Director, Procurement Operations

Unum Group•Chattanooga, TN

13d

About The Position

The Director, Procurement Operations leads, defines, and manages Unum’s Procure-to-Pay (P2P) and Travel Operations organizations. The role oversees the requisitioning process, purchase order creation, receipt of goods and services, invoice processing, payment solutions and reconciliation, payment account coding, procurement and corporate card programs, travel agency management, travel expense policy governance, and financial approvals for purchases and payments. The Director manages existing processes and departments while identifying and implementing improvements. The role provides financial oversight and controls for cash disbursements, supports internal and external audits, develops transaction standards and policies, and evaluates technology and industry best practices to improve P2P operations. It works across finance, strategic sourcing, Legal, Compliance, Audit, business functions, and other stakeholders to align processes with enterprise controls and business objectives. The Director also manages travel operations, expense auditing, and card programs; promotes policy adoption and efficient payment methods; oversees supplier relationship managers; and serves on Unum’s Strategic Sourcing Leadership Team. The position leads, develops, and motivates a team and supports strategic sourcing leadership in reviewing and adapting strategies to changing business needs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, or equivalent work experience.
At least 10 years of related procurement or finance experience.
Solid working knowledge of P2P applications and processes, purchasing procedures, controls, related business processes, and procurement and commercial-contract best practices.
Understanding of key systems for procurement operations, corporate travel, accounts payable, travel and expense, and card programs.
Experience managing cross-functional teams.
Ability to develop high-performing teams and motivate professional staff at all levels.
Ability to establish objectives, implement procedures, and develop methods to measure effectiveness.
Strong collaboration skills, positive attitude, high energy, and results orientation.
Ability to build relationships and networks across functions and with leaders.
Strong leadership, project management, influencing, financial, and negotiation skills.
Strategic and analytical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, including the ability to identify key findings and implications.
Strong attention to detail, with a focus on cost reduction and process improvement.
Exceptional interpersonal skills; ability to work in diverse environments and adhere to high ethical standards.
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain difficult ideas and concepts clearly and concisely.
Initiative and ability to set stretch goals.
Advanced PC skills, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.

Nice To Haves

MBA.
At least five years of procurement or procure-to-pay management experience.

Responsibilities

Monitor standards and policy compliance across P2P, Travel Operations, the Corporate Card Program, and expense auditing; elevate issues and recommend policy or procedure changes.
Oversee end-to-end P2P operations, including timely and accurate purchase order, invoice, and payment processing.
Define operational reporting and metrics to drive P2P improvements.
Lead development, updates, and maintenance of procurement transaction standards and policies.
Increase upfront financial and functional approval of purchases.
Provide financial oversight of cash-disbursement controls and lead related internal and external audits.
Recommend technologies to improve P2P and partner with the Source-to-Pay Process Manager to develop implementation business cases.
Apply P2P best practices in Unum’s business environment and collaborate to institutionalize P2P activities across the team, finance, strategic sourcing, and internal stakeholders.
Partner with Legal, Compliance, and Internal and External Audit to align P2P policies and procedures with enterprise controls and policies.
Manage invoice-processing and payment-transaction standards and policies.
Manage travel operations, corporate and procurement card programs, and expense auditing to minimize travel disruptions, promote proper card use, and ensure travel-policy adherence.
Promote procurement, accounts payable, and travel-and-expense policies, including virtual card, ePayables, and standardized financial approvals.
Monitor and improve the efficiency and controls of invoices, expense audits, travel bookings, and corporate-sponsored card payments.
Benchmark industry practices and implement service improvements and policy changes to achieve desired outcomes.
Communicate company budget guidelines and expense trends and recommend ways to reduce travel expenses.
Design and deliver training and education on travel policies and practices.
Support corporate events with specialized travel needs, coordinating with Corporate Events, Corporate Aviation, Commercial Travel, and travel partners.
Integrate commercial travel with Corporate Aviation and consider owned assets, travel patterns, and expenses holistically.
Serve on the Strategic Sourcing Leadership Team, contributing to procurement strategies and aligning procurement support with strategic direction and business objectives.
Promote and facilitate change across the enterprise and adapt to changing needs.
Attract, retain, and develop a capable, motivated team that can meet current and future business needs.
Collaborate across organizational levels, functions, businesses, and geographies to achieve procurement goals.
Direct supplier relationship managers overseeing supplier arrangements ranging from routine to strategically important.
Build and maintain relationships with business and functional leaders to support successful strategy execution.
Support the VP, Strategic Sourcing in reviewing strategies with business and functional leaders as business needs change.
Perform other duties as required.

Benefits

Award-winning culture and inclusion and diversity as a priority.
Performance-based incentive plans.
Health, vision, and dental coverage.
Short- and long-term disability benefits.
Generous paid time off, including paid time to volunteer.
401(k) employer contribution of up to 9.5% described in the opening benefits section.
Mental health support.
Career advancement opportunities.
Student loan repayment options.
Tuition reimbursement.
Flexible work environments.
401(k) retirement plan with employer match up to 5% and an additional 4.5% contribution whether or not the employee contributes, as described in the compensation section.