Lead, Procurement

Lead, Procurement

Department: Enterprise Operations - Procurement

Reports To: Director, Procurement

Position Summary:

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. This role also relies on your experience in book manufacturing or print production knowledge to drive creative solutions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Sourcing:

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.

Supplier Management:

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.

Cost Reduction:

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.

Contract Management:

Develop and negotiate contracts that align with the company's strategic goals.

Ensure compliance with contract terms and conditions.

Manage contract renewals and amendments.

Risk Management:

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.

Sustainability:

Promote sustainable procurement practices, including sourcing from environmentally responsible suppliers.

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement sustainable initiatives.

What you should show up ready to teach anyone on your first day:

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 print solutions that directly enable their creative and commercial goals

Within your first month, you’ll:

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.

Within your first year, you’ll:

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.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in business, Supply Management, or Print Production (or equivalent experience) required.

A background in book manufacturing, publishing, or commercial printing is required.

4+ years procurement experience preferred

Familiarity with vendors US and overseas desired.

Qualifications:

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

Experience with NetSuite is preferred

Willing to travel, 15% of work time.

Physical Requirements:

Sitting at a desk/looking at a computer screen for long periods of time.

Reasonable Accommodation Notice Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment.

If you don’t meet every requirement listed, we encourage you to apply anyway. Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every qualification. We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you are drawn to this role and your past experiences do not align perfectly to the job description, we encourage you to apply.