Director of Procurement

Role overview

Kardion is a medical device organization focused on building advanced technologies that help improve patient outcomes. As the company grows its U.S. headquarters in Irvine and expands its global operating model, it is looking for a Director of Procurement to steer the procurement function and provide leadership across sourcing, supplier management, and contract manufacturing operations.

This is a hands-on leadership role that combines day-to-day operational ownership with strategic planning. The person in this position will be responsible for strengthening procurement processes, developing supplier capabilities, and building a global procurement approach that supports commercialization objectives and regulatory expectations.

Location: Remote. Travel may be required up to 30% domestically and internationally.

Key responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and grow a team of six buyers covering direct, indirect, and new product introduction procurement areas.
• Improve and expand sourcing approaches for components, raw materials, tooling, and external services.
• Manage the complete supplier journey, from identification and qualification through onboarding and ongoing performance tracking.
• Drive negotiations for contracts, pricing, and commercial terms with a focus on cost control, quality, and risk reduction.
• Act as the main operational contact for contract manufacturing partners in Germany and other global locations.
• Coordinate capacity planning, production timelines, and issue resolution with external manufacturers.
• Partner with Engineering and Quality on technology transfer, scale-up, and validation efforts.
• Create and sustain supplier governance models, KPI tracking, and structured business review processes.
• Ensure supplier adherence to ISO 13485, EU MDR, FDA QSR, and internal quality standards.
• Lead supplier audits, corrective actions, and mitigation plans for supply-chain and quality risks.
• Maintain risk assessments for suppliers and business continuity plans.
• Work closely with Engineering, Quality, Regulatory, and Finance to align procurement decisions with development and commercialization milestones.
• Support ERP, MRP, and master data work related to suppliers, materials, and bill of materials accuracy.
• Provide regular reporting on procurement metrics, supplier performance, cost trends, and exposure to risk.
• Contribute to sales and operations planning and broader strategic company priorities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or a closely related discipline.
• At least 6 to 10 years of experience in procurement and supplier management within MedTech, biotech, or another regulated manufacturing setting.
• Proven track record of managing contract manufacturing organizations and leading cross-functional sourcing initiatives.
• Practical understanding of EU MDR, ISO 13485, and FDA QSR requirements.
• Strong negotiation skills and experience handling complex supplier relationships.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 30%.

Preferred background

• Fluency in English and German, with the ability to communicate effectively with German-speaking suppliers.
• Experience in a startup or other high-growth business environment.
• Hands-on familiarity with ERP platforms, procurement tools, and data-based decision-making.

Compensation and benefits

The expected base pay range for this role is $160,000 to $195,000 per year, with final compensation determined by experience, qualifications, skills, and location.

Kardion provides a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k) plan, and paid time off.

Equal opportunity

Kardion is committed to an inclusive workplace and is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status recognized by law.