Director of Procurement

Thayer Power & Communications•Pataskala, OH

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Thayer Infrastructure Services Group is creating a central procurement function for its growing platform of utility, fiber, and wireless infrastructure construction companies. Purchasing has been decentralized across operating companies; this role will build a function that improves visibility, discipline, and leverage across spending on materials, equipment, subcontractors, and indirect goods and services while remaining responsive to field operations. The Director will establish procurement policies, consolidate vendors, negotiate platform-wide agreements, and partner with operating company leaders to capture savings. This is a hands-on leadership role responsible for setting strategy and leading initial negotiations. The position is based in Central Ohio with a hybrid work arrangement and travel to operating company locations as needed. It reports to the Chief Financial Officer and is part of the Finance department. Success in the first 12–18 months includes completing a platform-wide spend baseline and category strategy within 120 days, delivering measurable negotiated savings in top spend categories, achieving target purchase order compliance across operating companies, and consolidating vendors in targeted categories with master agreements in place.

Requirements

At least 10 years of progressive procurement or supply chain experience, including at least 3 years leading a procurement function or major category portfolio.
Experience in construction, utility services, industrial services, or another field-based, project-driven business, with comfort working in decentralized operations and field culture.
Demonstrated experience building or significantly upgrading a procurement function, with quantified savings results.
Strong negotiation skills across materials, equipment, and services categories.
Working knowledge of procure-to-pay processes and systems, and ability to partner effectively with accounting on controls.
Strong analytical skills and ability to build spend baselines and business cases from imperfect data.
Bachelor's degree in supply chain, business, finance, engineering, or a related field.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a private equity-backed or high-growth multi-entity environment.
Experience with NetSuite and spend management platforms such as Ramp or Coupa.
Materials management or inventory oversight experience.
CPSM, CSCP, or similar certification.
M&A integration experience.

Responsibilities

Design and implement a central procurement operating model for a multi-entity construction platform, balancing central leverage with operating company autonomy and field responsiveness.
Establish procurement policies, approval thresholds, and competitive bidding requirements, integrated with the existing purchase order process and spend management platform.
Develop spend visibility and reporting across operating companies using ERP and spend data; establish category spend baselines and identify savings priorities.
Lead sourcing and negotiations for construction materials, equipment and rentals, fuel, fleet parts and services, PPE and safety supplies, small tools and consumables, and indirect categories such as IT, facilities, and professional services.
Consolidate vendors across operating companies and negotiate master agreements, rebate programs, and preferred pricing.
Establish supplier and subcontractor qualification, onboarding, and performance management standards, including insurance, safety, and compliance requirements.
Partner with operations leadership on subcontractor procurement standards and rate benchmarking.
Oversee day-to-day purchasing support, including purchase order compliance, exception handling, and buyer support.
Drive field adoption of procurement processes through training, tools, and clear escalation paths; measure and report purchase order compliance and maverick spend.
Coordinate with accounts payable on vendor master data integrity, payment-term optimization, and three-way match discipline.
Own procurement's contribution to EBITDA and working capital through negotiated savings, payment terms, and rebate capture.
Establish a savings measurement methodology credible to Finance and operating company leadership.
Support M&A integration by extending procurement programs to newly acquired companies.
Complete a platform-wide spend baseline and category strategy within the first 120 days, deliver measurable savings in top spend categories, achieve target purchase order compliance, and consolidate vendors in targeted categories.