Procurement Lead, Ocean & Climate

ABOUT US  

Aspen Institute  

The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization committed to realizing a free, just, and equitable society. Since its founding in 1949, the Institute has been driving change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the most critical challenges facing communities in the United States and around the world. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Institute has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, and an international network of partners.  

Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion  

To achieve our mission of a more free, just, and equitable society, we commit to working proactively to advance the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion across our myriad endeavors such as the recruitment, compensation, training, and advancement of staff. The best people-serving institutions make this commitment, and we seek to be a leader in the ways that we do so and learn from others. Visit our website to learn more about our commitment and recent actions taken toward building and nurturing a diverse and inclusive environment.  

Energy and Environment Program 

The Aspen Institute Energy and Environment Program (EEP) explores significant challenges with diverse thinkers and doers to make a more prosperous, equitable, and sustainable society for all. We address critical energy, environmental, and climate change issues through non-partisan, non-ideological convening, with the specific intent of bringing together diverse stakeholders to improve the process and progress of policy-level dialogue. This enables EEP to sit at a critical intersection in the conversation and bring together diverse groups of expert stakeholders. In addition to energy and environmental policy, which the program has been addressing for several decades, EEP actively and purposefully engages in climate change policy – mitigating the effects of climate change, adapting to the inevitable impacts of climate change, and the international cooperation needed to achieve these goals. 

ABOUT THIS ROLE   

The Procurement Lead is a leadership role within EEP supporting the Zero Emission Maritime Buyer’s Alliance (ZEMBA). The Procurement Lead will serve as the operational lead of ZEMBA’s commercial tender process, including managing the design, implementation, and oversight of ZEMBA’s procurement for clean energy-powered maritime fuels. This role is both strategic and operational in nature, and ideal for an individual who has passion for sustainability and a robust procurement background, creative problem-solving skills, strong project management, communications, analysis, and organizational skills required to lead a crucial pillar of this innovative initiative. Key factors for success include experience facilitating interdisciplinary teams, demonstrated good judgment in the face of complexity, and an empathetic leadership style that welcomes new ideas and thrives in a relatively “flat” workplace structure. 

This position reports to the Senior Director for Ocean & Climate. The salary range is $140,000 - $150,000 per year based on experience. This position is located at the Aspen Institute’s Washington, D.C. office and is expected to work from the office at least 40% of the time. This role is a limited term position through December 2026, with potential extension based on availability of grant funds. 

WHAT YOU WILL DO  

Procurement Design and Implementation 

• Lead process to develop, refine, execute, and manage ZEMBA’s procurement strategy for clean energy-powered maritime fuels and innovative technologies.

• Manage refinement of critical materials and resources required to operationalize ZEMBA’s procurement process, including bidder- and member-facing materials, eligibility requirements, evaluation framework, and more.

• Manage bid review and evaluation process, including identifying questions for bidders, leading discussions with bidders and fuel producers, and refining and documenting bid evaluation framework.

• Lead commercial negotiations with shortlisted bidders.

• Draft technical and strategic materials to facilitate decision-making throughout procurement process.

• Identify, recommend, and implement process improvements to inform future procurement rounds.

• Provide thought leadership on strategic focus of future procurement rounds and opportunities to maximize impact, including curiosity and willingness to bring ideas to new project areas where collective procurement can address thorny sustainability issues.

Relationship Management 

• Coordinate amongst EEP colleagues, technical advisors, and legal counsel to manage shared workload, drive toward project milestones, and engage in collaborative problem-solving.

• Lead Aspen team engagement with key knowledge partners on verification of service delivery members secure through ZEMBA process.

• Provide technical analysis and input to support member recruitment efforts and ongoing member education and engagement.

• Lead response to procurement-related questions from current and prospective members.

• Manage communications and relationships with prospective bidders, fuel producers, and other value chain actors.
   

Program Management 

• Serve as a subject matter expert on procurement, supply chain management, and logistics for Ocean & Climate team.

• Co-lead development and management of ZEMBA program plan and share accountability for delivering on key milestones.

• Provide technical analysis and strategic input to inform overarching initiative performance targets and metrics.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO THRIVE  

• Bachelor’s degree in economics, business administration, engineering, or related field.

• 10+ years work experience in corporate or federal procurement, logistics, and supply chain management.

• Experience managing corporate or federal procurement processes, specifically requests for proposals (RFPs).

• Experience in global sourcing, understanding international markets, negotiation, and managing international suppliers.

• Familiarity with advanced market commitments a plus.

• Experience with corporate sustainability, climate or energy policy, alternative fuels, or carbon markets a plus.

• Strong proficiency in Excel-based modeling and analysis.

• Ability to distill complex and technical information and communicate effectively and succinctly through written and verbal means.

• Ability to manage time effectively, including meeting tight timelines, work autonomously and with a small team, and manage multiple processes and projects at the same time.

• Strong professional and diplomatic interpersonal skills.

• Strong customer service and solution-focused orientation – a “Yes, and” attitude.

• Willingness and ability to travel, as much as 10-30% of the time during certain times of the year. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

The Aspen Institute offers a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, and prescription benefits, retirement benefits, and paid leave. 

The Aspen Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all District and federal laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or protected veteran or disabled status and will not be discriminated against. 

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