Director of Procurement

About the Role

The Director of Procurement is responsible for developing and executing a strategic approach to the company-wide process for the purchase of goods and services (excluding store merchandise). This role leads complex, high-value sourcing initiatives and serves as a strategic advisor on vendor relationships, third-party risk, and commercial contract structuring. The Director partners with internal vendor business relationship owners, legal, finance, and risk teams to drive disciplined sourcing, supplier management, and contract outcomes aligned to organizational objectives.

The Procurement Director enhances and enforces procurement processes, policies, and procedures for the centralized procurement function to deliver measurable value through cost optimization, supplier performance management, operational efficiency, and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies that support cost savings, cost avoidance, and improved commercial outcomes.
• Develop, implement, and evolve procurement policies, procedures, and standards focused on enhancing organizational value, efficiency, and risk management.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to leaders across the organization on procurement strategy, supplier engagement, and commercial risk considerations.
• Partner with vendor business relationship owners to lead contract renewals and procurement of new goods and services, promoting best practices for vendor engagement.
• Lead complex, high-value sourcing initiatives across critical spending categories, including technology, professional services, and consulting.
• Oversee contract development and negotiation of terms in conjunction with business owners and the legal team/external legal support.
• In partnership with internal clients, develop requests for proposals and contracts (new and renewals); evaluate vendor responses and negotiate business terms; collaborate with internal business partners to make procurement decisions.
• Oversee vendor performance management for assigned suppliers or categories, including issue identification, escalation, and remediation for critical vendors.
• Serve as the primary contact for procurement-related questions, training, policy, and procedure interpretation.
• Drive long-term value creation through supplier consolidation, demand management, and commercial innovation.
• Deliver clear, fact-based insights and analysis to senior leaders to influence procurement outcomes and business decisions.
• Develop and maintain a contracts database with renewal dates and key attributes of each contract (e.g., vendor, term date, obligations).
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of procurement processes, tools, and reporting.
• Interact with internal clients and external suppliers while consistently delivering a high level of service and professionalism.
• Establish and maintain strong, trusted relationships with strategic suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Maintain confidentiality; adhere to company policies and procedures; comply with laws, regulations, and industry best practices.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive procurement or strategic sourcing experience.
• Significant expertise in purchasing, supplier collaboration, and contract negotiation/development.
• Ability to lead and execute high-impact, enterprise-level sourcing initiatives.
• Ability to manage the contract life cycle, ensuring execution in advance of contract expiration.
• Ability to influence stakeholders through data-driven analysis and sound commercial judgment.
• Ability to manage strategic sourcing, supplier management, and commercial negotiations.
• Strong leadership skills and the ability to manage internal cross-functional teams.
• Strong knowledge of procurement governance, third-party risk management, and internal control frameworks.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively across technical, legal, and business audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, economics, or a related field.
• MBA, JD, or graduate degree.
• Experience with DocuSign and contract databases.
• Professional procurement or supply chain credentials.

Schedule

In-office attendance is required Tuesday-Thursday.

Location

North Kansas City, MO (Store Support Center)

Competencies

• Strong attention to detail and high level of accuracy.
• Strong negotiation skills.
• Strong relationship-building skills.
• Strong critical thinking and commercial judgment.
• Ability to prioritize and work multiple and competing procurement/RFP/renewal opportunities at once.