Director of Technology Procurement

AutoNation • Fort Lauderdale, FL

6d

About The Position

The Director of Technology Procurement leads enterprise-wide technology category and sourcing strategies across Information Technology and technology-related requirements within other business units. The role provides leadership, governance, commercial judgment and cross-functional alignment for complex, high-value technology investments, supplier relationships and contracting decisions. It partners with Technology, Operations, Finance and other business functions to implement cost-efficient solutions that deliver measurable value, reduce risk and support enterprise objectives.

The Director reports directly to the Senior Director, Procurement and serves as the principal Procurement partner to Technology leadership and business-unit leaders acquiring technology products and services across the enterprise. The role collaborates extensively with Finance, Legal, Information Security, Risk Management, Data Governance, Operations and other corporate and business-unit stakeholders.

The Director develops and executes strategic category plans and annual procurement plans; leads complex sourcing initiatives, negotiations, supplier selection and contracting; and provides business cases and executive-ready recommendations for technology investments and commercial decisions. The position oversees commercial relationships and supplier-management processes for critical technology providers, monitors procurement results and supplier performance, and ensures purchasing follows applicable enterprise controls. It also provides functional leadership, coaching and subject-matter expertise to Procurement team members supporting technology sourcing.

Requirements

• Meet the company’s requirements for employment.
• Hold a valid in-state driver’s license and maintain an acceptable, safe driving record.
• Communicate and interact effectively across all organizational levels, including store and regional personnel, corporate management and senior leadership.
• Demonstrate leadership, communication, presentation, analytical, negotiation and problem-solving skills.
• Implement selected solutions effectively and manage multiple priorities within tight timelines.
• Demonstrate executive presence and business judgment to influence senior leaders and guide cross-functional teams through complex, high-value and time-sensitive technology decisions.
• Have advanced knowledge of technology commercial models, including perpetual and subscription software, SaaS, cloud consumption, professional services, managed services, telecommunications, licensing metrics and usage-based pricing.
• Have strong strategic-sourcing, contract-development and negotiation expertise, including identifying and addressing commercial, operational, implementation, renewal and supplier risks.
• Understand technical requirements and translate them into sourcing strategies, negotiation positions, business cases and executive recommendations.
• Demonstrate financial and analytical capabilities, including total-cost-of-ownership analysis, pricing-model evaluation, benchmarking, scenario analysis and benefits measurement.
• Lead through influence across Technology, Finance, Legal, Operations and other business functions.
• Balance cost, risk, speed, supplier capability, operational requirements and long-term enterprise value when developing recommendations.
• Demonstrate integrity, accountability, confidentiality and sound judgment when handling sensitive commercial and enterprise technology matters.
• Be proficient in Microsoft 365 applications and relevant procurement, sourcing, contract-management and analytical tools.
• Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in Business, Supply Chain, Information Technology or a related field.
• Have a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, category management or a related commercial function, including significant responsibility for enterprise technology procurement.
• Have experience managing technology procurement requirements across Information Technology and other business units that purchase or deploy technology products and services.
• Have experience in several technology categories, such as hardware, software, SaaS, cloud services, telecommunications, cybersecurity, data and analytics, digital platforms, artificial intelligence, IT consulting, professional services and managed services.
• Demonstrate success leading complex enterprise sourcing initiatives and negotiating significant technology agreements with measurable financial, contractual and operational outcomes.
• Have a strong understanding of business and technology strategy, technology solutions, commercial models, implementation considerations, supplier-management practices and technology-product lifecycles.
• Have experience partnering with senior Technology, Finance, Legal, Information Security, Risk Management, Operations and business-unit stakeholders.
• Have strong category-management experience.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree or MBA.
• Automotive-industry experience.
• Professional procurement or supply-management certification, such as CPSM, C.P.M. or an equivalent credential.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement and maintain three-to-five-year strategic category plans aligned with enterprise business and technology objectives.
• Formulate the annual technology procurement plan with Technology, business-unit leadership and Finance during the budgeting process, and execute the plan against approved baselines and ratified deliverables.
• Provide procurement subject-matter expertise, detailed analysis and best-in-class technology procurement processes.
• Develop and present business cases addressing financial impact, operational considerations, supplier capabilities and risk.
• Advise Technology and Financial Management on lease-versus-buy, build-versus-buy and business process outsourcing decisions.
• Partner with Technology, Operations and business units to evaluate cost drivers, suppliers, addressable costs, market pricing, commercial structures and industry practices.
• Conduct complex negotiations, RFx activities and auctions; manage supplier analysis and selection; and coordinate contract review, approval and execution.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to develop, measure and report procurement and supplier-performance KPIs.
• Lead the commercial component of contracting and partner with Legal on contract review, negotiation and execution.
• Work with operational buyers and procurement teams to ensure requisitions, purchase orders, invoicing and related purchasing activity comply with contractual terms.
• Direct enterprise technology procurement for Information Technology and technology-related products and services purchased by other business units.
• Establish enterprise-wide technology sourcing priorities, category governance, procurement roadmaps and renewal strategies with Technology, Finance and business-unit leadership.
• Lead complex, high-value and multi-year sourcing initiatives and negotiations, including acquisitions, renewals, expansions, transformations and supplier consolidations.
• Develop commercial structures that optimize total cost of ownership, pricing transparency, service levels, scalability, flexibility, implementation commitments, data rights, performance protections and exit provisions.
• Provide executive-ready recommendations and decision support for strategic technology investments, supplier selections, renewals, competitive sourcing events and build, buy, lease or outsource decisions.
• Challenge requirements and supplier proposals to ensure solutions are commercially competitive, appropriately scoped and aligned with enterprise priorities.
• Own commercial relationships and strategic supplier-management processes for critical technology providers, including performance reviews, renewal planning, executive engagement, risk mitigation, escalations and continuous value improvement.
• Partner with Legal, Information Security, Privacy, Risk Management and other control functions to identify and address commercial, operational, security, privacy, data, implementation, concentration, continuity and supplier risks.
• Ensure technology purchases comply with enterprise procurement, contracting, approval, information-security, privacy, risk-management and financial-control requirements.
• Develop and monitor measurable results, including validated savings, cost avoidance, budget impact, supplier performance, contract compliance, risk reduction and stakeholder outcomes.
• Maintain technology market intelligence, supplier benchmarks and knowledge of evolving commercial models for sourcing and negotiations.
• Provide functional leadership, coaching and subject-matter expertise to Procurement team members supporting technology-related sourcing.
• Represent Procurement in executive-level discussions about enterprise technology strategy, investments, supplier performance and commercial commitments.
• Perform additional projects and support other procurement categories as required.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation
• 401k matching
• Health insurance plans
• Dental insurance plans
• Vision insurance plans
• Maternity benefits
• Associate purchase and discount programs for new and pre-owned vehicles, services, parts, collision, accessories and AutoGear
• Deals and discounts through YouDecide

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director