Purchasing Manager| McCormick Place Convention Center

Oak View Group:

Oak View Group is the global leader in venue development, management, and premium hospitality services for the live event industry. Offering an unmatched, 360-degree solution set for a collection of world-class owned venues and a client roster that includes the most influential, highest attended arenas, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions on the planet.

Overview:

Under the direction of the AGM – Finance and Administration, the Purchasing Manager monitors, controls, and audits all purchasing transactions at McCormick Place/Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL. This role ensures the efficient and effective completion of the Convention Center's purchasing function in compliance with the contractual requirements of the client.

This role will pay a salary of $70,000.00 to $80,000.00.

For FT roles: Benefits: Health, Dental and Vision insurance, 401(k) savings plan, 401(k) matching, and paid time off (vacation days, sick days, and 11 holidays).

This position will remain open until March 21, 2025.

Responsibilities:

• Ensures that purchases are made in conformity with company policies.
• Determines if procedures are effective in complying with client's requirements for sustainable products and local vendors.
• Follows company policies and procedures. Works closely with the OVG-Finance and Administration to receive direction, establish goals, identify compliance issues and implement process improvements to ensure efficiency and improve innovation.
• Procures materials at the lowest cost, consistent with the quality and services required, and maintains a consistent supply of necessary goods and services.
• Oversees the day-to-day operations of the Purchasing Department. Provides leadership, direction, management and supervision to the Purchasing staff, including establishing goals and evaluating performance.
• Designs and documents specific Purchasing practices and procedures to ensure internal controls are adequate to prevent economic loss. Responsible for strategic planning to continually identify process improvements to improve the accuracy, timeliness, and efficiency of operations.
• Establishes and maintains administrative control over the organization’s procurement expenditures. Ensures effective and timely communications regarding purchasing policies to staff and interacts with senior staff or their designees in order to assist and facilitate their participation in the various aspects of the purchasing process.
• Works closely with McCormick Place management, the Legal Department and Risk Management Department to develop and review RFP’s and RFQ’s, Contracts, and Contract renewals as applicable.
• Consults with vendors concerning specifications for supplies and services. Supervises the development and preparation of answers to questions from vendors concerning proposals, bids and procurement guidelines of the company.
• Prepares and Reviews tabulations of bids and the evaluation of the proposals and performs cost benefit analysis. Ensures that such information is complete and accurate and presented to McCormick Place management for approval.
• Responsible for ensuring that appropriate approvals are obtained on all purchases.
• Approves all purchase orders for compliance with Purchasing policies and statutory requirements.
• Responsible for timely issuance, maintenance, accuracy and design of various procurement reports.
• Documents resolution of outstanding purchase orders by working with Accounts Payable Department and the various operational departments.
• Responsible for the tracking of Contracts coming up for renewal utilizing the Contract List and formally contacting departments and McCormick Place management before the Contract expiration to determine if the contract will be renewed (if extensions are available) or re-bid.
• Partners with the Supplier Diversity point of contact and participates in MBE/WBE outreach programs in joint partnership with MPEA to maximize the number of qualified and certified M/WBE’s interested in participating at McCormick Place /OVG360. Assists in the production of MBE/WBE required reporting.
• Supervises the processing of purchase orders.
• Oversees maintenance of vendor address book, including ensuring entries are properly authorized and information is complete and accurate.
• Performs financial analysis related to Purchasing issues, and other work-related job duties, including special projects, as assigned.
• Continually evaluates and measures performance of sustainability programs to ensure they are being managed effectively and efficiently. Develops corrective action where required.
• Leads the development of collateral and e-collateral which markets and explains the sustainable practices employed by McCormick Place.
• Maintains current knowledge of trends and advances in green and sustainable practices/products and provides in-house technical research and assistance in those areas.
• Researches, applies for and manages applicable grants or funding which may offset costs involved with sustainability programs or purchases.
• Develops and maintains cost/savings tracking for all proposed and implemented sustainability projects.
• Provides sustainability training and presentations.
• Researches and develops relationships with non-profits and/or local organizations to become potential recipients of leftover conference materials.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.
• Assist in documenting all purchasing processes and procedures.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 3-5 years’ experience in purchasing and/or contract administration and negotiation related to procurement activities required.
• Minimum of two (2) years supervisory experience.
• Bachelor’s Degree in from an accredited University in Finance, Public or Business Administration or a related field or equivalent education and experience.
• Ability to review and audit vendor agreements.
• Must be detail-oriented & have strong leadership skills.
• Thorough knowledge & understanding of various purchasing systems.
• Proficient in Windows environment with strong Excel skills
• Must be accurate and efficient with ability to meet deadlines.
• Capable of working with all levels of management

Strengthened by our Differences. United to Make a Difference:

Our success is rooted in creating environments that reflect and celebrate the diverse communities in which we operate and serve, and this is the reason we are committed to amplifying voices from all different backgrounds.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Oak View Group is committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on any legally recognized basis (“protected class”) including, but not limited to veteran status, uniform service member status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information or any other protected class under federal, state, or local law.