Head of Lab Procurement

Tempus AI•Chicago, IL

4d•$130,000 - $180,000

About The Position

Passionate about precision medicine and advancing the healthcare industry? Recent advancements in underlying technology have finally made it possible for AI to impact clinical care in a meaningful way. Tempus' proprietary platform connects an entire ecosystem of real-world evidence to deliver real-time, actionable insights to physicians, providing critical information about the right treatments for the right patients, at the right time.

Requirements

8-10+ years of procurement experience with a focus on lab categories
Prior experience in a procurement function for a high-growth tech or healthcare environment is strongly preferred.
Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, or related field, including applicable life science fields.
Familiarity with modern ERPs (e.g., NetSuite) and procurement platforms (e.g., Coupa, Zip).
Exceptional negotiation capabilities, executive presence, and the ability to influence without authority.

Nice To Haves

Experience implementing or utilizing AI tools in a professional setting is a plus.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute comprehensive strategies for critical lab spend (e.g., sequencing equipment pacing, consumables, service contracts).
Establish best practices for lab procurement, setting the standard for purchasing behaviors across lab managers and technicians across multiple sites, while also directly leading major RFx and/or negotiations for high-value contracts.
Negotiate complex commercial terms to secure favorable pricing, mitigate supply chain risk, and ensure service level agreements (SLAs) meet business needs.
Champion the integration of AI-driven tools to automate routine tasks, enhance spend visibility, and predict market trends.
Act as a strategic advisor to functional leaders, understanding their roadmaps and budget constraints to align new possibilities in related external markets with internal business goals.
Build trust and collaboration across lab sites to ensure procurement is viewed as an enabler rather than a blocker.
Facilitate cross-functional teams for major sourcing initiatives (lab leaders, legal, finance).
Define and achieve targets for cost savings and cost avoidance.
Partner with Finance to track savings validation and ensure budget alignment.
Drive total cost of ownership (TCO) reduction while maintaining quality and service levels.