The industry is highly fragmented with approximately 22,000 veterinary hospitals; fewer than 4,000 are part of large chains. Advancing medical sophistication and technology combined with the evolving human-animal bond is driving greater spend per pet and veterinarians will look to partner with companies that have the capital, expertise and management talent as the industry evolves.

The Role

NVA is seeking a Procurement Operations Specialist to support the Procurement team in their operational initiatives. Specifically, the Procurement Operations Specialist will support NVA by operationalizing contracts, facilitating communication between internal stakeholders and external suppliers, and participating in the review, renewal, and management of vendor documentation.

The ideal candidate has 2 to 3 years’ experience in vendor interactions. Experience should include a mix of contract review, quoting, generating purchase orders and invoicing. The Procurement Operations Specialist must demonstrate an ability to manage meetings, communicate clearly, and be capable of explaining procurement processes. The Procurement Operations Specialist will be involved in contract compliance, vendor performance evaluations and problem resolution. This is a great opportunity to play an integral role in a streamlined procurement process for an organization at the cutting edge of premier veterinary care!

Key Responsibilities

• Vendor management

o Act as a primary point of contact for communication between NVA staff and external vendors

o Own the maintenance of vendor records such as contact and contract details

o Encourage procurement best practices for operational efficiency

o Have an advanced understanding of services and goods being provided

o Maintain documentation for contracts, agreements, and identification

• Stakeholder management

o Operationalize executed contracts and drive progress towards contract milestones

o Ensure key stakeholders are informed of contract renewals and procurement timelines

o Monitor, support, and represent internal stakeholders in procurement activities

o Have an advanced understanding of project objectives and timelines

• Problem management

o Communicate clearly on behalf of the Procurement team

o Own intake, triage, and resolution of procurement related escalations from stakeholders

o Be knowledgeable of company initiatives being affected by procurement

o Collect and incorporate stakeholder feedback to improve procurement processes

Skills and Specifications

• Experience with industry standard software such as Microsoft Office suite and Oracle Fusion Cloud
• Demonstrable understanding of quotes, purchase orders, and invoices
• Exposure to database handling and usage
• Advanced understanding of contract paperwork and language such as Terms and Service, Statement of Works, and Service Level Agreements
• Advanced understanding of financial concepts such as GL codes, payment terms, and payment methods
• Demonstrable experience being detail oriented
• Capable problem solver with the ability to understand and diagnose errors within procurement tools
• Organized and able to manage time
• Can comfortably collaborate with internal departments, field team, and external vendors
• Advanced project management capabilities; must be proactive with diligent follow through

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Analytics, Supply Chain, or equivalent work experience
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in an analyst role or related responsibilities
• Minimum of 2 years of experience managing projects
• Minimum of 1 year of experience working with Procurement topics
• Excellent communication skills

Animal Health Experience is a plus!

Compensation

Starting salary is between $65,000-78,000 with excellent benefits including health insurance, 401k, and flexible vacation time.