Director of Procurement

Emler Swim School, along with Partner brands offering swim and gymnastics programs, is hiring a Director of Procurement at our main office located in Dallas, Texas, to support 65 locations (and growing!). The Director of Procurement leads the development and execution of procurement strategies that align with organizational goals.  This role is responsible for managing supplier relationships, optimizing purchasing operations, ensuring cost effective procurement of equipment, supplies, services and construction resources.

Procurement Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and execute a scalable procurement strategy and strategic sourcing plan aligned with the company’s growth through M&A and DeNovo’s. 
• Build and own all aspects of the procurement function from the ground up.
• Create categories for key areas including construction, utilities, FF&E, merchandise, curriculum materials, uniforms, technology, facility supplies, and other areas as requested and identified.
• Create and maintain a centralized procurement system with clear workflows, reporting and budget tracking 
• Identify opportunities for cost savings, process improvements and standardization across school types.
• Establish and monitor KPI’s for procurement related savings and cost control initiatives, ensuring alignment with company objectives.
• Oversee and manage the full procurement lifecycle, ensuring timely and accurate delivery of goods and services across all departments.  

Cost Management Responsibilities 

• Identify and implement cost saving initiatives across the company for all categories without compromising quality or service levels
• Conduct regular spend analysis to uncover trends, inefficiencies and opportunities for supplier consolidation.  
• Leverage data analytics to optimize total cost of ownership across all goods and services.
• Partner with Finance and Operations to forecast budget impacts and cost reduction opportunities.
• Establish and enforce procurement policies that reduce unnecessary spend and promote internal compliance. 
• Implement contract lifecycle management practices to avoid cost overruns and identify renegotiation windows.
• Benchmark internal costs against industry standards to identify performance gaps and savings potential.
• Develop supplier performance scorecards focused on cost, delivery and quality metrics.

Vendor Management & Contract Negotiation

• Identify, evaluate and negotiate with vendors, contractors and service providers.
• Lead RFP’s, RFQ’s and contract negotiations across categories such as equipment, uniforms, facility supplies, office materials, technology and other areas as assigned and identified. 
• Develop national and regional vendor partnerships with favorable pricing, quality standards and service levels. 
• Create and manage a preferred vendor list across key categories.
• Monitor vendor performance using KPI’s and address underperformance or compliance issues. 

Cost Optimization & Compliance 

• Identify and deliver procurement savings across categories without comprising quality or service.
• Work cross-functionally with operations, construction, finance, marketing, HR to forecast needs and track procurement KPI’s.
• Establish procurement policies, controls and reporting mechanisms.
• Maintain accurate records of vendor contracts, warranties, and service agreements.
• Track usage and replenishment cycles for high volume or critical items 

Support for Acquisitions and DeNovo’s

• Conduct procurement audits during due diligence on acquisitions to identify savings or integration opportunities.  
• Support integration of newly acquired schools by aligning them with standard vendors and procurement practices.
• Partner with real estate and constructions teams on sourcing for DeNovos, from ground up schools to retrofits.  

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Business Finance, or a related field; MBA or CPSM preferred.
• Minimum of 8-10 years procurement experience 
• Experience in multi-unit, consumer-facing industries such as retail, education, healthcare or fitness.
• Proven success in procurement for high growth, acquisition driven organizations.
• Strong negotiation, data analysis and vendor management skills. 
• Knowledge of construction procurement and indirect spend categories is highly desired.  
• Familiarity with ERP and procurement tools. 

Work Environment: The job operates in a collaborative office environment.  This is a full-time position which includes some work scheduled during evenings and weekends.  Emler Swim School operates in every time zone within the U.S. and school and operational leaders may need access during non-conventional work hours.  

Travel: Includes occasional overnight travel to operational markets as well as for corporate events.  Estimated travel is 10-20%. 

Emler Swim School is an industry leader, and our team members are supported with great benefits. Benefits of this full-time position include: 

• Health, Dental and Vision Insurance
• 401k with 4% employer matching 
• Monthly phone allowance 
• Bonus
• Free or discounted swim lessons 
• Discounted pet insurance
• Free employee wellness program