Enablement & Operations Analyst

Procurement Enablement & Operations Analyst

The Procurement Enablement & Operations Analyst leads two areas 1) source-to-pay process: Procurement Enablement (the policies, systems, data, KPIs and training that let the business buy correctly) and 2) Operational Procurement (the day-to-day execution of vendor onboarding, purchase requisition (PR) to purchase order (PO) conversion, outline agreements and compliance reporting). This role has strong business and system acumen. The analyst understands how procurement decisions affect cost, cash, supply continuity and financial controls, and how those processes are built in SAP S/4HANA and Ariba. The role sets up the procurement KPI framework (retro spend, vendor onboarding etc), measures and enforces compliance, and drives corrective actions with Buyers, requisitioners, suppliers, AP, Finance, IT and Operations. It is the go-to resource for procurement process and system.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Procurement Enablement

• Translate procurement policy and approval rules (delegation of authority, contract requirements) into clear processes, system workflows and release strategies in SAP/Ariba)
• Design and maintain buying channels (catalogs, SAP contracts, scheduling agreements, spot buys) so requisitioners are guided to the right supplier, price and approval path
• Write and maintain procurement procedures, work instructions, desk guides and training; onboard and train requisitioners, buyers and approvers on policy and system use
• Act as procurement key user for SAP and Ariba: resolves/ addresses issues, define business requirements, test changes (UAT) and support releases and go-lives with IT
• Identify and deliver simplification and automation opportunities (touchless POs, approval routing, catalogs, workflow, self-service reporting) with IT, AP and Finance
• Define rules to tackle tail spend and reduce supplier onboarding.
• Set up the procurement KPI framework: define metrics, calculation rules, data sources, targets, owners and reporting cadence. Lead root-cause analysis on KPI misses
• Enforce procurement policy by monitoring exceptions, escalating repeat non-compliance and working with managers to close gaps

Operational Procurement

• Own the vendor onboarding workflow in SAP/Ariba (SLP), from request and due diligence to approval and activation, with complete tax, and certification documents
• Set and enforce supplier master data standards (purchasing org, payment terms, Incoterms, partner functions); lead vendor master clean-up, blocking and de-duplication with AP and Finance
• Manage the PR-to-PO pipeline: monitor open requisitions, convert PRs to POs, and reduce cycle time and manual touches
• Maintain source lists, purchasing info records and pricing conditions so requisitions route to the right Buyer, approver and agreement.
• Create, maintain and monitor outline agreements (value and quantity contracts, scheduling agreements); track consumption, expirations and price changes and alert Buyers ahead of renewals
• Maintain supplier records, contracts, and vendor information
• Coordinate vendor communications and follow-up actions

Compliance, Controls & Audit

• Procurement compliance reporting: approval-policy adherence, contract coverage, vendor master changes and segregation-of-duties conflicts
• Support internal and external audits and reporting requirements.

Business & System Acumen

• Understand how procurement links to planning/MRP, receiving, Inventory, AP, Finance, and how a change in one area affects the others
• Use knowledge of SAP data structures, standard reports and transactions to diagnose issues, reconcile data and propose fixes
• Weigh cost, risk, cashflow, control and user-experience trade-offs when recommending process or system changes; build business cases where needed
• Champion disciplined procurement execution and governance across plants, projects and business functions

MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Finance, Information Systems or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 5+ years of experience in procurement operations, purchasing, sourcing or source-to-pay, preferably in manufacturing, CPG, food/agriculture or operations
• 3+ years of hands-on SAP purchasing experience, including PRs, POs, outline agreements, info records, source lists and vendor master data
• Proven experience setting up and reporting procurement KPIs, and driving corrective actions to closure
• Demonstrated ownership of vendor onboarding, procurement policy compliance or procurement enablement (training, process design, system rollout)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES

• Strong business and system acumen across the end-to-end procure-to-pay process
• Advanced Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, lookups, data modeling) and strong analytical, root-cause and problem-solving skills
• Able to enforce policy and hold stakeholders accountable while keeping strong working relationships
• High data accuracy, attention to detail and understanding of internal controls
• Able to train stakeholders at all levels
• Able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• N/A

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Sitting for prolonged periods.
• Walking through warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and multiple buildings.
• Occasional bending and lifting.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Office environment with a hybrid model of three days in the office, based on business needs. Time spent in distribution, warehouse, and production areas. Exposure to dust, moisture, noise, and hot or cold temperatures. Frequent interaction with suppliers, carriers, 3PL providers, and cross-functional business partners.

WHY BLUE DIAMOND?

In addition to working at the world's largest, state-of-the-art almond manufacturer, we offer a safe and collaborative team environment, with numerous opportunities for free training and career advancement. Check out the BDG Benefits, Health & Wellness Guide HERE.