Description

The Director, Procurement sets and executes enterprise procurement strategies for assigned categories and supplier ecosystems to deliver measurable value, manage risk, and support our strategic goals. You will lead teams accountable for end-to-end category management and full lifecycle sourcing, including strategic sourcing strategy, complex negotiations, contract management, and ongoing supplier performance and relationship management. Lead, and inspire a highly engaged, high-performing team. You will create clear goals and accountability, coach the team through career development, and demonstrate inclusive leadership. You will focus on building a continuous improvement mindset that strengthens our capabilities and results.

Reporting to the AVP, Procurement, the Director partners with business leaders to align sourcing strategies to enterprise priorities, influence decision-making, and improve supplier ecosystems. You will focus on disciplined spend management, strengthen supplier performance and progress, mitigate supplier and contractual risk, and improve operations across procurement.

In this primarily office-based role, you will be expected to spend at least 80% of your time (4+ days per week) working from the office. Candidates should reside within approximately 35-50 miles of one of the following office locations: Madison, WI 53783 or Boston, MA 02110.
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Position Compensation Range:

$131,000.00 - $220,000.00

Pay Rate Type:

Salary

Compensation may vary based on the job level and your geographic work location. Relocation support is offered for eligible candidates.

Responsibilities:

1) Enterprise Procurement Strategy & Category Leadership

• Set enterprise procurement strategies across assigned categories and supplier ecosystems to deliver measurable value, manage risk, and promote our priorities.
• Establish category management standards, operating rhythms, and strategic roadmaps that align supplier strategies, business demand, and financial goals.
• Prioritize sourcing projects and capacity planning across teams to ensure the highest-value work is resourced and delivered.

2) Leadership, Talent Development & Team Engagement

• Develop, and inspire a highly engaged, high-performing team culture grounded in trust, inclusion, transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Set clear expectations and success measures; provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and performance evaluations; create development plans and succession pipelines.
• Model leadership presence and influence.

3) Strategic Sourcing Execution & Commercial Excellence

• Oversee end-to-end sourcing and contracting activities, which include spend and market analysis, sourcing strategy, supplier evaluation and selection, negotiations, and contracting. The goal is to increase value, improve supplier outcomes, and strengthen partner experience.
• Ensure disciplined negotiation and contracting practices, including development of guides, commercial standards, and governance to improve cycle time and results.
• Improve procurement methodologies and ensure application of best practices across teams.

4) Supplier Ecosystem Optimization, Performance & Innovation

• Lead supplier ecosystem strategies to improve total cost, service and quality across the supplier portfolio.
• Establish expectations and governance for supplier relationship management, performance reviews, issue resolution, and continuous improvement plans with strategic suppliers.
• Work with suppliers and partners to identify innovation opportunities and lead measurable improvements in outcomes.

5) Risk Management, Contractual Governance & Compliance

• Find and address supplier, contractual, financial, and operational risks across categories and ensure escalation and resolution processes are in place.
• Ensure contract management and compliance practices align with Legal, Information Security, Risk, and enterprise policy requirements.
• Contribute to the development and enforcement of procurement-related policies, standards, and procedures.

6) Partnership & Enterprise Influence

• Build trusted relationships with business leaders to align category and sourcing strategies with enterprise goals and priorities.
• Influence important decisions through insights, options, and recommendations that balance cost, risk, performance, and strategic needs.
• Lead change management to increase adoption of procurement practices, strengthen partner engagement, and promote procurement's enterprise impact.

7) Spend Management, Analytics & Technology Enablement

• Promote disciplined spend management and value tracking through analytics, KPI dashboards, and performance reporting in consideration of enterprise goals.
• Ensure teams use procurement processes and technologies (e.g., spend analytics, sourcing, contract and supplier management tools).
• Promote data-driven decision-making and transparency in supplier performance, savings/value delivery, and pipeline progress.

8) Operational Excellence & Value Delivery

• Establish performance measures and operating schedule to track delivery of sourcing pipeline, supplier performance, partner outcomes, and risk mitigation.
• Promote procurement processes to improve cycle time, quality, consistency, and customer experience.
• Support enterprise projects and other assignments based on organizational priorities.

Requirements:

• Your offer will be made contingent on the results of applicable background checks and signing a non-disclosure agreement for proprietary information, trade secrets, and inventions.
• Our policy restricts consideration of applicants needing employment sponsorship (visa) to specialty occupations. Sponsorship will not be considered for this position.

Preferred Knowledge & Skills:

• Experience leading enterprise sourcing/category strategies and major sourcing programs within large, matrixed organizations with complex supplier ecosystems.
• Accountability for large-scale supplier spend (e.g., $1B+ annually) with end-to-end ownership of category strategy, negotiations, contracting, and supplier performance.
• Deep expertise across strategic sourcing and category management (market/spend analysis, RFX, supplier evaluation, negotiation strategy, contract management, and governance).
• Supplier ecosystem strategic leadership, including performance management, continuous improvement, innovation, and supplier risk mitigation.
• Financial and analytical acumen (TCO/should-cost modeling, benchmarking, value tracking) with the ability to translate data into insights and executive-ready recommendations.
• Demonstrated people leadership capability—building and coaching teams with engagement and accountability.
• Commercial judgment to navigate complex vendor situations and improved partner experience.

Travel Requirements

• Up to 10%.

Additional Information

• Offer to selected candidate will be made contingent on the results of applicable background checks

• Offer to selected candidate is contingent on signing a non-disclosure agreement for proprietary information, trade secrets, and inventions

• Sponsorship will not be considered for this position unless specified in the posting

We provide benefits that support your physical, emotional, and financial wellbeing. You will have access to comprehensive medical, dental, vision and wellbeing benefits that enable you to take care of your health. We also offer a competitive 401(k) contribution, a pension plan, an annual incentive, 9 paid holidays and a paid time off program (23 days accrued annually for full-time employees). In addition, our student loan repayment program and paid-family leave are available to support our employees and their families. Interns and contingent workers are not eligible for American Family Insurance Group benefits.

We are an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws pertaining to non-discrimination, non-harassment and equal opportunity. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law.

American Family Insurance is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please email AskHR@AmFam.com to request a reasonable accommodation.

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