Director, Procurement and Partner Relations - Bridgewater, NJ, United States - Brother USA

Description

Let's Grow Together

Our mission is to live our "at your side" promise and simplify and enrich the lives of our customers, employees, and communities. "At your side" is more than a slogan to us; it's the purpose we do our best to fulfill every day. With a legacy spanning over a century, this is a great place to launch or expand any career and push the boundaries of what comes next. We're committed to achieving shared success, and we provide opportunities for you to develop through experience, exposure and education. Our people have always leveraged their unique perspectives to keep us on the right track for a lasting future. If you want to innovate, learn, and grow with a global leader that builds products, services, and a company people love, then we'll be "at your side" every step of the way.

The Director, Procurement and Partner Relations is responsible for developing and overseeing the Company's transformation of its purchasing and procurement function and development of a strategic sourcing and supplier relationship management model that propels the company's business and profitability goals across the US, Canada and Latin America. This role has responsibility for developing frameworks and category management strategies involving both indirect and direct spend, and creating governance around supplier sourcing, risk assessment, contract negotiation, relationship management & quality. The Director, Procurement and Partner Relations leads the Indirect Purchasing and Procurement teams supporting the Americas, as well the Procurement Operations group, which will be responsible for identifying and overseeing technology and reporting needed to execute the team's vision and new operating model, including its P-to-P tool, obligations management, P-card, dynamic discounting, and more, as well as reporting out on the value created by procurement function and opportunities for the business to further optimize spend. This team will also be responsible for overseeing and partnering with the business and suppliers to reinforce, benchmark and make recommendations around the quality and commitments made by key suppliers. The Director, Procurement and Partner Relations practices leadership that embraces a DE&I mentality with an emphasis on sustainability efforts, delivers cost savings, eliminates waste, mitigates risk, and improves service, quality and collaboration with our suppliers.

Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Vision and Transformational Activities

• Create a clear vision, develop, and execute upon a transformation of the Company's procurement and supplier relationship management practices across the Americas, resulting in the establishment of a strategic and proactive strategic sourcing and procurement function that fuel's the Company's operational effectiveness and efficiency goals by:
  • Establishing category management strategies, managed by aligned business partners who partner with the business to streamline and closely oversee the supplier portfolio, selection and contracting process
  • Develop and implement efficient and effective processes for and metrics to continuously assess cost savings opportunities, spend analysis, contract reviews, pricing and supplier performance and compliance
• Develop, implement, and manage procurement operating models, systems and processes to ensure that strategic, financial and operational objectives for all buying categories are met
• Oversee the development and launch of strategic sourcing methodologies, including spend analysis, sourcing, contract and supplier management, and supporting tools and systems
• Educate key stakeholder and business leaders on best practices and oversee the development and implementation of policies and training materials that are central to strategic sourcing methodology and processes
• Assess current and future operational risks and opportunities, and translate those into strategies, capabilities, best practices, and key performance indicators (KPIs) to deliver achievable solutions
• Build relationships with key internal stakeholders to align on business objectives, challenges and requirements to accomplish corporate objectives and strategies
• Provide cross-functional and collaborative leadership to advance departmental and companywide initiatives, ensuring alignment with corporate priorities

Leadership

• Lead a cohesive, high-performing, and collaborative team of category leaders and procurement technology, reporting and supplier relationship management professionals, leveraging strengths, driving alignment and performance, and providing regular coaching and development opportunities
• Create an environment of collaboration, innovation, problem-solving and continuous improvement
• Lead the team to provide the right level of support and responsiveness to the business and suppliers
• Provide direction, leadership and guidance to leadership staff and monitor the efficiency with a focus on supporting corporate short term and long term plans

Indirect Procurement Oversight

• Manage the procurement end to end process across the Americas
• Create a strategic sourcing strategy to ensure cost saving, adequate supply fulfillment, and appropriate supplier selection
• Offer high level support and analysis for root cause analysis and implement achievable solutions
• Influence supplier relationships to support strategic sourcing and spending control/cost savings
• Oversee the negotiation and review of supplier selection, contracts, and payment
• Support risk mitigation, contract compliance, cost savings, and building ongoing supplier relationships
• Conduct timely reviews with suppliers to measure performance against contractual standards and performance expectations

Direct Procurement Oversight

• Develop and implement policy and governance around procurement of parts and materials to ensure compliance with supplier standards, regulatory compliance requirements and sustainability and DE&I objectives
• Develop category management and supplier relationship management strategies to ensure that parts and materials are competitively sourced, prices are negotiated

Reporting

• Oversee financial responsibility and budgets for the Procurement teams to support continuous improvement mindset
• Monitor and analyze trends and market conditions for present and future pricing, availability and capacity of goods and services
• Establish and monitor metrics to evaluate team productivity, system metrics, timely delivery, spending and purchases, expense accruals, and additional reporting capabilities to manage efficiencies
• Report on key metrics and make recommendations to senior leadership for cost savings, risk mitigation, analysis and improvements

Education Level

Bachelor's Degree (or equivalent experience) Business Administration, Logistics, Accounting, Finance, or related field Required

Master's Degree (or equivalent experience) Master of Business Administration (MBA) or equivalent Preferred

Minimum 12 years Required

Varied corporate experience spanning the following areas:

• Senior leadership experience leading and mentoring staff with a focus on continuous process improvement, efficiencies, and technology driven solutions
• Deep knowledge of best practice procurement methodology, including RFPs, total cost of ownership, root cause problem solving and supplier evaluation/qualification processes
• Purchasing and Accounts Payable system and workflows in a shared service environment
• Hands-on experience implementing new policies
• Supplier management and compliance

Languages

• Spanish Preferred
• Portuguese Preferred
• French-Canadian Preferred

Software/Technical Skills

• Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) Advanced Required
• Zycus or equivalent procurement systems and source to pay technical platforms Advanced Required
• SAP S/4HANA Intermediate Preferred

Other Skills/Knowledge/Abilities

• Ability to communicate a vision and gain alignment with senior management and internal stakeholders Required
• Demonstrated ability to challenge the status quo and foster shared understanding, transparency, and mastery of the process and/or system Required
• Strong business acumen including analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to identify achievable solutions and make good and timely decisions Required
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills Required
• Ability to build relationships across all levels of the organization Required
• Excellent leadership, team building and collaboration skills Required
• Ability to build and manage long-term relationships and maximize value for the organization through effective negotiation Required
• In-depth knowledge of sourcing and procurement policies and best practices Required
• Metrics-driven leader with proven ability optimizing spend and profitability cross border to meet organizational goals Required

What We Offer Our Employees

We offer an above-market benefits package that includes a choice of Health Insurance plans (including Dental and Vision Insurance), a generous 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan, paid holidays, paid time off (PTO), and more Plus, if you're considering an advanced degree that would help you achieve your development and career goals, Brother USA offers a highly competitive tuition reimbursement program.

Apply today to learn why Forbes called Brother one of the World's Best Employers and NJBIZ called Brother one of the Best Places to Work in New Jersey (2023)

#LI-Hybrid

• The salary (or hiring) range for this position is $175,000 - $185,000 per year
• Starting salary to be determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, location, and alignment with market data
• This position is eligible to participate in the relevant Brother variable pay incentive plan(s). Applicable bonus awards are discretionary and contingent upon 1) achievement of your individual objectives and 2) Brother achieving its corporate and business-level objectives
• Benefits include, but are not limited to, healthcare and wellness coverage, life and disability insurance, 401K, tuition reimbursement, and Paid Time Off. Details are available at

Brother International Corporation has earned its reputation as a premier provider of home office and business products, home appliances for the sewing and crafting enthusiast as well as industrial solutions that revolutionize the way we live and work. Brother International Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Brother Industries Ltd. With worldwide sales exceeding $6 billion, this global manufacturer was started more than 100 years ago. Bridgewater, New Jersey is the corporate headquarters for Brother in the Americas. It has fully integrated sales, marketing services, manufacturing, research and development capabilities located in the U.S. In addition to its headquarters, Brother has facilities in California, Illinois and Tennessee, as well as subsidiaries in Canada, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Peru and Mexico. For more information, visit

Brother International Corporation ("Brother") is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate or make employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable state or federal laws. If you require any physical or other assistance in completing this application, a reasonable accommodation will be made upon request.