Director of Procurement - LHH

About the Job

Location: Chicago, The Loop (hybrid: minimum 2 days in office)

Position Overview

We are on the lookout for a dynamic and strategic professional to lead its global procurement function across North America, Europe, and Asia. As the Director of Procurement, you will be instrumental in driving significant cost savings, implementing cutting-edge procurement strategies, and ensuring the company meets its ambitious cost-saving goals. This role demands a strong negotiator and strategic thinker who is ready to dive into the operational aspects of procurement to deliver results.

Your responsibilities will include achieving operational excellence and strategic foresight, balancing efficiency with innovative procurement practices. You will work closely with stakeholders across various departments, including senior and executive leadership and the finance team, to influence high-level decision-making. Reporting to the CFO, you will help shape the future of our procurement function, ensuring long-term sustainability and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Procurement Leadership: Develop and implement a global procurement strategy that drives substantial cost savings and aligns with the companys growth and business objectives.
• Tough Negotiations & Cost Savings: Lead major contract negotiations, leveraging your expertise to secure significant cost savings. Own sourcing strategies that consistently meet or exceed aggressive cost-saving targets.
• Procurement Optimization: Optimize procurement processes by implementing best practices, automation, and digital tools (e.g., ZIP). Ensure processes are scalable and deliver both immediate and long-term value.
• Supplier Relationship & Management: Build and maintain strategic relationships with key suppliers, ensuring their performance aligns with company goals and cost-saving initiatives. Continuously monitor and evaluate supplier performance.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with stakeholders across multiple departments, including finance and senior leadership, to ensure procurement strategies support broader business goals. Provide input on budgeting, resource allocation, and sourcing decisions.
• Future-Ready Procurement Strategy: Drive innovation in procurement practices to meet the growing needs of the business. Lead initiatives to future-proof procurement and ensure long-term sustainability of cost-saving measures.
• Risk Management & Compliance: Develop and implement risk management frameworks to protect the company from supplier and contract risks. Ensure all procurement activities comply with legal, regulatory, and ethical standards.
• Performance Metrics & Reporting: Define, track, and report on procurement KPIs, focusing on cost savings, process efficiency, and supplier performance. Present progress and strategic recommendations to internal stakeholders and senior leadership.

Required Skills

• Fast Learning Skills: Ability to quickly adapt to the evolving challenges of the role and the dynamic needs of the business.
• Expert Negotiation & Sourcing Skills: Proven experience as a lead negotiator in securing complex, high-value contracts, particularly SaaS contracts, with a track record of achieving substantial cost savings. Expertise in strategic sourcing, supplier management, and optimizing procurement processes.
• Strategic Vision & Implementation: Experience in implementing advanced procurement strategies focused on innovation, scalability, and process optimization. Ability to lead the procurement functions evolution in line with the business's future needs.
• Cost-Saving Focus: Demonstrated success in driving aggressive cost-saving initiatives with clear, measurable results. Experience in setting and achieving ambitious cost reduction targets. Proficiency in working with numbers and presenting them clearly to senior and executive leadership. Experience working closely with FP&A and Controller roles.
• Supplier Management: Strong ability to build, manage, and optimize relationships with global suppliers to deliver long-term value to the business. Proven experience in improving supplier performance through strategic partnerships.
• Data-Driven Decision-Making: Skilled in using procurement data to drive decision-making and track progress against savings.

What You Can Expect From Us

We welcome every voice and are committed to building a truly inclusive environment where your differences are not just welcomed, they are celebrated. Were building a best-in-class experience for our employees and are always identifying opportunities to encourage our team to be their authentic selves. Whether thats paid parental leave, paid holidays (including Juneteenth and paid time off to vote), paid time off to volunteer at non-profit organizations, personal development opportunities or professional stretch assignments, you can expect to have our support.

• We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive organization and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, pregnancy, disability, age, veteran status, or other dimensions of identity