Director, Procurement Partner

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The US Procurement Partnering team is part of the Global Procurement organization. This team combines industry‑standard category management and sourcing functions, focusing on collaboration with business partners to develop category strategies, source new business requirements, and manage existing costs and contracts. The Procurement Partnering team is on an exciting transformation journey, aiming to expand spend coverage through renewed relationships, streamlined processes and enhanced technologies.

• Lead and mentor a team of 4+ procurement professionals, focusing on leadership and team development, while allocating work based on project complexity and resource availability. Foster a collaborative and high‑performing culture, coaching team members in negotiations, partner/vendor engagement, and category strategy.
• Develop, implement, and guide team category management strategies that align with business objectives across our key US Business and Operations LOBs, ensuring optimal sourcing execution and channel management across complex business units.
• Oversee and analyze managed spend of $300+ million that will span all indirect categories, mainly Software (SaaS), Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), identifying opportunities for cost savings, efficiency improvements, and risk mitigation.
• Prioritize building strong relationships with senior business leaders and stakeholders, ensuring alignment between procurement activities and business needs and objectives. Collaborate closely with internal teams to drive strategic planning and thought leadership pertaining to vendor strategy and procurement requirements.
• Lead, execute, and coach team strategic sourcing initiatives across priority categories, leveraging advanced negotiation strategies to optimize vendor performance, manage renewal cycles, and drive cost efficiencies for key lines of business.
• Stay informed of industry trends and market dynamics to leverage best practices and innovative solutions relevant to primary categories. Apply market intelligence and available benchmarking tools to achieve better purchasing outcomes and drive strategic value for the LOBs.

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or a related field; MBA preferred.
• 10-15 years of experience in indirect procurement or supply chain management, with experience in both category management and sourcing.
• Proven leadership experience in globally distributed large‑scale procurement teams.
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to make data‑driven decisions.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, capable of influencing stakeholders at all levels.

Preferred:

• Experience in sourcing for insurance, financial services, or regulated industries.
• Proficient in procurement software and tools; experience with leading procurement orchestration tools (e.g., Zip), CLMs and Ariba helpful.
• Familiarity with third‑party risk management processes and platforms (e.g., Aravo).
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements impacting vendor relationships (e.g., GDPR, NYDFS).
• Experience supporting procurement transformation initiatives and/or operating model redesign.

Location Expectation:
This is a hybrid role requiring a minimum of 3 days per week in office.

Expected salary range: $120,000 to $165,000. This role may also be eligible for annual short‑term incentive compensation. All incentives and benefits are subject to the applicable plan terms.

Our U.S. benefits address holistic well‑being with programs for physical and mental health, financial wellness, and support for families. We offer a comprehensive health plan that includes medical/prescription drug and vision, dental insurance, and no‑cost short‑ and long‑term disability. We also provide company‑paid life insurance and legal services, a retirement pension funded entirely by Met Life and 401(k) with employer matching, group discounts on voluntary insurance products including auto and home, pet, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and…