John Clifford
Summary
Results-driven procurement executive and esteemed academic professional with a Ph.D. in Organization and Management, offering extensive expertise in strategic procurement, supply chain management, and purchasing operations. Proven ability to lead high-performing teams, manage complex multimillion-dollar spends, drive sustainable practices, and optimize purchasing operations to yield significant cost savings and process improvements. Skilled in developing innovative curriculum and delivering engaging instruction, with a passion for leveraging academic and industry expertise to drive business results and transform procurement management and academia. Committed to community service and nonprofit leadership, with a unique blend of skills and experience that enables delivery of transformative results in complex organizational settings.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
University Director of Procurement Services
University of Connecticut
08.2019 - 10.2020
- Responsible for ~ $300 million in spend in the areas of research, IT, and business goods & services
- Managed a team of six direct and fourteen indirect reports
- Provided leadership and department direction required knowledge of State of Connecticut policies and procedures while working closely with Contracts & Compliance and university stakeholders to obtain daily and strategic objectives
- A functional lead in the implementation of Concur travel system
- Appointed by the University President to serve on the Sustainability Council.
Business Consultant
Insight Global
08.2018 - 01.2019
- At the University of Virginia, recruited by the Associate Vice President of Finance to perform a risk assessment on Procurement operations
- Created and applied COSO overlay to Procurement Standard Operating Procedures and job descriptions
- In cooperation with Finance and Audit Departments, active participant on the Internal Controls Improvement Committee to create a risk model for university processes
- Assisted with the Workday implementation for Payroll.
Director of Purchasing & Chief Procurement Officer
The University of Texas at San Antonio
04.2016 - 06.2018
- Recruited by the Associate Vice President for Financial Affairs of the University and charged with optimizing the $64 million procurement program
- Managed a team of three direct and ten indirect reports
- Achieved $3 million in annualized savings by sourcing new vendors, negotiating contracts with lower prices and better terms with existing vendors, avoiding additional costs, and reducing other services
- Proactively worked with other departments to educate staff on reducing product use and avoiding additional costs
- Implemented Jagger as a front-end purchasing model to PeopleSoft
- Conducted extensive research of historical purchasing practices and communicated with other departments to identify actual needs and educate staff
- Completed conversion from tactical to strategic operations that incorporated catalog purchases, use of ProCard, and implementing other non-ProCard methods
- Significantly improved customer service by reducing turnaround time from receipt of requisition to PO approval
- Developed Order Life Cycle from need identification to payment
- Initiated a Job Leveling program that moved tasks to other department members and optimized the use of human resources.
Logistics Procurement Analyst
Unilever NA
07.2013 - 03.2016
- Analyzed the company's $400 million/yr
- Truck and rail transportation operations within the United States, Canada, and Mexico
- Developed and implemented a tool that provided value to a distribution lane that quantified minimally: pickup location, deliver to location, product, and customer statistics
- Created a logistics tool that tracked contract activity.
Manager of Procurement Systems
Yale University
08.1998 - 09.2010
- Functioned as Project/Program Manager and successfully developed new applications as well as customized reports that identified issues and risks in the University's procurement program
- Completed comprehensive review that included supplier management and performance, quality assurance, organizational spend, commodity activity, compliance with university policies and State regulations, strategic agreements, and organizational best practices
- Cooperated with senior management and the Legal Department and provided them with data analysis that identified abuses of procurement, policies, procedures, and practices
- Collaborated with the IT Department to develop the database architecture that supported procurement objectives, executive decisions, organizational budgets, project schedules, and process/quality assurance
- Functioned as data owner of Purchasing, Accounts Payables, and Vendor Management in the Oracle Financials and Database
- Developed and maintained performance metrics that measured existing operations versus optimal performance
- Created curriculum using the Web and Excel on Organizational Development for University staff
- Designed and implemented a tool that identified categories, number of resources, skill sets and associated costs for work processes
- Final product was used to determine staffing for Purchasing, Accounts Payables, and Vendor Management
- Created a job leveling process that spread out workload and improved organizational effectiveness.
Education
PhD - Organization and Management
Capella University
01.2015
Master of Science - Interdisciplinary Studies in Management
University of Maryland University College
01.2004
Bachelor of Science - Operations Management
University of New Haven
01.1987
Skills
- Procurement Management
- Strategic Sourcing
- Negotiation
- Contract Management
- Supply Chain Management
- Project Management
- Data Analysis
- Vendor Management
- Financial Analysis
- Risk Assessment
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Leadership
- Sustainable Procurement
- Teaching/Instruction
- Curriculum Development
- Research
- Presentation Skills
- Organizational Development
- Logistics Management
- Process Improvement
Affiliations
- Knights of Columbus, Member, Former Trustee
- Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Member, Former Officer in Waynesboro VA. Currently member in Hamden CT
Non Profit Volunteer
2005, 2009, THE MERCY CENTER, Madison, Connecticut, Board Member, Worked in partnership with senior management to develop and implement an automated database for daily operations including facilities layout, selection of hotel room accommodations, beverage/meal planning, agenda setting, scheduling, and guest registration.
Academic Research Project
2003, 2004, GRIFFIN HOSPITAL, Derby, Connecticut, Consultant, Performed a study of the patient registration process at Griffin Hospital with the objective of streamlining the process, reducing costs, and reducing the use of paper. Final recommendations met the objective of the study that includes modifications to the organizational hierarchy, using current technology to improve communication, imaging to reduce paper storage and easy sharing of source documents, e-mail alerts, updating job descriptions, and signs to aid patients to hospital locations.
Presentations
- 2017, PhD dissertation on the design of a university purchasing department to purchase sustainable products and services effectively and efficiently, ASHEE conference, Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center, San Antonio, TX
- 2017, Jaggaer Implementation at UTSA, Power of Collaboration, Supply Chain Alliance, University of Texas System, Hilton Garden Inn, South Padre Island, TX
- 2017, UTSA Sustainability, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ml4DOw7O_NI, San Antonio, TX
- 2016, Job Leveling, Power of Collaboration, Supply Chain Alliance, University of Texas System, Eilan Resort & Spa, San Antonio, TX
- 2011, Speed Networking, Career Services Department, Career growth, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT
- 2010, Speed Networking, Career Services Department, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT
- 2010, Internship & Job Search Boot Camp, Career Services Department, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT
- 2010, Coordinating Responsibilities and Goals, Professional Enrichment Program, Organizational Effectiveness, New York Institute of Technology Manhattan Campus, NY
- 2010, Organizational Effectiveness: Purchasing's Contribution, Connecticut Association of Purchasing Management monthly meeting, The Crowne Plaza, Cromwell, CT
- 2007, APA Writing Format, Professional Enrichment Program, University of New Haven, CT
Community Service
1984, 1988, THE CHURCH OF ASSUMPTION, Ansonia, Connecticut, Chairman – Finance Committee, Oversaw all financial reports, budgets, and expenses. Tracked and monitored all financial resource allocations. Participated in the planning and coordination of fundraisers, including analysis of return-on-investment. Planned and organized weekend retreats, including all outreach initiatives.
Timeline
University Director of Procurement Services
University of Connecticut
08.2019 - 10.2020
Business Consultant
Insight Global
08.2018 - 01.2019
Director of Purchasing & Chief Procurement Officer
The University of Texas at San Antonio
04.2016 - 06.2018
Logistics Procurement Analyst
Unilever NA
07.2013 - 03.2016
Manager of Procurement Systems
Yale University
08.1998 - 09.2010
PhD - Organization and Management
Capella University
Master of Science - Interdisciplinary Studies in Management
University of Maryland University College
Bachelor of Science - Operations Management
University of New Haven