Associate Director, Procurement

Position Overview We are seeking an experienced and proactive Associate Director of Procurement to lead and scale the company’s procurement function during a critical phase of growth. This role will serve as the most senior procurement professional in the organization, with responsibility for both day-to-day purchasing execution and the development of strategic supplier partnerships that support R&D, engineering, and operations. The Associate Director will partner closely with technical and operational leaders to anticipate needs, engage suppliers early, and ensure materials, services, and equipment are sourced efficiently, cost-effectively, and on schedule. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable executing purchase orders and contracts as they are driving vendor strategy, negotiating complex agreements, and representing the company in external supplier relationships. This is a highly cross-functional role that will help build the procurement foundation required to support rapid scaling in a highly technical, R&D-driven environment. Key Responsibilities Procurement Strategy & Leadership - Own and evolve the company’s procurement strategy to support R&D, engineering, manufacturing, and corporate functions. - Serve as the primary procurement partner to functional leaders, proactively understanding upcoming needs and translating them into sourcing and supplier strategies. - Establish scalable procurement processes, policies, and controls appropriate for a high-growth, early-stage organization, spanning both direct and indirect procurement. - Assess and mitigate supplier risk through KPIs, audits and risk assessments. Purchasing & Operational Execution - Manage end-to-end purchasing activities, including requisitions, purchase orders, vendor setup, delivery and invoice issue resolution. - Ensure timely procurement of equipment, consumables, reagents, services, and capital items critical to scientific and engineering execution at lowest total cost. - Partner with Finance to support budgeting, spend tracking, accruals, and audit readiness. Supplier & Partner Engagement - Proactively identify, qualify, and onboard strategic suppliers and external partners. - Lead supplier negotiations, including pricing, lead times, service levels, and contract terms. - Build strong, collaborative relationships with key vendors, acting as a primary point of contact and escalation path. - Lead Business Reviews with key suppliers. Systems, Process & Scale - Procure-to-Pay Leaders: Own procurement systems and tools, including purchasing workflows and vendor data management. Map, measure and drive improvements to the P2P processes & systems. - Develop KPI reporting and dashboards to provide visibility into spend, supplier performance, and procurement risks. - Contribute to long-term planning for supply chain and procurement capabilities as the company grows. Qualifications Required: - 10+ years of progressive experience in procurement, purchasing, or supply chain roles, preferably in biotech, life sciences, advanced technology, or R&D-driven environments. - Experience serving as a senior or lead procurement professional, with ownership over supplier relationships and sourcing decisions. - Strong track record of managing both tactical purchasing execution and strategic supplier engagement. - Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with scientific, engineering, operations, finance, and legal stakeholders. - Excellent negotiation, communication, and relationship-management skills. - Experience in quantifying and recommending make/buy decisions, preparing total cost comparisons. - Experience in preparing, executing and presenting recommendations from RFPs & RFQs Preferred: - Experience supporting early-stage and/or high-growth companies. - Familiarity with sourcing scientific equipment, consumables, reagents, capital equipment, and engineering services. - Experience building procurement processes and systems from the ground up. - Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or supply chain certification (e.g., CPSM, CSCP) preferred. Why Join Us - Partner closely with world-class scientists and engineers on cutting-edge technology development. - Play a visible, high-impact role shaping how the company engages suppliers and external partners. - Competitive compensation and equity package, comprehensive benefits, and flexibility to support work-life integration. We are an equal opportunity employer. We thrive on diversity and collaboration.