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Avantor · 1 day ago

SVP & Chief Procurement Officer

United States

Full-time

Remote

Director/Executive

20+ years exp

Avantor is a global leader in life sciences and advanced materials, seeking a Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) to define and execute a global procurement strategy. The CPO will oversee all procurement activities, establish supplier partnerships, and lead a global team to drive cost optimization and operational excellence.

BiotechnologyElectronicsIndustrialLife ScienceManufacturingPharmaceutical

Responsibilities

Define and execute a comprehensive global procurement strategy for all categories

Establish short- and long-term plans to achieve cost savings, working capital improvements, and productivity goals

Partner with executive leadership to align procurement objectives with overall business strategy

Build and maintain strategic partnerships with key material suppliers and tolling partners

Lead global procurement initiatives, including supplier qualification, RFI/RFQ processes, negotiations, and contract management

Drive aggressive cost savings and value creation through supplier leverage and integration

Monitor industry trends, commodity markets, and emerging technologies to mitigate risk and capitalize on opportunities

Define sourcing strategies for indirect commodities and services, ensuring alignment with business needs

Negotiate and manage contracts with vendors, ensuring compliance with quality standards and cost objectives

Implement governance, metrics, and policies to track and realize savings goals

Lead and develop a global procurement organization, including Directors, Managers, and Supervisors

Create organizational structures and staffing plans to support strategic objectives

Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement

Work closely with Marketing, Operations, Finance, and other corporate functions to optimize profitability and achieve strategic goals

Support adjacent functions in implementing procurement strategies and supplier programs

Qualification

Global procurement strategySupplier relationship managementContract negotiationsChange managementFinancial acumenSupply chain managementOrganizational leadershipStrategic analysisPresentation skillsInterpersonal skillsProject management

Required

Bachelor's degree in supply chain, Business, Engineering, or related field; MBA or equivalent advanced degree strongly preferred

20+ years of progressive procurement or supply chain management experience, with at least 10 years in senior leadership roles

Demonstrated success in global procurement strategy development and execution across Direct and Indirect categories

Proven ability to lead large, complex organizations with multi-regional teams and budgets exceeding $1B+

Experience managing strategic supplier relationships, contract negotiations, and risk mitigations at an enterprise level

Track record of delivering transformational cost savings, operational efficiencies, and innovation initiatives

Exhibit significant executive presence to calmly navigate high-pressure environments at every level of Avantor and within customer and supplier organizations

Strong demonstrated presentation skills, including an ability to distill and clearly communicate complex concepts into easily understandable narratives

Display substantial organizational sensitivity and savvy to involve, engage, and convince internal or external leadership teams to adopt product, innovation, and commercial strategies

Experience managing mergers and acquisitions from due diligence through integration

Visionary Leadership: Ability to set long-term strategic direction and influence at the C-suite level

Global Mindset: Skilled in navigating diverse markets, cultures, and regulatory environments

Financial Acumen: Strong understanding of P&L impact, working capital optimization, and cost modeling

Change Management: Expertise in driving organizational transformation and building high-performance cultures

Stakeholder Engagement: Exceptional ability to collaborate with executive leadership, boards, and external partners

Culturally aware and knowledgeable of how to operate in diverse global geographies

Comfortable working across all levels and functions

Superior skills in strategic analysis, planning, organizing, and communication

Strong understanding of financial and accounting metrics and tools

Superior interpersonal skills

Significant background in influencing internal stakeholders in a matrix environment

Significant experience in leading large, complex negotiations

Able to plan and execute complex projects

Travel up to 50%

Company

Avantor

Glassdoor3.4

Avantor is a provider of mission-critical products and services to customers in the life sciences and applied materials industries. It is a sub-organization of Avantor Performance Materials.

Founded in 1904

Radnor, Pennsylvania, USA

10001+ employees