Procurement Manager

Talascend is currently seeking a Procurement Manager for a long term contract opportunity with our client in Huntsville, Alabama.

Overview

The procurement manager provides strategic leadership for procurement, strategic sourcing, supplier management, contracting, and materials management activities supporting manufacturing operations and major capital investment projects. This role develops and executes procurement strategies that ensure equipment, materials, and services are acquired safely, compliantly, on schedule, within budget, and in alignment with quality, operational, and business requirements.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute procurement and sourcing strategies supporting manufacturing facilities, operational functions, and capital investment programs.
• Lead procurement functions supporting greenfield, brownfield, expansion, and remediation projects.
• Establish procurement governance, organizational structure, resource planning, reporting, and performance management systems.
• Develop long-range category management and sourcing strategies for critical equipment, process systems, construction services, and operational materials.
• Support organizational growth through supplier innovation, strategic partnerships, and risk mitigation initiatives.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on procurement performance, supplier quality, and cost optimization.
• Direct procurement activities supporting facility design, construction, startup, and operational readiness.
• Lead sourcing and contracting for process equipment, utilities, manufacturing systems, laboratory equipment, automation systems, construction packages, and engineering services.
• Oversee procurement execution for EPC, EPCM, construction management, design-build, and owner-managed project delivery models.
• Develop procurement execution plans aligned with project schedules and funding commitments.
• Ensure timely delivery of long-lead equipment and critical path materials to support project schedules and operational objectives.
• Lead procurement risk identification and mitigation planning for major capital investments.
• Lead commercial negotiations and contract administration activities for strategic suppliers and service providers.
• Negotiate complex agreements, including EPC and EPCM contracts, construction contracts, engineering services agreements, process equipment purchases, automation and digital systems agreements, and maintenance and operational support agreements.
• Manage contract changes, claims, dispute resolution, and supplier performance throughout project lifecycle execution.
• Collaborate with legal and finance teams to ensure contractual compliance and risk mitigation.
• Partner with quality and supplier quality organizations to ensure supplier compliance with applicable requirements and industry standards.
• Support supplier qualification, supplier audits, and quality management programs.
• Monitor supplier quality performance and implement corrective action programs when necessary.
• Develop strategic supplier partnerships that support product quality, operational performance, and supply continuity.
• Support manufacturing and operational activities through strategic sourcing and materials management programs.
• Develop sourcing strategies for direct materials, indirect materials, MRO supplies, critical spare parts, and operational consumables.
• Identify supply chain vulnerabilities and implement contingency plans to ensure uninterrupted operations.
• Lead inventory optimization and supply continuity initiatives for critical materials.
• Manage procurement budget performance, savings delivery, cost avoidance initiatives, and working capital improvement.
• Support capital appropriation requests and project business cases through market intelligence and procurement benchmarking.
• Drive total cost of ownership improvements across capital and operational spend categories.
• Deliver measurable value through strategic sourcing and supplier performance initiatives.
• Lead and develop procurement managers, category managers, sourcing specialists, contract professionals, supplier quality resources, and materials management personnel.
• Build organizational capability through talent development, succession planning, coaching, and performance management.
• Foster a culture of safety, quality, accountability, collaboration, integrity, and continuous improvement.
• Provide leadership to employees, contractors, consultants, and project procurement professionals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, business administration, engineering, construction management, operations management, or a related field.
• Minimum 20 years of progressive procurement, strategic sourcing, supply chain, materials management, or commercial management experience.
• Minimum 8 years of leadership experience managing procurement organizations or large procurement teams.
• Proven experience leading procurement activities for major capital projects exceeding $500 million in total installed cost.
• Demonstrated success negotiating complex commercial contracts and managing strategic supplier relationships.
• Experience working with global suppliers and international project teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master of Business Administration or advanced degree in business, engineering, supply chain, or a related discipline.
• CPSM, CPSD, PMP, CIPS, CPM, or equivalent professional certification.
• Experience supporting pharmaceutical, biotechnology, life sciences, cell therapy, gene therapy, vaccine, biologics, active pharmaceutical ingredient, sterile manufacturing, or other GMP-regulated manufacturing environments.
• Strong knowledge of GMP-regulated operations and industry quality requirements.
• Experience supporting pharmaceutical manufacturing facility development and expansion projects.
• Experience with greenfield pharmaceutical manufacturing site development.
• Experience supporting regulatory inspections and compliance programs.
• Experience supporting regulatory remediation programs and operational readiness activities.
• Strong understanding of commissioning, qualification, validation, startup, and lifecycle management requirements within regulated manufacturing environments.
• Experience developing supplier quality programs within highly regulated industries.
• Experience in a project management consulting role acting as an owner representative overseeing EPC contractors.