Director, Procurement

Who we are

At CarGurus (NASDAQ: CARG), our mission is to give people the power to reach their destination. We started as a small team of developers determined to bring trust and transparency to car shopping. Since then, our history of innovation and go-to-market acceleration has driven industry-leading growth. In fact, we’re the largest and fastest-growing automotive marketplace, and we’ve been profitable for over 15 years.

What we do

The market is evolving, and we are too, moving the entire automotive journey online and guiding our customers through every step. That includes everything from the sale of an old car to the financing, purchase, and delivery of a new one. Today, tens of millions of consumers visit CarGurus.com each month, and ~30,000 dealerships use our products. But they're not the only ones who love CarGurus—our employees do, too. We have a people-first culture that fosters kindness, collaboration, and innovation, and empowers our Gurus with tools to fuel their career growth. Disrupting a trillion-dollar industry requires fresh and diverse perspectives. Come join us for the ride!

Role overview

As the Director of Procurement, reporting to the VP, Finance and Principal Accounting Officer, you will establish and strategically build CarGurus’ procurement function from its current foundational state, shaping policies, systems, and processes designed to optimize efficiency, enhance cost-effectiveness, and support the company's long-term strategic objectives. This role requires a significant cultural shift as you centralize the procurement function, transitioning the organization from decentralized practices to a unified, strategically aligned procurement model.

The ideal candidate will possess a forward-thinking vision, proven leadership capabilities, and deep expertise in strategic procurement. You will be responsible for developing and implementing procurement strategies aligned with business priorities, proactively driving cross-functional collaboration, and mentoring a high-performing procurement team. Your leadership will create a culture of strategic thinking, proactive execution, continuous improvement, and a growth mindset throughout the procurement organization.

What you'll do

Strategic Planning:

• Develop, implement, and manage the lifecycle of procurement from sourcing and negotiating to vendor contracting, to periodic reporting, and supplier management.
• Create a vision for the procurement function that aligns with company strategy.
• Lead vendor cost reduction initiatives and set budgetary goals. 
• Analyze market trends and make recommendations for improving procurement processes and practices to manage spend and potential savings effectively.
• Drive continuous improvement and reporting on procurement metrics to senior stakeholders.
• Plan and execute near-term and long-term procurement to effectively increase cash profit margin.
• Lead the strategy to deploy best practice uses of procure-to-pay software programs.
• Proactively leverage innovation, including AI-driven solutions, to enhance procurement agility and responsiveness, serving as a change leader who can rapidly adapt processes to an evolving business landscape.

Vendor & Budget Management:

• Identify, evaluate, select, and oversee vendor/supplier relationships to build strategic partnerships that enhance value and innovation.
• Deliver financial and operational value by leading negotiations with vendors on the scope of work, commercial terms, revenue-sharing, and other legal, compliance, and contractual terms as needed.
• Develop and manage the procurement budget, ensuring cost-effectiveness and alignment with financial goals.
• Monitor and report on procurement spend and savings.

Collaboration & Team Leadership:

• Manage and mentor the procurement team, fostering a high-performance culture, growth mindset, and bias for action.
• Provide guidance and support for professional development and career growth.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including teams in Finance, Travel & Expense, Legal, IT, Information Security, and others, to ensure a cohesive approach to procurement.

Compliance and Risk Management:

• Continuously review and improve procurement processes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• Ensure procurement activities comply with legal, regulatory, and ethical standards, including