Director of Procurement

The Director of Procurement is responsible for leading and professionalizing the procurement function for dnata USA across its Ground Handling, Cargo, and Logistics business lines. This role develops and executes sourcing strategies, oversees supplier and contract management, drives cost savings and operational efficiencies, and ensures procurement activities align with corporate governance requirements and business objectives. The Director of Procurement serves as a strategic business partner to operational leaders across the U.S. network, balancing centralized procurement controls with the needs of a fast-paced, multi-station environment. The position oversees procurement systems, vendor relationships, inventory controls, contract administration, and continuous improvement initiatives that support the company's growth, safety, and financial objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Sourcing & Category Management•    Develop and execute category strategies for ground handling parts and supplies, cargo and logistics materials/equipment (excluding GSE), office and administrative supplies, and other indirect spend categories.•    Lead competitive bid processes (RFP/RFI/RFQ), vendor evaluation scorecards and contract negotiations to secure favourable pricing, terms, and service levels.•    Build and maintain a supplier segmentation strategy, distinguishing strategic, preferred, and transactional suppliers by category and station.•    Identify and deliver cost savings, cost avoidance, and working capital improvements; report results against annual procurement KPIs.Station & Operational Support•    Partner with station managers and operations leadership across the US network to understand local sourcing needs and ensure timely fulfilment of parts and supplies.•    Balance central procurement discipline with the operational realities of station-level urgency, seasonality, and volume fluctuation.•    Establish standard purchasing catalogues and preferred vendor lists to reduce one-off spend and improve station-level compliance.•    Lead a safety centric culture through consistent execution and implementation of company programs and processes throughout the country.Governance, Compliance & Risk•    Ensure all procurement activity complies with the Group Procurement Procedures Manual, and Local Authorities Matrix for approval thresholds.•    Maintain audit-ready documentation for sourcing decisions, contract approvals, and vendor selection rationale (bottoms-up, defensible methodology rather than flat-percentage or informal approaches).•    Partner with Finance and Legal on contract risk, insurance/indemnification requirements, and vendor financial health screening.•    Support external and internal audit requests related to procurement, contracts, and vendor spend.Systems, Process & Data•    Own and continuously improve procurement workflows within ReQlogic and EBIS, ensuring requisition-to-PO processes are efficient and properly controlled.•    Partner with Finance/AP on invoice-matching workflows to resolve PO, receipt, and invoice discrepancies.•    Leverage Business Central data to analyse spend, identify consolidation opportunities, and track supplier performance.•    Champion the adoption of AI and automation tools (e.g., spend analytics, contract review assistance, sourcing research) to increase team efficiency and shift capacity toward higher-value negotiation and strategy work.Leadership & Stakeholder Management•    Partner with station leadership and cross-functional departments to ensure procurement activities support business priorities and operational requirements.•    Communicate effectively across all levels of the organization regarding procurement performance, supply planning, sourcing initiatives, and risk management.•    Foster a culture of integrity, accountability, professionalism, safety, and continuous improvement.•    Lead a safety-centric culture through consistent execution and implementation of company programs and processes.•    Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned.QualificationsRequired•    Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, Business Administration, Finance, Logistics, or a related field.•    Seven (7) or more years of progressive procurement, sourcing, or supply chain leadership experience.•    Demonstrated experience managing strategic sourcing, vendor negotiations, contract administration, and supplier relationships.•    Experience supporting multi-site or multi-station operations within a complex operating environment.•    Strong analytical, organizational, and negotiation skills.•    Experience with procurement systems, ERP platforms, inventory management systems, and Microsoft Office applications.•    Knowledge of procurement governance, budgeting, expense management, compliance, and operational controls.•    Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across all organizational levels.Preferred•    Experience within aviation, airport operations, ground handling, cargo, logistics, transportation, or heavy equipment environments.•    Experience overseeing procurement activities across multiple facilities or operating locations.•    Professional procurement or supply chain certification (CPSM, CPM, CSCP, or similar).•    Experience implementing process improvement, automation, or AI-enabled procurement solutions.________________________________________Key RelationshipsInternal•    CEO•    CFO•    Finance & Accounting•    Legal•    Station Managers•    Operations Leadership•    GSE Management Teams•    Supply Chain and Logistics StakeholdersExternal•    Suppliers and Vendors•    Contracted Service Providers•    Manufacturers and OEMs•    Auditors and Regulatory Representatives, as applicable________________________________________Working Conditions•    Primarily office-based with periodic travel to stations and vendor locations throughout the United States.•    Estimated travel: 10–20%.