Director Procurement

Lakeshore Recycling Systems•Rosemont, IL

22h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Procurement Director is responsible for developing and executing procurement strategies that ensure the efficient acquisition, lifecycle management, and optimization of the company’s fleet assets, along with all other categories of direct and indirect spending. This role oversees sourcing, vendor negotiations, contract management, and total cost of ownership (TCO) strategies for a diverse fleet including collection vehicles, roll-off trucks, recycling equipment, specialty hauling units, and related parts and services. With minimal direction, the Director supports the day-to-day supplier management to ensure compliance with Strategic Alliance agreements. Builds sound relationships with suppliers resulting in successful support of the organization’s objectives. The ideal candidate has deep experience in fleet operations within the waste and recycling industry, strong supplier relationship skills, and the ability to deliver cost savings while improving reliability and compliance.

Requirements

Minimum 10 years of procurement experience with a strong focus on fleet, heavy equipment, or waste/recycling operations.
Proven success in vendor negotiations and contract management.
Expertise in fleet TCO, lifecycle planning, and OEM/manufacturer sourcing.
Strong analytical skills and proficiency with procurement/ERP systems.
Ability to build strong relationships and collaborate with Operations and Maintenance teams.
Strong critical thinking skills with a practical, fleet-operations mindset.
Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Business, Logistics, or related field.

Responsibilities

Lead strategic sourcing and procurement for all fleet assets—including collection vehicles, chassis, bodies, hydraulics, compactors, and heavy equipment.
Align long-term fleet procurement strategies the LRS 5-year plan and operational needs.
Evaluate TCO models to optimize acquisition, leasing, maintenance, and disposal decisions.
Partner with Maintenance Operations to understand asset performance and translate insights into procurement decisions.
Manage relationships with OEMs, body manufacturers, equipment distributors, and service vendors.
Conduct analyses and monitor all other major spend categories for the organization, providing recommendations to senior leaders on vendor consolidation opportunities.
Conduct competitive negotiations to secure favorable pricing, warranties, lead times, and service agreements.
Oversee contract development, renewals, SLA monitoring, and supplier performance metrics.
Ensure vendor compliance with safety standards, environmental regulations, and sustainability initiatives.
Identify cost‑reduction opportunities through strategic sourcing, volume leverage, and process improvements.
Monitor industry trends, pricing indices, regulatory changes, and production updates that impact procurement.
Establish KPIs for procurement performance related to cost savings, lifecycle value, and uptime.
Partner with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Safety, and Finance to align purchasing with operational requirements.
Support fleet modernization initiatives including alternative fuel vehicles, electrification, and technology upgrades.
Collaborate with Finance to support budget planning and capital forecasting for organization-wide investments.
Oversee procurement strategies for parts, tires, consumables, and maintenance supplies.
Work with Maintenance teams to optimize inventory levels and reduce downtime.
Support end‑of‑life asset decisions including resale, redeployment, and disposal.
Ensure procurement practices adhere to DOT, EPA, OSHA, and state/local regulations.
Manage risk through supplier audits, compliance checks, and contract safeguards.
Support sustainability targets through sourcing of low‑emission vehicles and environmentally responsible suppliers.