The Director of Procurement is responsible for the strategic leadership and tactical execution of NESL's holistic and comprehensive purchasing strategy. This position is specifically accountable for creating, implementing, and evolving a procurement direction that creates a total cost of ownership mindset to support business operations and corporate strategies. The Director of Procurement acts as a trusted business partner and aligns functional processes to enhance business results.
Core Responsibilities
Develop strategies to reduce Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and improve availability, quality, service, and innovation.
Optimize major spend categories including Energy & Fuel, Liquid Asphalt, Mobile Equipment, Cement, and CapEx.
Manage flow of supplies for optimum production, analyzing and adapting internal policies.
Monitor prices by product and vendor to predict and account for financial fluctuations.
Oversee the development and administration of policies and procedures related to central warehousing, critical spares, procurement, receiving, and account reconciliation company wide.
Identify, develop, and manage effective relationships with existing and potential suppliers to meet the established price, quality, delivery, and stocking objectives.
Establish, implement, and manage system to evaluate and monitor supplier performance.
Align procurement KPIs with corporate strategies related to top and bottom-line growth.
Own vendor qualification process by collaborating and developing positive relationships with internal/external stakeholders.
Own RFQ processes from creation to completion to generate and analyze multiple viable bids.
Collaborate across departments during SOW development and respective vendor auditing/vetting. Attend off-site vendor tours/audits as needed.
Develop and implement procurement-related training programs for the procurement team and organization.
Communicate purchasing initiatives with the organization at large.
Qualifications
Proven track record of successfully leading the procurement function (typically 10-15 years of experience). Results-oriented, metrics-driven leader with expertise in purchasing, supplier collaboration, development and compliance.
Bachelor's Degree in relevant discipline.
Experience in the construction materials or heavy industrial sectors with exposure to key spend categories is preferred.
Excellent technology aptitude and experience with manufacturing systems and financial software as well as customer applications.
Demonstrated skills and proficiency in the following areas: strategic / enterprise point of view, collaboration across matrix organization, ability to influence effectively at multiple levels of an organization, strong teamwork and proven skills communicating effectively.
Experience with building a vendor program and centralized warehouse.
Excellent customer service orientation and ability to provide dedicated support to internal customers.
Valid driver's license and compliant with NESL's driving standards.
Personal Characteristics and Competencies
Entrepreneurial spirit combined with prudence. (i.e., consideration of long-term risks and opportunities). Highly developed organizational influence and negotiation skills.
Strong people and culture manager with a track record of building bench strength, leading leaders, and maximizing the impact of the organization.
A self-confident, proactive professional who can successfully lead in a fast-changing business environment.
Tough minded with the courage of convictions to drive critical strategies and programs through to completion.
A change agent willing to take measured risk and who is committed to deliver on commitments to the organization.
Personal and professional alignment to NESL's Cultural Goals:
Focus & Integrity to Do What's Right
Know the Numbers, Know the Business
Embrace Change
Intentionally Collaborative