Director of Procurement

Job Title: Director of Procurement

Department: Finance

Location: Oakland, CA, Washington DC, or remote. This position requires an ability to travel. 

Reports To: Senior Director Finance Operations

Supervises: N/A

Context:  At the Sierra Club, we believe in the power of interdependence. Together, we remain committed to the fight for a healthy climate built on a foundation of environmental, racial, economic, and gender justice – a future where all people benefit from a healthy, thriving planet and a direct connection to nature. As the climate crisis and deeply entrenched systemic racism all fuel injustice, we will continue to fight for a bold, transformational agenda that recognizes the interconnectedness between our planet, our humanity, and our future. By recognizing that our destinies are tied, we continue to name that all things are fundamentally connected, and the overlap between ecology, race, gender, and representative government will move to either advance our collective humanity or to oppress it. Sierra Club has close to 800 staff across the country and a network of 64 local chapters that are led and fueled by thousands of volunteers. We are also proud to be a unionized employer, with three labor unions representing more than half of our employees.

Scope: The Director of Procurement is a key member of the Finance team at the Sierra Club. Under the direct supervision of the Senior Director of Finance Operations, this role is responsible for establishing and leading a comprehensive and sustainable procurement function, including strategic sourcing and supplier management. This senior leadership position will build new procurement capabilities and infrastructure, with immediate priorities focused on developing comprehensive procurement guidance and modernizing the procure-to-pay process. In addition to working with the Finance team, this role will need to work closely with the Office of General Counsel and the Sierra Club Technology teams to ensure alignment in cross-functional initiatives.

This role will interface with a number of critical stakeholders across the organization - national departments, chapters, volunteers - using input and feedback from various perspectives to drive a coherent procurement philosophy that can be tailored to multiple audiences. While it is imperative that the Club have clear policies and guidelines, it is incumbent on this role to desire to understand the complexities of the organization to inform policies that will work in practice, not just in theory.

The role ensures cost-effective and timely acquisition of quality goods and services while driving value through strategic sourcing, innovation, and risk management. This position requires balancing operational excellence with the Club's commitment to environmental sustainability and ethical business practices, while leading critical technology implementation and process improvement initiatives.

• Procurement Policy & Guidance Development
• Conduct comprehensive organizational assessment of current procurement processes, practices, and pain points across all departments and chapters
• Develop and publish updated procurement philosophy, manual, and comprehensive policy framework that establishes clear guidance for purchasing activities organization-wide
• Communicate procurement policies and expectations clearly to diverse audiences including senior leadership, program staff, chapter leaders, and administrative personnel
• Oversee the development and delivery of training programs tailored to different stakeholder groups, ensuring understanding and adoption of new procurement standards. This will be done in partnership with the Learning & Development (L&D) resources within the People team
• Create standardized procurement procedures, workflows, and decision-making frameworks that successfully blend best practices with the structures of Sierra Club
• Establish procurement governance structure including approval thresholds, roles, and responsibilities across national and chapter, and volunteer operations
• Develop multi-modal communication strategies including written materials, presentations, webinars, and one-on-one consultations to ensure broad organizational understanding

• Procure-to-Pay System Implementation
• Lead cross-functional project team (Finance, Technology, Legal) to assess, design, and implement comprehensive procure-to-pay systems and processes into existing Sierra Club Technical environment and additional platforms if necessary
• Evaluate current financial system's procurement capabilities including purchase order management, approval workflows, and invoice processing to determine if full implementation meets organizational needs
• Conduct market research and vendor evaluation for alternative procurement systems if current systems proves insufficient, prioritizing solutions with strong integration capabilities with existing systems
• Design and implement end-to-end workflows for requisition, purchase order and invoice approvals that streamline processes while maintaining appropriate controls and compliance
• Develop a contract repository and, working with the Legal department, build integration to ensure seamless connection between procurement, contracting, and payment processes. The contract repository will be critical in supporting the renewal process, as well as cash flow modeling of potential and active contracts
• Manage system configuration, testing, and rollout including user training and process documentation

• Strategic Leadership & Procurement Function Development
• Develop and execute a comprehensive procurement strategy aligned with Sierra Club's organizational objectives, emphasizing sustainability, cost efficiency, and quality
• Lead transformation initiatives to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and drive innovation in procurement and strategic sourcing functions
• Champion ethical and sustainable procurement practices that reflect Sierra Club's environmental values

• Strategic Sourcing Excellence
• Conduct comprehensive spend analysis to identify strategic sourcing opportunities and category management priorities
• Develop and execute category-specific sourcing strategies for key spend areas including professional services, technology, marketing materials, office supplies, and event management
• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives from market research through supplier selection, negotiation, and contract award
• Perform market intelligence gathering to identify trends, opportunities, and risks that impact sourcing decisions
• Develop business cases for sourcing decisions that balance cost, quality, sustainability, and mission alignment

• Supplier Relationship Management
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with key suppliers and service providers
• Establish supplier selection criteria that incorporate environmental and social responsibility factors
• Oversee supplier onboarding, performance evaluation, and continuous improvement processes
• Negotiate contracts, terms, and pricing agreements to ensure value optimization and mission alignment
• Implement supplier diversity programs and sustainable sourcing initiatives

• Operational Procurement Management
• Establish and manage day-to-day procurement processes and purchasing workflows based on newly developed policies and automated systems
• Develop tools and templates and manage competitive solicitation processes (RFPs, RFQs, etc.)
• Leverage implemented procurement technology solutions to streamline processes and enable data-driven decision making
• Create and monitor procurement Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and performance metrics
• Ensure procurement compliance with internal policies, donor requirements, legal regulations, and environmental standards

• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Management
• Lead cross-functional project teams with Finance, Technology, and Legal departments on procurement system implementation and process improvement initiatives
• Partner with program teams, chapters, national departments, and volunteers to understand current procurement challenges and align future sourcing strategies
• Serve as primary liaison between procurement function and organizational stakeholders, effectively communicating complex procurement concepts to non-procurement audiences
• Present to senior leadership on procurement initiatives, system implementations, and policy changes with clear business cases and impact assessments
• Collaborate with Finance team on NetSuite optimization and integration requirements
• Partner with Technology team on system requirements, integrations, and technical implementation
• Support budget planning processes with market intelligence and cost projections
• Facilitate organization-wide procurement training and capability building across diverse teams and geographic locations

• Chapter Support & National Coordination
• Review existing procurement thresholds and approval processes for chapter and volunteer purchasing activities, and assess need for modification and improvement based on best practices
• Review and approve chapter procurement requests and contracts based on established criteria
• Provide guidance and support to chapters and volunteers on procurement best practices and policy compliance
• Develop standardized procurement tools, templates, and resources for chapter use
• Identify opportunities for consolidated purchasing and shared services across chapters, volunteers, and the national organization

• Risk Management & Compliance
• Identify and mitigate risks related to supplier performance, and market volatility
• Ensure all procurement activities comply with donor requirements, legal regulations, and Sierra Club policies
• Develop business continuity plans for critical suppliers and services
• Implement internal controls and audit processes for procurement activities

• Education
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Public Administration, or related field required (or equivalent professional experience)
• MBA, MPA, or Masters in other related or relevant field a plus 
• Professional procurement certifications (e.g., CPSM, CPPO, CIPS) strongly preferred

• Experience
• Minimum 10 years of progressive procurement and supply chain management experience, with at least 5 years in senior leadership roles
• Experience building procurement functions from the ground up or leading significant procurement transformations
• Proven track record in strategic sourcing, category management, and supplier relationship management
• Experience in non-profit, mission-driven, or multi-location organizational environments preferred
• Background in sustainable/responsible sourcing practices highly valued

• Core Competencies
• Project Management: Proven ability to lead complex, cross-functional technology implementation projects with multiple stakeholders
• ERP/NetSuite Experience: Strong familiarity with NetSuite or similar ERP systems, particularly procurement and financial modules
• Procurement Technology: Proficiency with procurement platforms, P2P systems, and spend analysis tools; experience evaluating and implementing procurement software solutions
• Process Improvement: Demonstrated expertise in business process analysis, design, and optimization
• Financial Systems Integration: Understanding of financial system integrations and procure-to-pay workflows
• Strategic Sourcing Expertise: Deep knowledge of strategic sourcing methodologies, market analysis, and category management principles
• Financial Acumen: Strong analytical skills, financial modeling capabilities, and understanding of total cost of ownership concepts
• Negotiation Skills: Proven ability to negotiate complex contracts and manage supplier relationships
• Communication & Training Excellence: Exceptional ability to translate complex procurement concepts into clear, actionable guidance for diverse audiences; proven experience developing and delivering training programs
• Presentation Skills: Strong public speaking and presentation abilities for senior leadership, staff, and chapter audiences
• Change Management: Experience leading organizational transformation and process improvement initiatives with strong focus on stakeholder buy-in and adoption
• Stakeholder Management: Excellent communication and relationship-building skills across diverse audiences

• Personal Attributes
• Commitment to Sierra Club's environmental mission and values
• Strong ethical standards and integrity in all business dealings
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, mission-driven environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to adapt messaging for different organizational levels and technical backgrounds
• Strong facilitation and training delivery skills for both in-person and virtual environments
• Strong organizational skills with ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
• Cultural sensitivity and ability to work with diverse teams and communities
• Committed to evolution. You are committed to continuously deepening and evolving your own understanding of systems of oppression through study, openness, and humility. And you easily recognize your own relationship to privilege and power, examining and shifting your behaviors as appropriate.
• Uplifting and additive. You see mistakes as opportunities for growth; problems as catalysts for solutions, and inspire others along the journey. You carry a constructive approach, can-do attitude, a sense of humor, and authentic kindness wherever you go.

• NetSuite certification or extensive hands-on experience with NetSuite procurement and financial modules
• Experience with donor-funded or grant-supported procurement requirements
• Background in ERP implementations and system integrations, particularly in financial/procurement modules
• Knowledge of environmental and social sustainability frameworks
• Experience working with advocacy organizations or environmental groups
• Project management certification (PMP, Agile, etc.)
• Experience with distributed/chapter-based organizational structures

To Apply

The Sierra Club provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all staff members. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, lived experience and skills. The Sierra Club does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, immigration status, socioeconomic status, ancestry, age, size, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, familial status, veteran status, disability, AIDS/HIV status, medical condition, prior conviction, arrest history, traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The Sierra Club values applicants who are people that identify as Black, Indigenous, and other minoritized groups; women; queer, transgender, gender non-conforming, and gender fluid people.

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