Sr. Director, Procurement

Aeris•Chicago, IL

10d•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking an accomplished and strategic Head of Procurement (Director/Sr. Director) to lead our end-to-end procurement function across technology, platforms, services, and engineering. This executive will develop and drive a robust sourcing strategy to support our rapid scale and innovation, managing multimillion-dollar spend, and influencing a world-class ecosystem of vendors, partners, and suppliers.

Requirements

Experience: 10+ years of progressive responsibility in technology procurement or strategic sourcing, with 3+ years at Director level or higher.
Technical Knowledge: Deep understanding of IT/software procurement, SaaS/cloud infrastructure, enterprise platforms, and the latest technology trends.
Negotiation: Proven track record of complex contract negotiations, supplier management, and driving best-in-class commercial terms.
Analytical: Strong analytical, financial modeling, and problem-solving abilities; adept at interpreting spend data and supplier metrics.
Leadership: Demonstrated success building and leading high-performing teams; excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing capability.
Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, comfortable presenting procurement strategies to C-level executives and Board.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain, engineering, IT, or related field.

Nice To Haves

Experience managing global suppliers and multi-country procurement programs.
Familiarity with SaaS procurement, cloud technologies, software licensing models, or IT asset management.
Professional certifications (CPSM, CPM, CPO, or equivalent).
Experience in high-growth technology or IoT environments.

Responsibilities

Develop, implement, and own the enterprise-wide procurement strategy, including direct and indirect spend across IT, SaaS, hardware, engineering, cloud, and professional services.
Build and manage a high-performing procurement team; mentor talent and foster a collaborative, results-driven culture.
Collaborate with senior leadership to align procurement objectives with overall business, product, and technology goals.
Lead sourcing initiatives for major contracts, supplier partnerships, and global technology investments.
Oversee complex RFP/RFI processes, supplier evaluations, and negotiations for optimal value.
Maintain rigorous supplier onboarding and integration standards.
Champion cost optimization by leveraging strategic sourcing, demand management, and technology-driven solutions (software, automation, AI/ML).
Drive ROI and TCO analyses to inform purchasing decisions and maximize savings.
Design and execute supply chain risk management initiatives, ensuring resiliency and compliance.
Manage full lifecycle of major agreements: negotiation, structuring, execution, renewal, amendment, and termination.
Ensure compliance with contractual terms, service levels, regulatory standards, and internal policies.
Foster productive, accountable relationships with critical suppliers and technology partners.
Lead business reviews and performance management processes, driving continuous improvement.
Act as the executive escalation point for supplier performance or risk issues.
Work cross-functionally with engineering, operations, product, and finance teams to ensure procurement aligns with technical and business requirements.
Provide ongoing updates to executive stakeholders on procurement strategies, risks, cost-saving opportunities, vendor performance, and spend analytics.