Lead, Procurement

Highlights for Children•Columbus, OH

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Lead, Procurement will be responsible for contributing to and executing a comprehensive procurement strategy. This role requires a demonstrated history of innovative partnership, showing a unique ability to collaborate across various business areas to drive value beyond simple cost savings.

Requirements

Demonstrate and share your knowledge of publishing and printing processes.
Demonstrate a proven track record of acting as a strategic consultant to Marketing, Editorial, and Product teams, identifying innovative procurement solutions that directly enable their creative and commercial goals.
Learn and discover Highlights and Zaner-Bloser processes and strategic business initiatives and develop plans to help advance them.
Meet with key leaders in Education, Retail, and Marketing to understand their 'pain points' and identify opportunities where innovative sourcing can provide a solution they hadn’t previously considered.
Have formed partnerships with our internal stakeholders and have positioned your team to be thought of as knowledge experts, strong partners to the business, and innovative problem-solvers.
Have established yourself as a trusted innovation partner who is sought out during the ideation phase of new projects, having successfully implemented a cross-departmental initiative that improved speed-to-market or product quality.
Bachelor’s degree in business, Supply Management, or Print Production (or equivalent experience) required.
4+ years procurement experience, prefer in book publishing, magazine print, and/or commercial print.
Familiarity with vendors US and overseas desired.
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Strong organizational, attention to detail, multi-tasking, and time management skills
Excellent negotiating skills
Proficient in Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
Willing to travel, 15% of work time.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement a robust sourcing strategy to identify and select reliable suppliers.
Conduct thorough supplier assessments and negotiations to secure optimal pricing and terms.
Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers.
Manage supplier performance through regular reviews and performance metrics.
Implement supplier development programs to enhance supplier capabilities.
Resolve supplier issues and disputes promptly and effectively.
Identify cost-saving opportunities through continuous improvement initiatives.
Implement cost-reduction strategies, such as supplier consolidation, volume discounts, and alternative sourcing options.
Monitor market trends and industry benchmarks to ensure competitive pricing.
Go beyond traditional cost-cutting by identifying innovative supplier solutions, such as new eco-friendly materials or advanced print-on-demand technologies, that provide a competitive edge for the company’s product lines.
Develop and negotiate contracts that align with the company's strategic goals.
Ensure compliance with contract terms and conditions.
Manage contract renewals and amendments.
Identify and mitigate potential supply chain risks, such as supplier disruptions or price fluctuations.
Develop contingency plans to minimize the impact of supply chain disruptions.
Promote sustainable procurement practices, including sourcing from environmentally responsible suppliers.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement sustainable initiatives.