Head of Procurement - Direct

Head Of Procurement

Location: Pittsburgh, PA Type: Direct Hire Compensation: $120,000 - $140,000 Contractor Work Model: Hybrid onsite and remote

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute long-term category strategies for direct materials to drive cost savings, optimize supplier performance, and secure favorable pricing.
• Align procurement strategies with engineering and design teams early on to foster supplier involvement, improve timeline efficiency, and manage risk-buy readiness.
• Conduct Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs), negotiate complex contract terms, and resolve supplier performance issues through root-cause analysis.
• Develop "should-cost" models, monitor market intelligence, and create resiliency plans to proactively address material shortages, lead times, and single-source vulnerabilities.
• Partner with operations, finance, and commercial teams to forecast material costs, manage budgets, and align category strategies with broader corporate targets.
• Coach and mentor junior category managers or sourcing specialists, building departmental capability and driving succession planning.
• Manage the performance of 7 or 8 direct reports, conducting regular 1:1 meetings, coaching and mentoring personal development, and providing constructive feedback through appraisals.

Requirements

• At least 15 years of progressive experience in direct procurement, strategic sourcing, or commodity managementoften within manufacturing, homebuilding, or tech industries.
• Strong financial acumen with proven ability to interpret contracts, utilize should-cost analysis, and manage complex supply agreements.
• Proficiency in supply chain and ERP software such as SAP, Oracle, or advanced MS Excel.
• Exceptional leadership, change management, and interpersonal communication skills to effectively manage relationships with C-suite executives and external suppliers.
• Member of Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS), or Institute of Supply Management (CPSM, or CPM) or another appropriate professional institute or relevant experience (desired).
• Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Accounting, or a related field; an MBA is preferred.