Procurement Director

**Location**:Chicago, London or Ghent (hybrid: min. 2 days in office)

**Position Overview**:
Showpad is seeking a proven strong negotiator, strategic thinker and hands-on professional to lead the next phase of its global procurement function spanning North America, Europe, and Asia. As the Director of Procurement, you will drive substantial cost savings, implement advanced procurement strategies, and ensure the company achieves aggressive cost-saving targets. With a strong focus on tough negotiations and strategic sourcing, this role will be central to optimizing procurement processes and delivering sustainable value to the business. We're looking for someone with a strong sense of ownership, willing to roll up their sleeves and dive into the operational aspects of procurement to drive results.

Your role will require operational excellence and strategic foresight, balancing efficiency with future-focused procurement innovations. You will collaborate closely with stakeholders across multiple departments, including senior and executive leadership, and the finance department, to influence decision-making at the highest levels. Reporting into the CFO, you will help shape the evolution of the procurement function to meet the growing needs of Showpad, ensuring long-term sustainability and continuous improvement.

**Key Responsibilities**:

- **Strategic Procurement Leadership**: Lead further development and implementation of the global procurement strategy; drive initiatives that deliver substantial cost savings, ensure that procurement processes evolve in alignment with the company's growth and business objectives.
- **Tough Negotiations & Cost Savings**: Act as the lead negotiator for major contracts, leveraging your expertise to drive tough negotiations that result in substantial cost savings. Take ownership of sourcing strategies that consistently achieve or exceed aggressive cost-saving targets.
- **Procurement Optimization**: Strategically optimize procurement processes, implementing best practices, automation, and digital procurement tools (e.g., ZIP). Ensure processes are scalable and capable of delivering both immediate and long-term value.
- **Supplier Relationship & Management**: Cultivate strategic relationships with key suppliers, ensuring performance aligns with company goals and cost-saving initiatives. Continuously monitor and evaluate supplier performance to maintain a competitive advantage.
- **Cross-Functional Collaboration**: Collaborate with various stakeholders across multiple departments, the finance department and senior and executive leadership to ensure that procurement strategies support wider business goals. Provide input on budgeting, resource allocation, and sourcing decisions with a focus on hitting aggressive cost-saving KPIs.
- **Future-Ready Procurement Strategy**: Serve as a procurement strategist, not just an operational professional. Drive innovation, ensuring that procurement evolves to meet the growing needs of the business. Lead initiatives to future-proof procurement practices and ensure long-term sustainability of cost-saving measures.
- **Risk Management & Compliance**: Develop and implement risk management frameworks to protect Showpad from supplier and contract risks. Ensure all procurement activities are compliant with legal, regulatory, and ethical standards.
- **Performance Metrics & Reporting**: Define, track, and report on procurement KPIs, focusing on cost savings, process efficiency, and supplier performance. Regularly present progress and strategic recommendations to internal stakeholders and senior leadership to ensure procurement initiatives are aligned with business objectives.

**Required skills**:

- **Fast Learning Skills**: with the ability to quickly ramp up and adapt to the evolving challenges of the role and the dynamic needs of the business.
- **Expert Negotiation & Sourcing Skills**: Proven experience as a lead negotiator in securing complex, high-value contracts, with a strong focus on SaaS contracts, and a track record of achieving substantial cost savings. Expertise in strategic sourcing, supplier management, and optimizing procurement processes.
- **Strategic Vision & Implementation**: Experience in implementing advanced procurement strategies, with a focus on innovation, scalability, and process optimization. Ability to lead the procurement function's evolution in line with the business's future needs.
- **Cost-Saving Focus**: Demonstrated success in driving aggressive cost-saving initiatives, with clear, measurable results. Experience in setting and achieving ambitious cost reduction targets. Aptitude in working with numbers and presenting these clearly to senior and executive leadership. Experience working closely with the FP&A and Controller roles.
- **Supplier Management**: Strong ability to build, manage, and optimize relationships with global suppliers to deliver long-term value to the business. Proven experience in improving supplier p