Director of Procurement

Convene is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and we believe that diverse teams are the best teams. We live our values of GRIT (Genuine, Relentless, Integrity & Teamwork) and strive to create an inclusive and equitable workplace where everyone can be their true selves, where we all show up for each other. 

In line with our goal to be 1% better every day, we are committed to listening, learning, growing and improving.  We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, experiences, abilities and perspectives to join us on this journey.

We are seeking a Director of Procurement to join our Corporate Operations team in New York City. The Director of Procurement will report directly to the Vice President of Corporate Operations in partnership with Real Estate, Development and Construction. 

The Director of Procurement leads the procurement function, develops both short and long term strategy, and creates operational processes to ensure the best value exchange for the items and assistance needed to achieve our business goals and assist in building the procurement function foundation. This team member will shape strategy to make sure Convene’s procurement & purchasing is scalable and replicable across all markets/geos as we continue to expand globally. This is instrumental as it pertains to location buildouts, sourcing, partnerships along with food and beverage purchasing. This work includes, but not limited to, development and implementation of strategic and operational sourcing, procurement, contracting and supply management strategies. The ideal candidate will have experience in leading and implementation of contemporary enterprise-wide procurement systems. Candidates must have experience leading a clear supplier management process including evaluation, selection & ongoing management including KPI's to effectively measure performance. 

What You’ll Do:

The Director of Procurement requires experience in high volume environments with a focus on operational and development & construction details.  

• Develop and implement organizational procurement policies and processes to ensure a consistent and standardized approach, drive improvements and efficiencies in procurement activities
• Design and execute an organizational procurement strategy, supported by tactical and innovative procurement programs, to deliver enhanced benefits and value to the customer/end user and to support service delivery objectives. On the construction side this includes developing and executing bulk buy programs for owner-furnished items (OFI), including lighting, lighting controls, AV, IT, security, millwork, FF&E, flooring, coffee equipment and commercial kitchen equipment
• Develop vendor relationship strategies and is responsible for all aspects of vendor relationship management 
• Lead the research and analysis of market trends and best practice to ensure sourcing and procurement strategies and approaches are current along with risks identified. Governance frameworks are effective; insight is gained through the analysis of costs, benefits, and supply markets
• Provide expert advice to key stakeholders on all aspects of procurement to encourage innovative practices and support delivery of business and policy directions. Build and manage relationships with key stakeholders to provide strategic insights on business needs, resolve complex issues, and deliver high performance cost, service, and quality outcomes
• Provide leadership, guidance and effective management with the procurement team and cross-functional working groups to achieve a high-level of performance in procurement and deliver high quality advice and service to stakeholders
• Identify and manage commercial, contractual, operational, financial, reputational, ethical and procurement risks to minimize negative impacts on organizational objectives while encouraging opportunity and innovation
• Establish performance standards and evaluation processes to assess and report on procurement activity in terms of progress, results, customer satisfaction, value, and cost. 
• Heavy involvement with new location openings; new markets & new geos
• Contract repository management system owner
• Lead sourcing for company initiatives; product selection, costs negotiations, applicable par level formulas, delivery schedules and tracking, inventory validation, and payment processing
• Act as a hands-on and enthusiastic coach-centric leader in partnership with VP of Corporate Operations to deliver a best-in-class client experience for our customers/attendees while being a resource to all functions linked to procurement

What We Look For: 

• Experience with sourcing and purchasing food and beverage, operating supplies, equipment, furniture, and construction material 
• Experience in building organizational procurement strategy and systems from scratch; creating and managing short, mid, and long-term goals and objectives 
• Experience managing complex projects including the selection, implementation, and management of procurement systems 
• Actively manage the skills and competency development of a procurement team, including training and development along with knowledge management capabilities. 
• Previous leadership of cross-functional teams across other business functions and initiatives 
• Excel at budget management for categories under management and for procurement itself; have developed benchmarks and scorecards to be used for continuous improvement 
• Experience in purchasing, contract development and contract administration, with knowledge of contract terms, conditions, and legal ramifications 
• Strong negotiations skills in conducting contract negotiations strategies, direct negotiation distribution contracts and agreements of significant complexity and ability to write complex distribution agreements to protect the company's interests 
• Comfortable with ambiguity and can carve out a path to solution using informal influence, craft, and intuition 
• Dedication to finding and scaling efficiencies and personal satisfaction with finding solutions 
• Analytical thinker: someone who thrives in the use of data to drive decisions knowing that data is a tool and not the end all and be all 
• Honest and trustworthy; a respected member of the organization who leads by example, and who people enjoy working with 

Who We Are:

Convene is the leading provider of premium meeting and workday experiences with a global network of venues and flexible office locations. Combining design, technology, and hospitality to elevate today’s modern work experience, Convene creates the spaces and experiences that help teams succeed. With Studio, an all-in-one solution for digitally-enabled events, and 23 locations across the U.S. & London including meeting spaces and flexible workplaces, Convene creates your best day at work, wherever it happens. The company has been named one of America’s 100 Most Promising Companies by Forbes and a Best Workplace by both Inc. and Fortune Magazine.

We’re Here For You: 

At Convene, you’ll receive:

• Excellent health coverage for you and your family starting day one
• Medical and insurance navigation support through Eden Health
• Flexible vacation time plus time off for your birthday
• Two business closures per year to allow all employees to unplug and recharge 
• 401K plan with company matching
• Professional development support 
• Access to healthy meals and snacks at work (when in the office) 
• A chance to be part of a dynamic, growing team 
• The opportunity to have a significant impact on your team and the business in the work that you do 
• A culture of GRIT (Genuine, Relentless, Integrity and Teamwork)

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