Citizens is pleased to offer this opportunity in the Jacksonville, FL area. At Citizens, we’re building a workforce of top achievers committed to our company’s mission and vision. Our company values the knowledge that comes from experienced and dedicated individuals with a variety of backgrounds, in or out of insurance.
Citizens’ Mission is to provide property insurance protection in Florida to those who are, in good faith, unable to obtain coverage through the private market while also providing the utmost in customer service. Our Values are public service, integrity, respect, responsiveness and sound judgment. We strive to not only provide affordable insurance products and services but also to provide sound financial responsibility to the citizens of Florida.
At Citizens, we are a team of dedicated, service-minded professionals committed to our policyholders. Come achieve and maximize your potential with us!

This position is responsible for executing and leading vendor management and purchasing governance and strategy across the enterprise in support of the organization’s strategic Vendor Management and Purchasing Program. This includes serving as a consultant and trusted business advisor to business unit executives, senior management, and others. The position serves as a strategic advisor and program expert, develops, and improves governance structures, identifies, and implements process improvements, prepares key critical documents delivered to ELT and Board members, and establishes strategies to mitigate risk and maximize value from vendor relationships.
Job Duties:
Models’ ethical behavior and executes job responsibilities in accordance with Citizen’s core values, ethics, and information protection policies.
Identify and make enhancements to enterprise Vendor Management and Purchasing Program (Program) governance and processes. The scope of the Program includes sourcing, procurement, contracting, contract administration, contract management, and vendor management and all ancillary activities such as obtaining Board approvals. Develop and maintain necessary governance structures to support the Program. Collaborate with leadership and others in developing, implementing, and maintaining all aspects of the Program including policies, standards, frameworks, practices, processes, and procedures (work product).
Maintain Program work product, ensuring that work product remains current and provides optimal value, and, as applicable, ensure that Vendor Management and Purchasing staff and business partners (which shall include leadership) are aware of such work product and / or are informed on its use. Contribute to Program strategy and work product consistent with industry leading practices applicable to Citizens, Citizens’ Core Competencies, Mission, Vision, Values, Commitments, and Strategic Goals, Plan of Operation, and applicable laws, rules, and regulations. Lead periodic reviews of the Program and Program work product; identify opportunities for enhancement and lead efforts to continually evolve the Program. Train and assist Vendor Management and Purchasing staff and business partners in laws, policies, standards, processes, procedures, and best practices associated with the Program. Ensure the Program is audit ready and coordinate with internal and external auditing or advisory entities to ensure appropriate, thorough, and clear responses to audits and, as applicable, monitor and/or effect Program responses. Consult with stakeholders on existing or future automation of Program capabilities to drive use, efficiency, and effectiveness.
Oversee, lead, direct, and execute Program initiatives to achieve the strategic goals and objectives of the Program and to continually evolve and improve Program outcomes. Identify opportunities to manage, integrate, and collaborate Vendor Management and Purchasing departmental programs and initiatives with Citizens’ stakeholders, functions, programs, and initiatives, such as strategy and planning, initiative portfolio planning and delivery, and benefits realization and value optimization.
Develop standard and ad hoc reports for the Senior Management Team, Executive Leadership Team, Board of Governors, and others, as applicable, to support the Program. Provide training, as appropriate, to business partners and stakeholders on the Program. As applicable, develop Board items, such as Action and Consent Items, with supporting or ancillary documentation.
 

Advanced understanding of vendor and purchasing governance principles and practices.
Advanced understanding of project management.
Advanced knowledge of solving complex problems through analytical approaches, as well as critical and strategic thinking.
Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office suite of office productivity applications, including Excel PivotTables.
Knowledge of principles, practices, and procedures for the Program, including market changes and new technologies.
Understanding of, and ability to interpret, procurement related contract language.

Skills & Abilities: Required
Excellent procurement skills, including vendor prequalification, solicitation requirements development, solicitation evaluation criteria development, and risk identification and mitigation through contractual protections.
Excellent change management skills.
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, facilitation, and consultative skills.
Strong negotiation and conflict resolution capabilities.
Expert written communication skills, including the ability to create content ranging from policy and procedure documents to complex reporting, including data visualization.
Strong oral communication skills, including the ability to deliver oral presentations both internally within Citizens, and externally within industry forums.
Excellent vendor management skills, including contract management best practices, enforcement of contractual provisions and escalation management, risk identification and mitigation, contract governance, and contract administration.
Strong project management, team building skills, and ability to work in a team environment, as well as independently.
Relationship development skills in the area of vendor management, sales, or customer service.
Strong interpersonal skills which effectively translate to an ability to work at all levels of the organization, as well as to develop and maintain effective working relationships with others, to include senior management and Executive Leadership Team (ELT).
Excellent problem-solving, organizational, time management and multi-tasking skills; sense of urgency, personal responsibility, accountability, self-motivated.
Ability to work well under pressure, to work on multiple projects and to meet deadlines.
Relevant Experience: Required
10 or more years of purchasing or vendor / contract management experience, either through sourcing, contracting, or vendor relationship management OR ten or more years of project management experience involving complex / large projects involving significant vendor interaction OR any combination of the foregoing equivalent to 10 or more years of experience (a Master’s degree and seven years of purchasing / vendor / project management experience may substitute for the 10 or more years)
Education: Required
High School Diploma | GED
Bachelor’s Degree OR 4 years relevant experience, OR a combination of college education and relevant experience equivalent to 4 years.
CPSM or CPCM and at least one other industry-related certification. If not already a CPSM or CPCM, the employee must obtain their CPSM within the first year in the role.

Preferred Experience:

Master’s degree and / or Juris Doctor

• Experience working with government procurement contracts, including state, federal, and public consortiums (State of Florida experience strongly preferred)
• Working knowledge of state or federal procurement contract monitoring requirements, procurement laws, public meeting laws, and public records laws (State of Florida experience strongly preferred)
• Related professional work experience within the property and casualty insurance industry
• Experience managing vendor contracts, such as business process outsourcing service providers, software service providers, information services firms, and human resource service providers.
• Experience working in an iterative service delivery environment, including Agile, Scrum, Kanban, and Lean
• Additional industry-related certifications such as Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM), Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM), Certified Commercial Contract Manager (CCCM), Certified Professional Contract Manager (CPCM), Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO), or Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB)
• Experience presenting or speaking at local or national industry events.
• Experience writing articles in or for industry publications.
• Project Management Professional certification

What percentage of time is accountable for long-term strategic planning? 30%
What percentage of time is accountable for short-term operational goals? 50%
What percentage of time is accountable for transactional, day-to-day operational support? 20%
Physical Requirements:
Occasional: Move, Traverse, Operate, Activate, Use, Prepare, Inspect, Place, Detect, Position, Ascend/Descend, Work Atop, Transport, Position, Put, Install, Remove, Travel, # of pounds 10LB.
Frequent: Stationary position, Position self (to), Move,
Continuous: Communicate, Detect, Converse with, Discern, Convey, Express oneself, Exchange information, Detect, Determine, Perceive, Identify, Recognize, Judge, Observe, Inspect, Estimate

We offer unlimited career potential, excellent training and development opportunities, and a structured Career Development program to explore future roles of interest while growing and developing in your existing role.
Citizens offers a competitive compensation and benefits package that includes comprehensive medical/dental, Retirement Savings Plan, Vacation and Sick Time, EAP, Tuition Reimbursement, Community Service and much more!
Retirement savings plan with a generous company match
Medical, dental and vision coverage
Company Paid employee basic life insurance and short-term disability
Generous paid time off: vacation, sick and holiday leave
Employee Assistance and Wellness Programs
Tuition reimbursement
Professional and leadership development opportunities
Company Paid Parking
Employee recognition programs
Relocation assistance (where applicable)
Community and volunteering opportunities
Casual dress
Citizens is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.