Head of Dept, North America - Procurement

gategroup•Reston, VA

5d•$165,000 - $185,000•Onsite

About The Position

We’re looking for motivated, engaged people to help make everyone’s journeys better. The Head of Procurement, North America, is responsible for designing and leading the company’s sourcing, supplier management, and procurement strategy. This role ensures cost efficiency, supply chain resilience, and alignment with corporate objectives (financial, operational, sustainability, and compliance). This role reports to the COO of gategroup NA and partners with cross-functional leadership (Operations, Finance, Legal, IT, HR) to maximize value from supplier relationships while maintaining quality, safety, and ethical standards. The Head of Procurement, North America is expected to achieve year-over-year improvement in total cost of management, quality, and service. Additionally, this role holds strategic leadership responsibilities, including, but not limited to, strategic planning, team goal setting, and aligning enterprise savings.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or related field; MBA preferred.
15+ years of procurement/supply chain experience, with at least 7 years in a senior leadership role, preferably in airline catering, aviation, foodservice, or logistics.
Strong track record of negotiating large-scale contracts and delivering measurable cost savings.
Deep knowledge of food and packaging procurement, international supply chains, and vendor management.
Proven ability to lead diverse teams across multiple geographies.
Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and leadership skills.
Commitment to innovation and sustainability in procurement.
Strategic thinker with operational execution focus.
Strong financial and commercial acumen.
Relationship builder and influencer at senior levels.
Resilient, adaptable, and able to thrive in a fast-paced, regulated environment.
Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external customers, both verbally and in writing.
Ability to manage, lead, and collaborate with multiple managers and project team members.

Nice To Haves

MBA preferred.

Responsibilities

Develops an annual strategic plan supporting the Regional and Corporate plans, both financial and operational.
Develop and execute region-wide procurement strategies aligned with operational, financial, compliance, and sustainability goals.
Establish and maintain strategic relationships with key suppliers in food, packaging, equipment, logistics, and services.
Lead contract negotiations, ensuring optimal terms on cost, quality, and service.
Monitor supplier performance through KPIs, SLAs, and corrective action plans.
Drive cost savings through strategic sourcing, bulk purchasing, and supplier consolidation.
Identify and mitigate risks related to supply disruption, regulatory compliance, and commodity price fluctuations.
Ensure compliance with all food safety, aviation, and international trade regulations.
Advance sustainable sourcing initiatives, ethical supply chain practices, and carbon footprint reduction.
Partner with culinary and operations teams to introduce innovative packaging and sourcing solutions.
Directs and coordinates the Pourshins distribution business.
Oversees the lease relationship with Airport authorities, landlords, and fleet companies.
Ensures adherence to internal controls in the procurement and contract management.
Represents the Region at Global business meetings on Procurement functions.
Lead a high-performing Procurement team, fostering a culture that embodies gategroup’s core values
Responsible for developing team members in key areas, including systems, process knowledge, and project management.
Promote collaboration across all operations and functional teams to enhance performance.
Ad hoc projects to drive Continuous Improvement.