Strategic Procurement Director (Design Group)

Who You’ll Work With

You will join one of our 45 offices in the US, be part of a committed team of over 1,500 professionals, and work in teams and directly with our clients doing work that is shaping the world around us. You will be welcomed into a rapidly growing business and team and empowered to make an impact. You will be valued, cared for, and challenged on your path to becoming a world-class professional consultant and surrounded by leaders who are committed to creating an environment that enables you to realize your own success and fulfillment.

When you join Design Group as a Strategic Procurement Director, you are joining a team that will challenge you and position you for growth. In this role, you will work with a team of industry experts to help the world’s leading companies solve their most difficult problems. You will partner with seasoned leaders, technical specialists, and subject matter experts to deliver the highest quality solutions to our clients with consistency and accuracy.

What You’ll Do

The Strategic Procurement Director is responsible for leading and aligning all supply chain & procurement activities across the firm’s offices, implementing data driven procurement strategies, implementing a centralized shared services model of procurement professionals, optimizing consistent processes, negotiating equitable supplier terms, developing effective supplier partnerships, reducing supply chain spend, and driving project and financial performance improvement. Supply chain spending is primarily associated with Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) or other design-build contracts executed by the firm.

The successful candidate will be a top talent demonstrating effective communication, analytic, problem solving, and strategic thinking skills as well as impeccable ethics and a bias towards people-centric leadership. This role is a key part of the Design Group senior leadership team.

Qualifications and Expectations:

• 10+ years of progressive supply chain and/or procurement experience and 5+ years of leadership experience in developing and executing supply chain/procurement strategies, while leading professionals across multiple purchasing categories.
• Strong negotiation skills for significant commercial deals and strong analytical skills to assess purchasing history and to develop supply chain strategies. Understanding of contractual terms and conditions to mitigate business and legal risk required.
• Excellent communication and listening skills; ability to work cross-functionally; comfort and experience presenting, and collaborating with senior leaders.
• Strong change management skills and self-awareness to take varying approaches with a dynamic set of stakeholders in a complex matrix organization.
• Knowledge and experience with supplier and enterprise risk management.
• Strategic and analytical mindset with the ability to consider nontraditional approaches as the function, business needs, and the industry evolves.
  
  
  

Responsibilities:

• Supply Chain Leadership: This position is responsible for $300M - $350M of annual spending covering capital equipment, third party construction suppliers, subconsultant services, electrical and process components, IT hardware, travel, and office supplies.
• Provide organizational oversight for all purchase orders, subcontract agreements, and other forms of supply agreements, with approval accountability based on predetermined thresholds.
• Define and implement data driven strategies to mitigate risk, reduce spending, improve cash flows, and optimize the firm's financial performance.
• Participate directly in the negotiation of price and terms on major purchase orders, subcontract agreements, and other forms of supply agreements.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement, optimize and ensure procurement process compliance, and help scale the supply chain function in a fast-paced growth environment by leveraging automation.
• Create and implement Procurement and Supply Chain KPI’s to measure performance and monitor trends to reduce spending, alleviate risks, and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Lead/support corporate initiatives to consolidate and reduce spending.
  
• Supplier Development: Define and implement strategies to increase supplier partnerships through collaborative selling and project execution efforts to drive value for the firm. Define and implement a preferred supplier certification program. Monitor national construction trends to ensure the health and vitality of our supplier base.
• Project Delivery: Collaborate with the firm's leaders to properly position and lead procurement as part of our client development and project execution efforts.
• As a partner with our pre-construction and construction teams, take responsibility for the project level procurement process from planning through supplier qualification, RFQ generation, bid leveling, negotiation, purchase order or subcontract processing, inspection, expediting, delivery, and invoice reconciliation.
• Build a high performing shared services procurement organization to facilitate project delivery, primarily based out of the firm's St. Louis headquarters. Provide supervision, training, coaching and feedback to improve performance on project and firm-wide goals.
• Ensure the organization has the capacity to meet normal market activity levels and can flex as required to meet more intense EPC project periods.
• Identify, recommend, and qualify suppliers, subcontractors, and subconsultants based on financial stability and ability to meet project requirements.
• Collaborate with engineering, construction, and legal teams to optimize pricing, cash flow, scope of supply, and negotiating appropriate Master Service Agreements, contracts, and/or sub-supplier agreements.
• Engage project teams with any potential savings or schedule improvement opportunities presented by suppliers. Ensure suppliers adhere to contract terms.
  
  
  

Expected Role Exposure:

• Role will have exposure to Barry-Wehmiller’s CEO, President, Senior Leadership Team, Divisional Presidents, Corporate Supply Chain Leadership, and the Design Group Partner Leadership Team.
• Active and regular participation in Design Group Step-Change meetings, financial planning meetings, and Design Group Executive Leadership team strategy sessions.
• Direct engagement with key leaders across Barry-Wehmiller Company and Design Group to advance strategic plans, key projects, or other critical items.
  
  
  

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, with an emphasis on supply chain, engineering, finance, business, or a related field. MBA and/or procurement certifications are a plus.
• MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• Experience in construction and capital goods or capital equipment procurement preferred.
• Strongly prefer experience working in a high-intensity environment such as investment banking, private equity, or high performing manufacturing or consulting organizations.
  
  
  

Supervisory/Responsibility:

The Strategic Procurement Director will lead a team of procurement professionals.

Travel:

Domestic travel of 10-20% required for this position.

Our culture and commitment to our people is what sets us apart. We foster an environment of mutual respect, integrity, and unconditional interest in the individual and collective success of our professionals. Our model and entrepreneurial mindset offer a rewarding, challenging, and highly flexible path. As a Computer Systems Validation Engineer, you will build a meaningful and fulfilling career with the support of professional development resources and mentorships including our First Year Experience program, Individual Development Plans, and Career Path resources and tools. You will be surrounded by exceptional talent who will support your development as both a world-class engineer and a highly effective leader.