Director, Procurement Partner

Role Value Proposition:

The US Procurement Partnering team is part of the Global Procurement organization. This team combines industry-standard category management and sourcing functions, focusing on collaboration with business partners to develop category strategies, source new business requirements, and manage existing costs and contracts. The Procurement Partnering team is on an exciting transformation journey, aiming to expand spend coverage through renewed relationships, streamlined processes and enhanced technologies. 

As Director, Procurement Partner, you will lead a team of procurement professionals responsible for delivering strategic value through category strategy development, supplier relationship management, and execution of high-impact, cross-functional sourcing initiatives. Reporting to the AVP of Procurement, you will play a pivotal role in advancing procurement’s enterprise value proposition by partnering with key lines of business (LOBs) to drive cost optimization, mitigate third-party risk, and unlock innovation across critical spend categories. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and mentor a team of 4 procurement professionals, primarily focusing on leadership and team development, while allocating work based on project complexity and resource availability. Foster a collaborative and high-performing culture, coaching team members in negotiations, partner/vendor engagement, and category strategy.
• Develop, implement, and guide team category management strategies that align with business objectives across our key US Business and Operations LOBs, ensuring optimal sourcing execution and channel management across complex business units.
• Oversee and analyze managed spend of $300 million that will span all indirect categories, mainly Software (SaaS), Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), identifying opportunities for cost savings, efficiency improvements, and risk mitigation.
• Prioritize building strong relationships with senior business leaders and stakeholders, ensuring alignment between procurement activities and business needs and objectives. Collaborate closely with internal teams to drive strategic planning and thought leadership pertaining to vendor strategy and procurement requirements.
• Lead, execute, and coach team strategic sourcing initiatives across priority categories, leveraging advanced negotiation strategies to optimize vendor performance, manage renewal cycles, and drive cost efficiencies for key lines of business.
• Stay informed of industry trends and market dynamics to leverage best practices and innovative solutions relevant to primary categories. Apply market intelligence and available benchmarking tools to achieve better purchasing outcomes and drive strategic value for the LOBs. 

Essential Business Experience and Technical Skills: 

Required: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or a related field; MBA preferred.
• 10-15 years of experience in indirect procurement or supply chain management, with experience in both category management and sourcing.
• Proven leadership experience in globally distributed large-scale procurement teams.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make data-driven decisions.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, capable of influencing stakeholders at all levels.

Preferred: 

• Experience in sourcing for insurance, financial services, or regulated industries.
• Proficient in procurement software and tools; experience with leading procurement orchestration tools (e.g., Zip), CLMs and Ariba helpful.
• Familiarity with third-party risk management processes and platforms (e.g., Aravo).
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements impacting vendor relationships (e.g., GDPR, NYDFS).
• Experience supporting procurement transformation initiatives and/or operating model redesign.

At MetLife, we’re leading the global transformation of an industry we’ve long defined. United in purpose, diverse in perspective, we’re dedicated to making a difference in the lives of our customers.