Director of Strategic Procurement and Vendor Management

About the Role

A rapidly growing global technology company is searching for a Director of Strategic Procurement and Vendor Management to establish and scale a top-tier procurement function. Reporting directly to the CFO, this role is responsible for leading enterprise-wide sourcing, vendor relationships, contract governance, and procurement strategy to support significant business expansion and infrastructure investments. The role will be hybrid, requiring 3-4 days per week onsite in San Francisco (SOMA) and approximately 15% travel, some of which is international.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and guide procurement strategies to ensure transparency, financial prudence, and consistency in sourcing and vendor management across the entire organization.
• Collaborate with business units to analyze spending, identify cost-saving opportunities, and improve commercial results while maintaining flexibility in operations.
• Design scalable procurement processes with appropriate controls that avoid unnecessary bureaucracy, including vendor onboarding, contract approval workflows, and purchasing procedures.
• Create centralized systems for managing vendor relationships, contracts, renewal timelines, and commercial commitments, while establishing proactive renewal strategies to maximize value and minimize risk.
• Lead end-to-end sourcing projects, from gathering requirements to contract signing, including market research, vendor evaluation, competitive bidding, and negotiation to secure advantageous pricing, service terms, and risk allocation.
• Partner with Finance to evaluate vendor investments, develop financial models, assess total cost of ownership, and assist with budgeting and forecasting.
• Work cross-functionally with Finance, Legal, IT, Security, and Operations to guide procurement decisions and harmonize stakeholder priorities for optimal commercial outcomes.
• Implement frameworks for supplier performance metrics, contract compliance monitoring, and risk assessment to ensure vendor health, competitive pricing, and strategic fit, including diversification across key suppliers.

First-Year Objectives

• Gain comprehensive insight into company expenditures, suppliers, contracts, and procurement procedures.
• Identify procurement risks, cost reduction opportunities, and governance deficiencies.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders and begin instituting key procurement improvements.
• Launch and refine workflows for procurement, vendor governance, and contract administration.
• Deliver quantifiable value through improved sourcing, negotiation, and spend visibility.
• Elevate procurement as a strategic business partner by implementing sustainable controls, enhancing supplier performance management, and establishing scalable procurement infrastructure.

Required Qualifications

• More than eight years of progressive experience in procurement, sourcing, supply chain, or vendor management.
• Background supporting fast-growing technology, software, SaaS, or digital-driven companies.
• Proven track record in designing or improving procurement processes and governance structures.
• Expertise in commercial contract negotiation and management.
• Strong financial skills including spend analysis, business case development, and total cost of ownership modeling.
• Capacity to influence and drive results across multiple departments without direct reporting authority.
• Experience collaborating with Finance, Legal, Accounts Payable, IT, and Security teams.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain, Operations, or related field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master of Business Administration or advanced degree.
• Experience supporting organizations preparing for public offerings, audits, or financial transformations.
• Familiarity with enterprise software procurement, cloud services, AI platforms, and technology purchasing.
• Experience using ERP and spend-management systems.
• Knowledge of international vendor management, multi-currency agreements, and global sourcing environments.

Success Metrics

• Procurement is recognized as a strategic partner rather than purely transactional.
• Clear insight into vendor obligations, renewals, risks, and opportunities for leadership.
• Contract negotiations yield consistent improvements in commercial outcomes and risk reduction.
• Procurement processes are efficient, scalable, and broadly embraced across the company.
• Vendor relationships are actively managed in alignment with corporate goals.
• Measurable improvements in cost savings, controls, and supplier performance are achieved.

Additional Information

This position offers substantial exposure to executive leadership and is ideal for a high-achieving procurement professional looking for broader operational responsibilities and leadership advancement opportunities within a dynamic technology enterprise.