About this opportunity
W.R. Grace & Co. lists this Director, Global Procurement Operations opportunity in columbia, Maryland. Review the employer’s description below for duties, qualifications and application requirements.
Job description
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Grace, a Standard Industries company, is a leading global supplier of catalysts, engineered materials and fine chemicals. We provide innovative products, technologies and services which our customers use to manufacture everyday products like renewable fuels, pharmaceuticals, toothpaste, cosmetics, food packaging, beer, edible oils and more. Our thousands of employees help shape a better future at our global headquarters in Columbia, MD and locations worldwide.
Job Description
The Director, Global Procurement Operations sets the enterprise vision and leads end to end (E2E) execution of Grace’s Source to Pay (S2P) and Supplier Lifecycle Management capabilities overseeing ~$2B in spend. The role drives global process design, governance, digital enablement, and operational excellence. It’s accountable for defining and delivering procurement technology strategy, including Ariba, and ensures scalable, compliant, value creating processes from supplier onboarding through payment, performance, and risk. The role encompasses the role of Global Process Owner (GPO), designing and governing standardized process frameworks, including operating models, KPIs, and continuous improvement mechanisms. With functional leadership of a 40+ person global team, the Director partners closely with Strategic Sourcing, Manufacturing, Finance, IT, Quality, Risk, and business leaders to deliver efficiency, savings, service excellence, and cash flow impact
Model Grace’s safety-first culture and lead with accident free workplace accountability
Serve as Global Process Owner for S2P, setting enterprise standards, policies, and controls
Ensure tight integration of S2P with planning, manufacturing, finance, quality, and enterprise risk
Align procurement operations with enterprise strategy and priorities in partnership with leadership
Source to Pay Digitalization & Transformation
Own and execute the global S2P digital roadmap, driving automation, standardization, and scale
Lead optimization and continuous improvement of Ariba/SAP and connected procurement technologies
Deliver step change improvements in cycle time, productivity, user experience, and data transparency
Leverage analytics and BI to manage supplier performance, risk, and value realization
Responsibilities (2 of 2)
Global Process Ownership (GPO) Leadership and Expertise
Drive clear accountability for vision, design, governance, and performance across regions and businesses for complex, E2E enterprise processes
Define global standards, policies, controls, and decision rights while balancing enterprise consistency with regional and business needs.
Drive alignment across adjacent processes and functions (e.g., Finance, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, IT, EHS), ensuring seamless integration and elimination of handoffs, duplication, and inefficiencies.
Sets strategic objectives for global procurement operations to support sourcing strategies that deliver high service to manufacturing and functional stakeholders
Enforce supplier performance management across quality, delivery, cost, risk, and service
Rapidly escalate and resolve critical supplier issues with a solutions-oriented approach
Govern supplier onboarding, lifecycle performance, and risk to protect supply continuity and total cost
Provide visible leadership to a diverse, global organization
Collaborate with Global Business Services (GBS) leadership to ensure talent development, performance management, and succession planning
Lead change management for global process and system transformations
Required Qualifications
Executive-level presence and proven ability to influence cross functional leaders and drive change
Strong commercial and relationship management skills; builds trusted, collaborative partnerships
Action oriented, results-driven leader with a track record of delivering outcomes through teams
Deep expertise in global S2P, including process design, governance, controls, and digital enablement
Demonstrated change-leadership in driving digital adoption across regions and functions, including stakeholder engagement, training strategies, communication, and continuous improvement.
Deep experience as a GPO designing and governing standardized process frameworks, including ownership of processes, operating models, KPIs, and continuous improvement mechanisms.
Strong business and financial acumen, including supplier financial health and total cost management
Advanced analytical capability: leverages data to drive decisions and improve E2Eperformance
Clear, compelling communicator effective across regions, cultures, and senior audiences
Proven program, project, and change leader managing multiple strategic initiatives
Hands-on experience implementing enterprise procurement platforms and analytics tools
5+ years of effective leadership and collaboration with global operations in GBS environments.
Demonstrated success leading large-scale S2P processes and procurement digitalization initiatives.
Deep experience working directly with suppliers to balance commercial needs, risk, and total cost while building collaborative partnerships.
Proven leadership of large, complex programs and high-performance global teams
Ability to travel up to 25%
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Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree required (Science, Engineering, Supply Chain, or Business preferred).
MBA and/or professional certifications (e.g., CPSM, CIPS, CSCP) are highly preferred.
10+ years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or supply chain within a global, world-class manufacturing environment (chemical or materials industry preferred
Life Insurance and Disability
Grace Wellness Program
Flexible Workplace
Retirement Plans
401(k) Company Match
Paid Vacation and Holidays
Parental Leave (salaried only)
Tuition Reimbursement
Company Donation Match Program
Grace is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. Please, no phone calls or emails. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at Grace via email, the Internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of Grace. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Grace as a result of the referral or through other means.
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Worksite address
columbia, MD, 21046, US
Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.