Position Overview:The Director of Strategic Procurement is responsible for leading procurement strategies, sourcing activities, supplier relationships, and procurement process improvements across multiple areas of the business. This role provides leadership and oversight of procurement activities supporting corporate, store, and distribution center needs, with a focus on optimizing company spending, delivering measurable cost savings, strengthening supplier performance, and ensuring consistent procurement practices.
The Director partners closely with Finance, Legal, Operations, IT, Store Operations, Distribution, and other cross-functional business leaders to develop and execute sourcing strategies aligned with business priorities, budgets, and company goals. This role is responsible for driving cost reduction initiatives, overseeing supplier performance, strengthening procurement controls, and implementing process improvements that support company growth and operational efficiency.
Primary Responsibilities:- Lead strategic sourcing and procurement activities across key spend categories, including corporate services, store support, distribution center support, technology, supplies, equipment, and other goods and services as assigned.
- Develop and execute procurement strategies that deliver measurable cost savings, operational efficiency, supplier performance improvements, and business continuity.
- Direct sourcing activities, including RFI, RFP, RFQ, supplier evaluation, negotiations, and contract award recommendations.
- Oversee contract review, execution, and ongoing lifecycle management in coordination with Legal and appropriate business stakeholders.
- Partner with cross-functional business leaders to assess procurement requirements, establish sourcing priorities, and align procurement activities with departmental budgets and operational objectives.
- Lead enterprise spend analysis across departments and categories to identify and execute cost savings opportunities, supplier consolidation strategies, and improvements in spending controls.
- Implement and maintain procurement governance practices, including sourcing standards, approval processes, supplier selection criteria, contract review procedures, and spend reporting expectations.
- Oversee supplier relationships across assigned categories, including performance expectations, service levels, issue resolution, business reviews, and long-term value opportunities.
- Establish and monitor supplier performance metrics, including KPIs, scorecards, reporting, and regular business reviews to drive accountability and continuous improvement.
- Identify and mitigate supplier and supply chain risks through market research, supplier diversification, contingency planning, and stakeholder coordination.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives, including supplier rationalization, demand management, procurement workflow enhancements, and process optimization.
- Serve as a strategic procurement subject matter expert, providing guidance to business leaders on sourcing practices, supplier markets, spend management, and procurement tools.
- Collaborate with Finance to measure, track, and report procurement cost savings and other financial benefits resulting from sourcing initiatives.
- Partner with internal teams to ensure procurement activities comply with financial controls, legal requirements, and company policies.
- Provide leadership, coaching, and development to procurement team members, as applicable, while fostering a collaborative and service-focused culture.
- Manage external procurement resources, consultants, or service providers as needed to support business objectives.
- Perform additional duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Qualifications:- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations, Finance, or related field preferred.
- Minimum of 12 years of progressive experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, supply chain, vendor management, or related field, preferably in the retail industry.
- Demonstrated experience developing and executing sourcing strategies across multiple spend categories and business functions.
- Extensive experience managing sourcing events, supplier negotiations, contract reviews, and supplier performance processes.
- Strong financial and analytical skills, including spend analysis, cost modeling, supplier comparisons, cost optimization, and savings tracking.
- Demonstrated ability to partner with and influence cross-functional business leaders and senior management.
- Strong understanding of procurement governance, sourcing methods, supplier management, contract lifecycle management, and risk mitigation.
- Experience leading procurement process improvements, sourcing initiatives, and operational efficiency projects.
- Experience with procurement systems, reporting tools, market analysis methods, or spend management platforms preferred.
- Strong communication, presentation, negotiation, strategic planning, and problem-solving skills.
- Leadership experience, including coaching, mentoring, or supervising team members, preferred.
Physical Requirements:- Ability to sit at a desk to work on a computer for an extended period of time.
- Ability to work in a constant state of alertness and safe manner.
