Director of Procurement

Company Description

Headquartered in Montreal and Berlin, Vention helps manufacturers automate their operations in record time with the only hardware and software AI-powered platform built for the factory floor. Our technology powers over 25,000 machines across 4,000 factories across 5 continents and we have the privilege to work with a significant proportion of Fortune 500 manufacturers, from space rockets, to electrical cars, to robotics.

At Vention, you’ll work alongside driven and talented people who care deeply about their craft and the impact they create. We’re a team of high achievers who grow through meaningful work, solving complex challenges, learning fast, and seeing the results of our efforts every day.

We move quickly and aim high, but we do it together with care, collaboration, and respect. Our culture celebrates diverse perspectives and supports your growth through intentional development, strong leadership, and opportunities to make a real difference.

Job Description

Vention is seeking an execution-oriented Director of Procurement to lead global supplier management, and cost optimization initiatives across our rapidly growing hardware platform. This role will play a critical part in improving gross margins, strengthening supply chain resiliency, and scaling procurement operations to support Vention’s continued global expansion.

The ideal candidate combines a deep technical understanding of manufacturing and industrial components with world-class commercial negotiation capabilities. They are equally comfortable building should-cost models, negotiating complex supplier agreements, analyzing global commodity trends, and partnering cross-functionally with engineering, finance, and operations teams to drive measurable business outcomes.

This role requires a hands-on leader capable of operating at both strategic and tactical levels within a fast-paced, high-growth industrial technology environment.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Lead Vention’s annual cost reduction program in close collaboration with the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Supply Chain Officer, with clear savings targets tied to gross margin improvement
• Develop top-down and bottom-up cost reduction roadmaps across key spend categories including fabricated metal parts, PCBAs, wire harnesses, motors, electromechanical assemblies, and logistics.
• Identify and execute cost reduction levers including supplier negotiations, strategic sourcing, dual-sourcing, SKU rationalization, specification optimization, value engineering, and design-for-manufacturing (DFM).
• Partner cross-functionally with engineering, operations, manufacturing, and finance teams to embed cost competitiveness into product design and sourcing decisions.
• Build comprehensive supplier negotiation strategies and fact packs leveraging a 360-degree supplier performance view including pricing trends, quality performance, on-time delivery, lead times, responsiveness, and total cost of ownership.
• Develop should-cost models across key commodities, manufacturing processes, and assemblies to support negotiations and benchmark supplier competitiveness.
• Establish procurement analytics, dashboards, and executive reporting mechanisms to track savings realization, supplier performance, commodity exposure, and procurement KPIs.
• Improve and standardize Vention’s Master Supply Agreement (MSA) framework, ensuring appropriate commercial, legal, quality, delivery, and IP protections are implemented across critical suppliers.
• Support supplier selection, qualification, and annual audit processes for mission-critical suppliers, including risk assessment and mitigation planning.
• Monitor global commodity pricing trends (e.g., aluminum, copper, steel, electronics components) and proactively identify sourcing risks and opportunities.
• Drive procurement process maturity, governance, and operational excellence initiatives to support rapid company growth and global scale.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, or a related technical field.
• 8+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, supply chain, or cost engineering within industrial automation, robotics, electronics, or manufacturing environments.
• Proven track record negotiating complex global multi-million-dollar supply agreements with sophisticated suppliers and contract manufacturers.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen, with the ability to independently develop negotiation fact packs, spend analyses, cost variance analyses, and business cases.
• Deep expertise in should-cost modeling across key manufacturing processes including machining, sheet metal fabrication, injection molding, PCB assembly, cable assembly, and electromechanical systems.
• Strong understanding of global supply markets, commodity pricing dynamics, and manufacturing economics.
• Experience managing suppliers across North America, Europe, and Asia, including familiarity with international sourcing and contract structures.
• Comfortable operating in both strategic and hands-on environments within a fast-growing company.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and executive presentation skills.
• Strong project management and cross-functional leadership capabilities.
• Comfortable leveraging a broad range of negotiation approaches, from collaborative partnership models to highly competitive commercial negotiations.

Additional Information

What We Offer

• Career pathing: Real opportunities to grow through personalized development plans, bi-annual employee reviews, and mentorship program 
• Professional development: Continuous training in performance management, inclusive leadership, leadership operating model, team building, and giving/receiving feedback
• Gender diversity & inclusion: Pay equity reviews, inclusive policies, and a Women’s Employee Resource Group offering networking, mentorship, and quarterly learning sessions.
• Hybrid work: Enjoy flexibility with our hybrid model, allowing you to work from home on select days.
• Community engagement: Two paid volunteering days per year to give back to causes you care about.
• Central location: Regular team gatherings and a collaborative office space in the heart of Montreal, surrounded by cafés and restaurants.
• Team events: All year round employee events including annual kick-off, employee summit, quarterly happy hours, and department events.
• Comprehensive benefits: A complete group benefits plan for you and your family that start day one.
• Top-up and benefits for new parents: Additional financial support and resources to support employees during their transition to parenthood.

What to Expect in Your Interview

• Initial Call
• Meet the Team
• Case or take-home interview
• Decision & Offer

We’re committed to making every step of the process inclusive and accessible. If you require accommodations at any stage, please let us know, we’ll ensure you have what you need to succeed.

Professional Growth & Development

Vention believes strongly in promotion from within. For this reason, we structured a comprehensive professional development program that elevate high-performing individuals who deeply understand the inner workings of Vention. This program encompasses:

• In-house coaching program with former industry executives working with small cohort of emerging leaders
• Quarterly management training on topics ranging from “Giving & Receiving Feedback, to Building high-performing teams, to "Developing your own Leadership model”
• Quarterly World-Class Speaker Series featuring industry leaders sharing their perspective and lessons learned as they build their function and business
• Dedicated professional development channels sponsored by the Executive team to foster continuous professional learning
• Book allocation program to further your knowledge in your domain of expertise or any business leadership topics

Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging at Vention

When you join Vention, you join a team of professionals with diverse experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives. Together, we’re building a workplace where everyone belongs, feels valued, and can achieve extraordinary results.

We celebrate differences in ideas, in experiences, and in people. Our initiatives in gender equity, career growth, and leadership development are designed to create real opportunities for everyone to thrive.

Vention’s culture

Vention is an uplifting environment for high achievers. Thinking that Vention’s culture would keep you energized? See our full culture guide here.