Procurement and Vendor Operations Associate Director

Job Description

Position Summary

We are looking for a highly skilled and experienced Associate Director to lead Procurement Operations and Vendor Management within Vertex's BPO-enabled operating model. In this pivotal role, the Associate Director will serve as the senior governance and relationship lead and is the accountable owner of Procurement Operations service delivery across PR-to-PO processing, Procurement Service Desk, and Vendor Master Data Management for outsourced procurement operations, ensuring the BPO partner delivers against contractual commitments, service targets, and strategic procurement objectives.

The ideal candidate is a dynamic leader with deep expertise in end-to-end Procure-to-Pay processes, BPO governance, and continuous improvement. The ability to collaborate across Finance, Procurement Category Management, Legal, and business stakeholders is essential for success in this role. This role has end-to-end accountability for outcomes, including service performance, vendor adherence to contract and SLAs, controls effectiveness, and audit readiness. The role leads through others, balancing strong external partnership with firm governance, and ensures Procurement Operations are stable, compliant, scalable, and aligned to business expectations.

Key Responsibilities

BPO Governance & Vendor Management

• Own the governance framework for outsourced procurement operations, including requisition-to-PO activities, procurement service desk, vendor master data management, and vendor inquiry support.
• Monitor BPO performance against contractual SLAs and KPIs (e.g., cycle time, touchless PO rate, policy compliance); manage service credits and escalation protocols.
• Lead quarterly business reviews (QBRs) and executive steering committee sessions with BPO partner leadership.
• Act as the primary point of contact for matters with stakeholders, including the BPO, vendors, business partners and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Build a collaborative partnership with BPO provider leadership and align service delivery priorities with Vertex's business objectives.
• Represent Procurement Operations performance in senior governance, audits, and business reviews.

Policy & Process Compliance

• Ensure adherence to procurement policies, approval matrices, and buying channel strategies across all BPO-delivered activity.
• Reinforce procurement policies, including "No PO, No Pay."
• Monitor maverick spend and drive continuous improvements in policy compliance.
• Partner with Category Management to align operational execution with sourcing strategies.
• Act as senior liaison to Accounts Payable, Finance, Internal Audit, and Procurement leadership to resolve cross-functional issues impacting PR-to-Pay performance or compliance.

Operational Excellence

• Oversee BPO-delivered procurement operations including requisition review, PO creation, change orders, and inquiries.
• Serve as senior escalation point for complex vendor, requisition, and PO issues not resolved at the BPO level.

Ensure appropriate controls are embedded within requisition-to-PO workflows and that Procurement Operations processes operate in compliance with SOX, internal controls, and audit expectations.

Performance & Financial Management

• Validate BPO performance reporting and ensure transparency of service metrics using BI and reporting tools.
• Provide clear, fact-based communication on risks, performance, and improvement plans.
• Oversee invoicing, rate validation, and commercial compliance with contract terms.
• Identify cost optimization and productivity improvement opportunities within the outsourcing arrangement.

Continuous Improvement & Transformation

• Drive automation, catalog adoption, self-service enablement, and workflow simplification initiatives in partnership with the BPO.
• Benchmark procurement operations performance against industry standards.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the Procurement Operations function.
• Ensure value realization from the outsourcing strategy.

Risk & Controls

• Monitor regulatory compliance, data protection, and internal control adherence within procurement operations.
• Identify operational and contractual risks and implement mitigation strategies.
• Support audit and compliance activities related to procurement operations.

Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop the Procurement Operations team (internal and BPO-side) to achieve departmental and organizational goals.
• Conduct regular performance reviews and provide coaching to support professional growth.<