Job Summary The Contracts & Procurement Manager is responsible for developing and executing strategic sourcing and contracting activities that deliver value, mitigate risk, and support business objectives. This role partners closely with business stakeholders to develop fit-for-purpose contracting strategies, lead competitive tendering and sourcing events, negotiate commercial agreements, and drive continuous improvement across the requisition-to-pay (R2P) process.
The successful candidate will bring extensive commercial contracting expertise, strong negotiation capabilities, and a continuous improvement mindset to enhance procurement efficiency, governance, and supplier performance. The role also leads and develops a team of procurement professionals, fostering a high-performance culture focused on collaboration, accountability, and business partnership.
Key ResponsibilitiesStrategic Contracting & Category Management- Partner with business leaders to understand operational requirements and develop sourcing and contracting strategies aligned with organizational objectives.
- Develop category and supplier strategies that optimize cost, quality, service, risk, and long-term value.
- Support business growth initiatives by identifying procurement opportunities and market solutions.
- Provide commercial guidance and contracting expertise to stakeholders throughout the procurement lifecycle.
- Ensure procurement decisions are based on total cost of ownership principles and strategic value considerations.
Tendering & Sourcing Leadership- Lead end-to-end sourcing activities, including:
- Market analysis
- Request for Information (RFI)
- Request for Proposal (RFP)
- Request for Quotation (RFQ)
- Bid evaluations
- Supplier selection
- Contract award recommendations
- Facilitate cross-functional evaluation teams to ensure fair, transparent, and objective supplier assessments.
- Conduct commercial benchmarking and market intelligence activities to identify opportunities for savings and value creation.
- Deliver measurable cost savings, cost avoidance, and commercial benefits through strategic sourcing initiatives.
Contract Negotiation & Management- Lead negotiations of complex commercial agreements with suppliers and service providers.
- Develop and negotiate contractual terms and conditions that appropriately balance risk and commercial value.
- Manage contract lifecycle activities, including drafting, review, execution, amendments, renewals, and performance management.
- Partner with Legal, Finance, Operations, and other stakeholders to ensure contractual compliance and governance.
- Mitigate commercial, financial, operational, and supply chain risks through effective contract management practices.
Procurement Operations & Process Excellence- Drive continuous improvement initiatives across the requisition-to-pay (R2P) process to improve efficiency, control, and user experience.
- Champion procurement process automation and digital transformation initiatives.
- Identify opportunities to streamline procurement workflows, reduce cycle times, and eliminate non-value-added activities.
- Maintain procurement policies, procedures, governance frameworks, and controls.
- Ensure compliance with internal controls, delegated authorities, procurement policies, and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Establish and monitor key procurement performance indicators and reporting metrics.
Supplier Relationship Management- Build and maintain strategic supplier relationships.
- Conduct supplier performance reviews and business reviews with key vendors.
- Monitor supplier service levels, contractual obligations, and performance metrics.
- Develop supplier improvement plans where performance gaps are identified.
- Promote supplier innovation and continuous improvement initiatives.
Leadership & Team Development- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of two procurement professionals.
- Establish clear performance expectations, development plans, and objectives.
- Foster a collaborative, customer-focused, and results-oriented culture.
- Provide coaching and guidance on sourcing strategies, negotiations, contracting, and procurement best practices.
- Support talent development, succession planning, and knowledge sharing within the procurement function.
QualificationsEducation- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Finance, Law, Engineering, or a related discipline.
- Professional procurement certification preferred but not required (CPSM, CPSD, CIPS, ISM, or equivalent).
Experience- Minimum of 10 years of progressive procurement, sourcing, and commercial contracting experience.
- Demonstrated experience developing and executing complex contracting and sourcing strategies.
- Proven track record leading competitive tendering events and commercial negotiations.
- Experience managing supplier relationships and contract portfolios.
- Previous people leadership experience preferred.
- Experience implementing procurement systems, workflow automation, or process improvement initiatives is highly desirable.
Key Skills & CompetenciesCommercial & Technical Skills- Strategic Sourcing
- Contract Management
- Commercial Negotiation
- Category Management
- Procurement Governance
- Supplier Relationship Management
- Tendering and Competitive Bidding
- Procurement Analytics
- Cost Management
- Risk Management
- Requisition-to-Pay (R2P) Processes
- Procurement Systems & Automation
Leadership Skills- Team Leadership
- Coaching & Mentoring
- Stakeholder Management
- Cross-functional Collaboration
- Change Management
- Influencing & Communication
- Decision-Making
- Problem Solving
Personal Attributes- Strong commercial acumen and business judgment.
- Results-oriented with a focus on value creation.
- Ability to influence at all organizational levels.
- Highly organized with strong attention to detail.
- Continuous improvement mindset.
- Strong integrity and commitment to governance and compliance.
- Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Reporting Relationship: Chief Financial Officer
Direct Reports: 2 Procurement Professionals
Location: Houston, TX
Travel: Up to 15% as required
