Procurement Process Improvement / Lean Lead
Role Summary:
- As the Procurement Continuous Improvement Lead at Vantive , you will drive strategic process optimization across procurement operations. You will help lead the design and implementation of standardized, efficient, and scalable processes enabled by core procurement systems and digital technologies. As the procurement process owner, you will collaborate cross-functionally to proactively improve operational performance, compliance, and user experience.
- You will monitor data, engage stakeholders, and identify opportunities to reduce cycle times, optimize resource effort, and enhance technology utilization. Success will be measured through user feedback, efficiency gains, and process performance metrics.
Summary of Responsibilities:
- Own the global business process design for procurement operations leveraging industry best practices and digital technologies.
- Lead end-to-end process harmonization, standardization, and improvement across how procurement policies and processes are applied across regions and countries.
- Collaborate with leaders within procurement COE and other procurement and non-procurement functions to ensure the application of data and compliance standards are followed in a consistent and standardized way.
- Own compliance investigations into process deviations, applying needed remedial action and defining needed process re-design efforts needed.
- Collaborate with ERP program teams to align business strategy with system capabilities and transformation goals.
- Drive stakeholder engagement and change management across procurement teams and stakeholders and partners.
- Monitor and sustain continuous improvement efforts, ensuring measurable impact and long-term adoption.
Core Responsibilities (detailed, but not an exhaustive list):
- Support process changes related to procurement process and related systems by reviewing, documenting, and validating updates.
- Contribute to the design and improvement of supply chain processes by identifying inefficiencies and recommending solutions.
- Participate in cross-functional workshops to gather business requirements and align process improvements with system capabilities.
- Collaborate with internal teams (e.g., IT, audit, legal, compliance) to support implementation and ensure process alignment.
- Provide data-driven insights to inform planning and identify opportunities for process innovation.
- Conduct root cause analysis for process issues and assist in implementing corrective actions.
- Work with COE communications team to process updates and improvement opportunities to stakeholders across teams and regions.
- Act as a liaison between procurement users and technology teams to recommend / request system enhancements to simplify process, reduce steps/complexity or improve user experience.
- Benchmark industry best practices and integrates them into procurement strategies.
- Own process mapping, documentation and process metrics
- Collaborate with internal or external teams including consultants (e.g., Kearney) to support strategic transformation efforts.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor s degree in business, Supply Chain, Engineering, or related field; Master s preferred.
- 5+ years of experience in procurement, supply chain, or operational excellence, ideally in healthcare or life sciences.
- Proven success in leading process improvement initiatives.
- Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher) strongly preferred.
- Experience with procurement systems (e.g., Coupa, Ariba, SAP) and data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau).
- Strong analytical, project management, and communication skills.
Key Competencies:
- Process Improvement Expertise
Skilled in applying Lean, Six Sigma, and other methodologies to identify inefficiencies and implement sustainable improvements in procurement operations. - Strategic Thinking
Ability to align improvement initiatives with broader organizational goals, driving long-term value and impact across procurement categories. - Analytical & Data Fluency
Proficient in using data to diagnose problems, measure performance, and guide decision-making. Comfortable with tools like Power BI, Tableau, and procurement analytics platforms. - Change Management
Capable of leading change initiatives, managing stakeholder expectations, and embedding a culture of continuous improvement. - Cross-Functional Collaboration
Strong ability to work across departments finance, clinical operations, IT, and sourcing to ensure alignment and successful execution of initiatives. - Healthcare Procurement Acumen
Understanding of healthcare-specific procurement challenges, including regulatory compliance, clinical engagement, and value-based sourcing.
