Director of Global Procurement

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Description

Papaya Global is a rapidly growing, award-winning B2B tech unicorn revolutionizing the payroll, EOR and payments industry. With over $400M raised from top-tier investors, we offer an innovative, comprehensive solution for managing global workforces, spanning from hiring and onboarding to managing and paying employees in over 160 countries.

The Papaya Global Head of Procurement is responsible for developing and leading the procurement strategy across multiple global locations, with main focus on our global network of In Country Partners (ICP)s. This role ensures the sourcing, purchasing, and vendor management aligns with business objectives and drives efficiency, cost savings, and innovation in a fast-growing SaaS environment. The role requires a balance of strategic leadership, operational excellence, and deep knowledge of procurement best practices within the technology sector.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership:

• Build and improve a winning contract management, pricing and strategy for our global ICP network
• Develop and implement global procurement strategies to optimize cost, efficiency, and quality.
• Align procurement goals with broader company objectives, supporting scalability and growth in multiple regions.
• Lead initiatives for supplier diversity, and innovation in the procurement process.
• Vendor Management:
• Identify, assess, and manage global supplier relationships to ensure cost-effective and high-quality service delivery.
• Negotiate key contracts with suppliers, focusing on terms, service levels, and pricing to maximize value.
• Develop strong partnerships with key vendors primarily within the global ICP ecosystem, ensuring alignment with business needs and fostering long-term relationships.
• Establish a robust supplier evaluation and KPI based performance measurement process.

Team Leadership and Development:

• Build and lead a global procurement team, providing coaching, mentorship, and fostering professional growth.
• Promote a high-performance culture focused on continuous improvement, collaboration, and innovation.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration between procurement, finance, legal, and operations teams.

Process Optimization:

• Implement procurement best practices, policies, and frameworks that improve sourcing, cost control, and vendor performance.
• Drive procurement digital transformation, leveraging technology and analytics to improve decision-making and efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and corporate policies in all procurement activities.

Budget Management and Reporting:

• Oversee procurement budgets and monitor spending across departments to ensure cost savings and financial control.
• Provide regular reporting to the executive team on procurement performance, savings, and risks.
• Identify and mitigate procurement risks, including supply chain disruptions and financial volatility.

SaaS-Specific Procurement:

• Manage contracts and relationships with SaaS providers and cloud infrastructure partners, ensuring competitive pricing and service levels.
• Collaborate with the IT and product teams to streamline procurement processes for software licenses, tools, and platforms critical to business operations.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or related field; MBA or related certifications (e.g., CPSM, CIPS) preferred.
• 8+ years of procurement experience, with at least 3+ years in a leadership role, preferably in a technology or SaaS company.
• Proven track record of leading global procurement teams, optimizing supply chains, and managing vendor relationships in a fast-paced, international environment.
• Strong negotiation skills with experience managing high-value contracts and complex vendor agreements.
• Excellent understanding of procurement technology platforms, SaaS, and cloud-based solutions.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate across departments and with senior stakeholders.
• Analytical mindset, with a focus on data-driven decision-making and process improvement.
• Experience working in a rapidly scaling company and handling procurement challenges related to growth.

Nice to have

• Experience in the Payroll / Payment companies is a strong merit.
• Proficiency in managing procurement for digital and cloud services, including SaaS contracts.
• Knowledge of global procurement laws, tax implications, and compliance.
• Experience with ERP systems and procurement automation tools.