Maureen Barends
Pembroke,MA
Summary
Experienced public procurement professional with excellent leadership, management, and organizational development skills. Adept at coordinating multiple projects with competing priorities and timelines, and instituting change across broad organizational settings. Well-developed oral and written communication skills with the ability to motivate, lead and interact with individuals from diverse backgrounds on all organizational levels.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Procurement Project Manager
Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority
07.2022 - Current
- Manage sourcing initiatives, lead cross-functional teams, and provide expertise in developing sourcing project scope and requirements
- Conduct financial analysis, identify sourcing value levers, execute complex Requests for Proposals (RFPs), and lead evaluations and supplier negotiations
- Conduct successful supplier negotiations focused on total value; ensure all business terms are clearly outlined and addressed in supplier contracts
- Development of business process mapping, process improvements and compliance with rules and regulation of state procurement regulations.
- Scheduled and facilitated meetings between project stakeholders to discuss deliverables, schedules, and conflicts.
Procurement Consultant
Safeware, Inc.
02.2022 - 07.2022
- Analyzed existing procurement organization for effectiveness and maturity and made recommendations for core model redesign and resource enhancement to drive improved results
- Evaluated existing processes and policies and optimized to align with future vision as well as with identified technology solutions
- Directed client in methods of expanding market share and market penetration by developing sound Business Strategies.
- Input, analyzed and reported on data covering all aspects of procurement operations.
- Developed and strengthened supplier relationships.
Director of Strategic Sourcing Services
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
08.2017 - 02.2022
- Successfully reorganized and expanded the Operational Services Division (OSD) Strategic Sourcing Services unit to better support the establishment and management of 120+ statewide goods and services contracts with over 1,200 contracted vendors and a FY21 spend total of $18.3 billion dollars
- Member of the SCRUM Team that developed and implemented of the Vendor Report Management (VRM) system which automated a manual, spreadsheet-based process by creating a portal for vendor quarterly sales reporting and resulted in a 70% productivity gain and a deep data source for detailed spending information
- Assisted in development of procurement policies and procedures and co-authored the Sourcing Handbook and instituted the Back-to-Basics Training Program
- Organized and led the purchase of over 100 million pieces of personal protective equipment by OSD staff in support of the Commonwealth's COVID-19 response
- Successfully advocated for development of a Sourcing Workload application to capture end-to-end sourcing and contract management detail
- Actively participate with requirements gathering, development of user stories and participating in product demonstrations for potential software providers.
- Spearheaded innovative approaches to resource allocation and strategic planning.
Senior Strategic Sourcing Manager
Commonwealth of Massachusetts OSD
08.2015 - 08.2017
- Supervised procurement staff of six (6) in determining most appropriate method of soliciting products and services required by customers
- Responsible for making procurement decisions and determinations based on recommendations from respective Strategic Sourcing teams (SST)
- Provided oversight and direction to team that functioned as contract management bodies responsible for measuring supplier performance, customer satisfaction, providing technical assistance to customers, analyzing information, and spending data, recommending improvements to existing contracts and assisting customers in obtaining items or services not available through established contracts
- Assisted in development of procurement policies and procedures and co-authored the Sourcing Handbook and developed the Back-to-Basics Training Program
- Responsible for working with oversight departments such as the Office of the Comptroller to develop and implement procurement-related policies and procedures
- Worked closely with other managers within OSD on the inclusion and promotion of Environmentally Preferable Products, on outreach and training to promote the use of OSD statewide contracts to all eligible entities and on diversifying the partners that the Commonwealth does business with, including certified minority, women owned and Service-Disabled Veteran businesses
- Monitor and review supplier performance to ensure compliance with contractual agreements
- Participated in negotiations regarding price, terms, quality and lead time for suppliers and categories.
- Collaborated with strategic partners to develop and manage key performance indicators and quality assurance processes.
Strategic Sourcing Services Manager
Commonwealth of Massachusetts OSD
01.2015 - 08.2015
- Developed and executed strategic procurement strategies designed to maximize customer satisfaction and minimize cost for assigned complex categories
- (Maintenance Repair and Operations, Heating Oil, Vehicle Maintenance and Accident Subrogation)
- Conducted Strategic Sourcing needs assessments and market research for potential contracts and maintained knowledge and awareness of industry activities or trends
- Developed and maintained effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders; COMMBUYS Operations, Help Desk, Training, Marketing and Supplier Diversity
- Managed contracts, vendor performance and several projects Strategic Data, Strategic Contract initiative, MASSBUYS Steering Committee and Procurement Cycle Intern project
- Quickly learned how OSD Sourcing operates and was able to take on many high dollar volume contracts and manage them quite effectively
- Previous work background and managerial style both contribute to success in directly managing these contracts and their complex catalog needs
- After just over 7 months at OSD, promoted to Senior sourcing Manager, taking over Facilities/Infrastructure/Energy/Grocery group in August 2015.
Strategic Category Manager
Fresenius Medical Care
03.2012 - 06.2014
- Analyzed spend data to identify savings opportunities, including current baseline establishment, supply base evaluation, supplier discovery, competitive landscape, business requirements, supplier selection criteria, supplier negotiation, contract development, & coordination of implementation plan
- Prepared and issued thorough, accurate and complete RFIs, RFPs, and RFQs
- Conducted due diligence for initiatives in accordance with Category Spend Segmentation plan
- Identified savings of $12.1M or 23% through utilizing e-Sourcing platform for nine categories (clinic dominant)
- Performed strategic sourcing requirements within North American finished goods direct sourcing team
- Worked with supply chain, clinical operations, and clinical services to coordinate all new product launches, changes, substitutions, multi-sourcing and ensuring seamless service to customers
- Involved with all aspects of seven-step strategic sourcing process, including project planning, specifications development, supply market research and supplier engagement, evaluation & selection
- Identified and reported key performance indicators to define successful category management.
- Excellence Award for achieving hard savings of $3.5M+.
Category Operations Manager
Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research
01.2005 - 10.2011
- Directed strategic sourcing activities within assigned categories, including spend analysis, implementation, evaluations, negotiations, and recommendations
- Demonstrated ability working with global and cross functional teams in a complex, changing environment to deliver value-added results; supported global pharmaceutical R&D, Human Resources and Finance
- Implemented site wide centralized database for tracking and renewing service contracts; strategy adopted globally
- Increased profit by streamlining service contract renewal process to leverage volume and generated $1.3M in savings
- Streamlined Point of Use stations to deliver $2.5M+ in savings; conducted end user training sessions
- Communicated to Suppliers, NIBR's Requirements for Suppliers regarding Corporate Responsibility and Environmental Management System, Measuring Performance, Setting Goals, and Disclosing Results
- Responsible to report performance to suppliers; track and manage internal reporting requirements for Key Performance Indicator's (KPI's)
Purchasing Agent
New England Office Supply
01.2003 - 10.2005
- Managed inventory, product selection, and purchasing for a $30 million dollar operation; optimized product stock levels using reporting to reduce onsite inventory without sacrificing the ability to service customers
- Suggested the offering of private label filing products to clients, saving $250,000 through higher margins and greater freedom with pricing strategy and inventory control
- Recommended metrics for product availability, costs, and delivery to advance business objectives.
- Delivered daily reports of departmental metrics for Purchase Orders, line fill rates, backorders, and inventory levels
- Responsible to report performance to suppliers; track and manage internal reporting requirements for Key Performance Indicator's (KPI's).
Materials Manager
Children's Medical Ventures
01.2001 - 01.2002
- Led warehousing and manufacturing operations, including direct purchasing and inventory control
- Created purchasing and materials management policies and procedures that complied with company standards and regulatory requirement
- Change Management lead transitioned the warehouse and manufacturing functions to a new team upon acquisition'
- Improved resource allocation to promote efficiency and deadline management.
Purchasing Manager
Children's Medical Ventures
01.1998 - 01.2001
- Established and maintained exceptional relationships with suppliers; creating win-win scenarios for all parties; including a new local supplier for pacifier manufacturing leading to improved product quality at reduced prices using state-of-the-art technology
- Developed and instituted a Supplier Evaluation Program and implemented Kanban procedures with manufacturers to deliver just in time inventory.
- Solved diverse supply chain problems involving numerous sources, logistics, and scheduling factors.
- Monitored and evaluated vendor performance to determine compliance with quality standards.
Education
Masters - Business Management
Cambridge College
Cambridge, MA05.2008
Skills
- Purchasing/Procurement/Strategic Sourcing
- Category/Project Management
- Logistics/Supply Chain Operations
- Contract Development/ Negotiation/Management
- Vendor/Operations Management
- Cross-functional Team Leadership
- Team Building/Leadership
- Change Management/Business Process Improvements
Certification
- Strategic Sourcing
- Supply Chain Management
- Procurement
- Vendor Management
- Operations Management
- Project Management
- Leading at the Frontline, Babson Executive Education
- Business Awareness Program – Implementing Strategy, Babson Executive Education
- Business Administration, Management and Operations Certificate, Northeastern University
Accomplishments
- January 2021 Manuel Carballo Governor's Award for Excellence in Public Service. Received this award as part of PPE Team, Operational Services Division.
- October 2020 Pandemic Procurement Excellence Award - Individual. National Association of State Procurement Officials.
- October 2020 Pandemic Procurement Excellence Team Award. National Association of State Procurement Officials. Received this award as part of Massachusetts PPE Emergency Procurement Team.
Affiliations
- Member, Healthcare Businesswomen's Association, 2008-2014
- Member, Purchasing Manager's Association, 1990-2008
- Member, Institute of Supply Chain Management, 1990-2008
Software Summary
- COMMBUYS
- MMARS
- SAP/Ariba
- Prophet 21
- Oracle
- Fairmrkit
- SynerTrade
- Contract Life Cycle Management
Timeline
Procurement Project Manager
Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority
07.2022 - Current
Procurement Consultant
Safeware, Inc.
02.2022 - 07.2022
Director of Strategic Sourcing Services
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
08.2017 - 02.2022
Senior Strategic Sourcing Manager
Commonwealth of Massachusetts OSD
08.2015 - 08.2017
Strategic Sourcing Services Manager
Commonwealth of Massachusetts OSD
01.2015 - 08.2015
Strategic Category Manager
Fresenius Medical Care
03.2012 - 06.2014
Category Operations Manager
Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research
01.2005 - 10.2011
Purchasing Agent
New England Office Supply
01.2003 - 10.2005
Materials Manager
Children's Medical Ventures
01.2001 - 01.2002
Purchasing Manager
Children's Medical Ventures
01.1998 - 01.2001
Masters - Business Management
Cambridge College
- Strategic Sourcing
- Supply Chain Management
- Procurement
- Vendor Management
- Operations Management
- Project Management
- Leading at the Frontline, Babson Executive Education
- Business Awareness Program – Implementing Strategy, Babson Executive Education
- Business Administration, Management and Operations Certificate, Northeastern University
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