Job Title: Program Lead – Cost & Strategy
Location: Lisle, IL. (Must be local)
Job Type: Business
Expected hours per week: 40 hours per week
Schedule: Onsite
Pay Range: $40+ an hour
Job Description:
Program Lead – Cost & Strategy
Onsite: Lisle, IL
40 day position might go a little longer but not sure
They need to come in hit the ground running and assist with cost savings for the year
An operator, challenger, and change agent.
They need to:
• Influence category leaders without owning their categories
• Turn broad savings targets into executable initiatives
• Know procurement levers: RFQ, negotiation, indexing, VA/VE, consolidation, BCC, supplier rationalization, terms, freight, demand management
The International Procurement group is seeking a Program Lead – Cost & Strategy to join their team! This role is responsible for driving the successful execution of the most critical cost-saving procurement initiatives. It brings structure, rigor, and project discipline to high-value opportunities—ensuring they are clearly defined, well-governed, and effectively executed by sourcing teams.
Works closely with:
• Procurement Insight Consultant (opportunity identification)
• Category Managers / Sourcing Leads (execution)
• Finance / Stakeholders (validation & tracking)
Key Duties:
• Opportunity Execution & Value Delivery
• Own the end-to-end orchestration of priority cost-saving initiatives
• Translate identified opportunities into structured execution plans
• Ensure initiatives are clearly scoped, measurable, and time-bound
• Track and drive value realization against targets
• Project Management & Governance
• Apply strong project management discipline across initiatives:
o Timelines, milestones, dependencies, risk tracking
• Establish and maintain governance routines (cadence, reporting, escalation)
• Proactively remove blockers and ensure forward momentum
• Rigor & Performance Management
• Introduce standardized frameworks, tools, and templates for execution
• Challenge assumptions and strengthen the quality of opportunity cases
• Ensure alignment between procurement, finance, and business stakeholders
• Act as a “performance accelerator” across key initiatives
• Negotiation Strategy Support
• Provide expert input into negotiation strategies and tactics
• Coach and support sourcing teams in approach, preparation, and positioning
• Strengthen negotiation outcomes without acting as the lead negotiator
• Stakeholder Alignment & Enablement
• Prepare execution teams with the clarity, tools, and structure needed to deliver
• Drive alignment across cross-functional stakeholders
• Communicate progress, risks, and outcomes effectively to leadership
• Strategy & Transformation Support
• Contribute to the Procurement strategic development, deployment, and execution process.
• Globally collaborate with our TRATON brand partners in the TRATON Procurement Transformation space to support transformation initiatives.
This is a highly visible, challenging, and rewarding position in a supportive, fast-paced environment.
Key Capabilities & Experience
Core Skills
• Strong procurement / sourcing experience (category or strategic sourcing background preferred)
• Advanced project management skills (formal or practical experience)
• Proven ability to drive execution and deliver measurable results
• Excellent analytical thinking and attention to detail
Specialized Strengths
• Deep understanding of cost drivers and value levers in procurement
• Strong negotiation expertise (strategy and coaching, not execution ownership)
• Ability to add structure and rigor to ambiguous or loosely defined opportunities
• Skilled in performance tracking, KPI management, and governance
Ways of Working
• Structured, disciplined, and outcome-oriented
• Comfortable operating across teams without direct authority
• Able to challenge constructively and elevate performance
• Strong communicator with executive-level clarity
Minimum Requirements:
• Bachelor’s degree and at least 5 years of purchasing/procurement experience
• At least 1 year of lead experience
OR
• Master’s degree and at least 3 years of purchasing/procurement experience
• At least 1 year of lead experience
OR
• At least 8 years of purchasing/procurement experience
• At least 1 year of lead experience
Additional Requirements:
• Qualified candidates must be legally authorized on an unrestricted basis (US Citizen, Legal Permanent Resident, Refugee or Asylee) to be employed in the United States. Client does not anticipate providing employment related work sponsorship for this position (e.g., H-1B status).
Desired Skills:
• Technical & Analytical Skills: Strong data analysis skills with the ability to interpret large, complex datasets. Experience working with spend or financial data.
• Discipline & rigor: Ability to bring discipline and rigor to loosely defined opportunities.
• Negotiation: Strong experience in complex negotiation (preparation & execution).
• Powerpoint / Presentation: Ability to build and deliver information to all levels of the organization whether leading or supporting a specific opportunity.
• Collaboration & Communication: Strong communication skills with the ability to translate data into clear, actionable insights. Ability to present findings to non-technical stakeholders in a compelling way.
• Positive Attitude & Work Ethic: Demonstrates a positive, accountable, results-oriented mindset.
• Prioritization & Problem Solving: Ability to multi-task, prioritize, anticipate issues, and adjust resources as needed.
• Learning Agility: Quickly learns new concepts, processes, and tools.
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