Director, Procurement Operations

About the position

The Director, Procurement Operations leads, defines, and manages Unum’s Procure-to-Pay (P2P) and Travel Operations organizations. The role oversees the full P2P process, including requisitions, purchase orders, receipt of goods and services, invoice processing, payments and reconciliation, payment account coding, card programs, and financial approvals. It also manages travel agency operations, travel expense policy governance, corporate and procurement card programs, and expense auditing. The Director is responsible for improving existing processes while maintaining effective controls and operational standards.

The role provides financial oversight of cash disbursements, develops operational reporting and metrics, recommends technologies and process improvements, and ensures policies align with enterprise controls. It collaborates with Finance, Strategic Sourcing, Legal, Compliance, Audit, business leaders, and other stakeholders to implement procurement strategies and achieve business objectives. The Director also leads and develops a capable team, manages supplier relationship activities, and supports the VP of Strategic Sourcing in reviewing strategies with business and functional leaders.

Unum describes itself as an employee benefits provider with 10,000 employees serving more than 39 million people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and has international offices in Ireland, Poland, and the UK, as well as US operations and field offices. The role’s stated base salary range is \$89,900–\$169,900; actual pay depends on skills, geographic location, and experience.

Responsibilities

• Monitor standards and policy compliance across P2P, Travel Operations, the Corporate Card Program, and expense auditing; identify and elevate issues and recommend policy or procedure changes.
• Oversee the end-to-end P2P process and ensure timely, accurate processing of purchase orders, invoices, and payments.
• Define operational reporting and metrics to drive P2P process improvements.
• Lead the development, updating, and maintenance of procurement transaction standards and policies.
• Increase upfront financial and functional approval for purchases.
• Provide financial oversight of cash-disbursement controls and lead related internal and external audits.
• Recommend technologies to improve P2P and partner with the Source-to-Pay Process Manager to finalize implementation business cases.
• Apply P2P best practices within Unum’s business environment.
• Collaborate within the team and with Finance, Strategic Sourcing, and internal stakeholders to institutionalize P2P activities.
• Partner with Legal, Compliance, and Internal and External Audit to align P2P policies and procedures with enterprise controls and policies.
• Manage invoice-processing and payment-transaction standards and policies.
• Manage travel operations, corporate and procurement card programs, and expense auditing, ensuring minimized travel disruptions, appropriate card use, and adherence to travel policies.
• Drive adoption of procurement, accounts payable, and travel and expense policies, including expansion of virtual card payments and ePayables and standardization of financial approvals.
• Monitor and improve the efficiency and controls of invoices, expense audits, travel bookings, and corporate-sponsored card payments.
• Benchmark industry practices and implement programs and policy changes to deliver efficient, cost-effective services and desired outcomes.
• Communicate companywide budget guidelines and expense trends and recommend ways to minimize travel expenses.
• Design and deliver training and education plans and events about travel policies and practices.
• Support corporate events with specialized travel needs by coordinating with Corporate Events, Corporate Aviation, Commercial Travel, and travel partners.
• Integrate commercial travel with Corporate Aviation, maximizing owned assets and considering travel patterns and expenses holistically.
• Serve on Unum’s Strategic Sourcing Leadership Team and collaborate on procurement strategies aligned with strategic direction and business objectives.
• Promote the benefits of change and act as a catalyst for enterprise change while adapting as needed.
• Attract, retain, and develop a capable, motivated team to meet current and future business needs.
• Collaborate across organizational levels, functions, businesses, and geographies to achieve procurement goals.
• Direct supplier relationship managers handling supplier arrangements ranging from routine to strategically important.
• Maintain effective relationships with business and functional leaders to support successful execution of strategies.
• Support the VP, Strategic Sourcing in reviewing changing business needs with business and functional leaders and ensuring strategies contribute to business growth and profitability.
• Perform other duties as required.

Requirements

• BA/BS in Supply Chain Management, Business, or equivalent work experience.
• At least 10 years of related procurement or finance experience.
• At least 5 years of procurement or procure-to-pay management experience is preferred.
• Solid working knowledge of procure-to-pay applications and processes, purchasing procedures, controls, related business processes, and procurement and commercial-contract best practices.
• Understanding of key systems for procurement operations, corporate travel, accounts payable, travel and expense, and card systems.
• Experience managing cross-functional teams.
• Ability to develop a high-performance team and motivate professional staff at all levels.
• Ability to establish objectives, implement procedures, and develop methods to measure effectiveness.
• Collaborative skills, positive attitude, high energy, and results orientation.
• Ability to build relationships and networks across multiple functions and with leaders.
• Leadership, project management, influencing, financial, and negotiation skills.
• Strategic and analytical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, including the ability to identify key findings and implications.
• Strong attention to detail and focus on cost reduction and process improvement.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills; ability to work in diverse environments and adhere to high ethical standards.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to clearly and concisely explain difficult ideas and concepts.
• Initiative and ability to set stretch goals.
• Advanced PC skills, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.

Nice-to-haves

• MBA preferred.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Vision insurance
• Dental insurance
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• Performance-based incentive plans
• Paid time off, including paid volunteer time
• 401(k) employer contributions: the posting states up to 9.5% in its benefits overview and describes an employer match up to 5% plus an additional 4.5% contribution in its closing benefits section
• Mental health support
• Career advancement opportunities
• Student loan repayment options
• Tuition reimbursement
• Flexible work environments