Director, Indirect Procurement Operations
This position has been segmented Remote Anywhere meaning the work is completed 100% remote anywhere in the U.S. except Hawaii or United States Territories. The Director, Indirect Procurement Operations, will be a transformative leader in a growing procurement organization, responsible for driving value through effective engagement with internal customers, building supplier partnerships, and enhancing operational effectiveness. They will work collaboratively across functions to provide a best-in-class procurement experience, ensuring alignment with business objectives and promoting operational excellence. Success in this role requires expertise in category management and strategic sourcing, as well as a proven track record in contract negotiation and supplier management. The Director, Indirect Procurement Operations, will be a confident influencer who is highly organized and thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment that values innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Ready to build a career with a company that's leading the foodservice industry? We help YOU make it! US Foods is one of the largest food distributors with a culture and history of promoting from within, excellent training programs, and a continuous improvement focus.
Benefits: Full US Foods Benefits - DAY 1! medical, dental, vision, 401K, life insurance, and much more!
US Foods is one of the largest food distributors with a culture and history of promoting from within, excellent training programs and a continuous improvement focus.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Leadership
- Manage Procurement Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Offshore Team
- Serve as a trusted advisor to business units on current and future sourcing needs.
- Align internal stakeholder expectations with service and compliance goals.
- Monitor cost savings and efficiency of offshore operations.
- Lead and engage virtual teams to maintain accountability and performance.
- Promote team cohesion and shared responsibility in remote environments.
Procurement Desk & Supplier Management
- Lead the development and execution of Procure-to-Pay (P2P) standards, process enhancements, and system utilization strategies across the organization.
- Lead Tail Spend management, including contract lifecycle oversight and supplier relationship management (SRM), maximizing SAP Ariba functionality.
- Champion the procurement strategic vision, driving annual improvement initiatives aligned with business objectives.
- Oversee offshore vendors and BPO partners to ensure service delivery meets performance expectations and aligns with business goals:
- Define KPIs and SLAs, monitor performance, and drive continuous improvement.
- Foster collaboration across time zones through clear, culturally aware communication.
- Build trust and engagement across diverse, remote teams.
- Coordinate capability-building initiatives and lead training for operational procurement functions.
- Leverage data and analytics (e.g., TCO, ROI, spend analysis) to inform strategy and drive value.
- Enhance procurement performance through process innovation and system optimization across platforms, including SAP and Maximo.
- Consolidate and analyze procurement data to support informed, strategic decision-making.
- Implement best practices across the full P2P lifecycle to ensure operational excellence and system optimization.
- Define and lead change management initiatives to support procurement transformation and user adoption.
- Take on additional responsibilities as needed to support team and business objectives.
Market Intelligence & Risk Mitigation
- Proactively assess business risks and implement mitigation strategies to ensure compliance with internal policies and regulatory requirements in managing an Offshore Team.
- Stay informed on business risks and develop plans to ensure positive customer experience.
- Identify and manage offshore-related business and operational risks.
- Manage supplier performance to ensure consistent delivery, quality, reliability, and adherence to contractual obligations.
- Ensure compliance with local laws, company policies, and data security standards.
Cross-functional Collaboration, Process & Technology Optimization
- Lead transformation initiatives: system rollouts and process improvements.
- Drive operational efficiency and spend control by optimizing procurement processes, applying best practices, and leveraging procurement technologies.
- Optimize SAP and Beroe to automate procurement activity and savings.
- Partner with business stakeholders to promote understanding and adoption of procurement policies, procedures, and best practices.
- Support the Vice President of Procurement with special projects and additional responsibilities as needed.
Supervision:
- Manage 1 full-time associate
- Accountable for 8+ from an Outsourced Managed Services.
Relationships
- Internal: Collaborate across the organization, engaging with executive leadership and cross-functional teams within a matrixed environment at corporate, regional, and divisional levels.
- External Suppliers: Build and maintain strong partnerships with preferred suppliers and strategic partners to ensure alignment and performance.
- External Support Services: Lead and coordinate initiatives with nearshore and offshore third-party providers, as well as external business consultants, to drive project success and operational efficiency.
Work Environment
- Remote: This role is fully remote, and the associate is expected to perform assigned responsibilities from a home-based environment.
Minimum Qualifications
- Five (5) years in a leadership or management role within procurement or a related function.
- Strong financial and analytical capabilities, with a data-driven approach to decision-making; adept at utilizing market intelligence, spend analysis, and cost modeling to support strategic initiatives.
- Demonstrated project management expertise, with effective leadership, time management, and problem-solving skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.
- Ability to work independently, manage priorities, and drive results in a dynamic environment.
- Strong negotiation skills are required to manage contracts and to negotiate effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
- Strong cost-conscious mindset with a passion for identifying savings and creating value.
Education
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Technology, Business Administration, or a related field is required
- Master's degree is preferred
Certifications/Training
- Agile, Scrum, or Project Management Certification is a plus
Licenses
Preferred Qualifications
- Ten (10) years of progressive experience in procurement or strategic sourcing, with at least 5 years in a leadership or management role.
- Proven ability to lead complex contract negotiations and manage supplier relationships to support business goals and ensure high performance.
- Strong customer service orientation with exceptional communication, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
- Demonstrates high personal and professional integrity; self-motivated, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Skilled in engaging cross-functional stakeholders and influencing decision-making across various levels of the organization.
- Proficient in procurement platforms and enterprise systems (e.g., ERP, SAP, IBM Maximo and Beroe.)
- Deep understanding of industry regulations and sourcing strategies, particularly within the context of public or highly regulated organizations.
- Experience managing cross-regional procurement operations and collaborating with remote teams and business partners.
- Strong financial acumen with the ability to analyze cost structures, identify savings opportunities, and drive value creation.
- Willing and able to travel as needed for supplier meetings, industry conferences, and internal business engagements.
- Proven experience in process improvement, innovation, or systems optimization roles
- Strong analytical skills with proficiency in data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Excel, Power BI)
- Familiarity with process improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen)
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