Procurement Director

Location: Chicago, London or Ghent (hybrid: min. 2 days in office)

Position Overview: 

Showpad is seeking a proven strong negotiator, strategic thinker and hands-on professional to lead the next phase of its global procurement function spanning North America, Europe, and Asia. As the Director of Procurement, you will drive substantial cost savings, implement advanced procurement strategies, and ensure the company achieves aggressive cost-saving targets. With a strong focus on tough negotiations and strategic sourcing, this role will be central to optimizing procurement processes and delivering sustainable value to the business. We're looking for someone with a strong sense of ownership, willing to roll up their sleeves and dive into the operational aspects of procurement to drive results.

Your role will require operational excellence and strategic foresight, balancing efficiency with future-focused procurement innovations. You will collaborate closely with stakeholders across multiple departments, including senior and executive leadership, and the finance department, to influence decision-making at the highest levels. Reporting into the CFO, you will help shape the evolution of the procurement function to meet the growing needs of Showpad, ensuring long-term sustainability and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Procurement Leadership: Lead further development and implementation of the global procurement strategy; drive initiatives that deliver substantial cost savings, ensure that procurement processes evolve in alignment with the company’s growth and business objectives.
• Tough Negotiations & Cost Savings: Act as the lead negotiator for major contracts, leveraging your expertise to drive tough negotiations that result in substantial cost savings. Take ownership of sourcing strategies that consistently achieve or exceed aggressive cost-saving targets.
• Procurement Optimization: Strategically optimize procurement processes, implementing best practices, automation, and digital procurement tools (e.g., ZIP). Ensure processes are scalable and capable of delivering both immediate and long-term value.
• Supplier Relationship & Management: Cultivate strategic relationships with key suppliers, ensuring performance aligns with company goals and cost-saving initiatives. Continuously monitor and evaluate supplier performance to maintain a competitive advantage.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with various stakeholders across multiple departments, the finance department and senior and executive leadership to ensure that procurement strategies support wider business goals. Provide input on budgeting, resource allocation, and sourcing decisions with a focus on hitting aggressive cost-saving KPIs.
• Future-Ready Procurement Strategy: Serve as a procurement strategist, not just an operational professional. Drive innovation, ensuring that procurement evolves to meet the growing needs of the business. Lead initiatives to future-proof procurement practices and ensure long-term sustainability of cost-saving measures.
• Risk Management & Compliance: Develop and implement risk management frameworks to protect Showpad from supplier and contract risks. Ensure all procurement activities are compliant with legal, regulatory, and ethical standards.
• Performance Metrics & Reporting: Define, track, and report on procurement KPIs, focusing on cost savings, process efficiency, and supplier performance. Regularly present progress and strategic recommendations to internal stakeholders and senior leadership to ensure procurement initiatives are aligned with business objectives.

Required skills:

• Fast Learning Skills: with the ability to quickly ramp up and adapt to the evolving challenges of the role and the dynamic needs of the business.
• Expert Negotiation & Sourcing Skills: Proven experience as a lead negotiator in securing complex, high-value contracts, with a strong focus on SaaS contracts, and a track record of achieving substantial cost savings. Expertise in strategic sourcing, supplier management, and optimizing procurement processes.
• Strategic Vision & Implementation: Experience in implementing advanced procurement strategies, with a focus on innovation, scalability, and process optimization. Ability to lead the procurement function’s evolution in line with the business's future needs.
• Cost-Saving Focus: Demonstrated success in driving aggressive cost-saving initiatives, with clear, measurable results. Experience in setting and achieving ambitious cost reduction targets. Aptitude in working with numbers and presenting these clearly to senior and executive leadership. Experience working closely with the FP&A and Controller roles.
• Supplier Management: Strong ability to build, manage, and optimize relationships with global suppliers to deliver long-term value to the business. Proven experience in improving supplier performance through strategic partnerships.
• Data-Driven Decision-Making: Skilled in utilizing procurement data to drive decision-making and track progress against savings

Company Highlights: 

Founded in 2011, Showpad is the world’s leading Enablement Operating System (eOS™). We align Sales and Marketing teams around impactful content and measurable engagement, enabling sellers to build unique buying experiences and continuously improve conversion rates. Sellers close more deals – faster – with Showpad.

With dual-headquarters in Ghent and Chicago, regional offices in London, Munich, Bucharest and Wroclaw, and remote hubs across the US and EMEA, Showpad is powered by a diverse global workforce of more than 400 people. Our employee value proposition centers around impact, purpose and belonging. Our culture is based on flexibility, trust and setting people up for success. At Showpad, we foster inclusion, innovate for impact and never stop to raise the bar. We take serious care of our people but never take ourselves too seriously.

What you can expect from Showpad

We welcome every voice and are committed to building a truly inclusive environment where your differences are not just welcomed, they are celebrated. We’re building a best-in-class experience for our employees and are always identifying opportunities to encourage our team to be their authentic selves. Whether that’s paid parental leave, paid holidays (including Juneteenth and paid time off to vote), paid time off to volunteer at non-profit organizations, personal development opportunities or professional stretch assignments, you can expect Showpad to support you. 

We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive organization and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, pregnancy, disability, age, veteran status, or other dimensions of identity.