Job Description

AVP, Procurement
American Public Education, Inc.

The Associate Vice President of Procurement & Strategic Sourcing will lead the development and execution of a centralized procurement function across the organization. This role is responsible for driving cost efficiency, enhancing vendor performance, improving procurement processes, and establishing governance that balances control with operational agility. This leader will partner cross-functionally to optimize third-party spend, implement best-in-class sourcing practices, and build a scalable procurement infrastructure aligned with the company’s strategic objectives. This role directly reports to the Executive Vice President, Chief Finance Officer.

Responsibilities
Strategic Sourcing & Cost Optimization

• Develop and execute a comprehensive strategic sourcing strategy across key spend categories.
• Identify and deliver measurable cost savings through vendor consolidation, competitive bidding, and contract renegotiation.
• Establish category management discipline, prioritizing high-value and high-risk spend areas.

Procurement Operations & Process Improvement

• Design and implement streamlined procurement processes, policies, and approval frameworks.
• Reduce cycle times while maintaining appropriate internal controls and compliance standards
• Implement a clear Delegation of Authority (DOA) framework and spend thresholds.

Vendor Management & Governance

• Establish a formal vendor management program, including performance metrics, SLAs, and regular business reviews.
• Partner with Legal to standardize contract terms and mitigate risk.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory, audit, and internal policy requirements.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Collaborate with Finance, Legal, IT, HR, Marketing, and Operations to align procurement with business needs.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to business leaders on purchasing decisions and vendor strategy.

Systems & Reporting

• Evaluate and optimize procurement systems and tools (e.g., procure-to-pay platforms).
• Develop reporting and dashboards to track spend, savings, vendor performance, and procurement KPIs.
• Build and maintain a forward-looking savings pipeline.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, or supply chain leadership.
• Proven track record of delivering meaningful cost savings and process improvements.
• Experience building or transforming procurement functions in complex organizations.
• Strong financial acumen and ability to partner with executive leadership.
• Experience with procurement systems and contract management tools.
• Bachelors degree required

About Us:

Online, on campus and in the workplace, we provide higher education and training to our country’s heroes – military service members, veterans, nurses, government employees, and motivated professionals that want to make a difference. American Public Education, Inc. educates service-minded students, ranging from the military, public service, federal agencies, and nursing communities, through American Public University System (APUS), Hondros College of Nursing (HCON), and Rasmussen University.

It is the policy of American Public Education, Inc. (APEI) to afford equal opportunity to all qualified persons. We treat all qualified individuals equally as to their recruitment, hiring, assignments, advancements, compensation, and all other terms and conditions of employment. American Public Education, Inc. does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, or physical, mental, or sensory disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you are a resident of a state with designated pay transparency requirements and this role is available remotely, you may be eligible to receive additional information about the compensation and benefits for this role, which we will provide upon request. Please send an email to recruiting@apei.com