Director, AI-Driven Procurement & Strategy

Rakuten International; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 113,157 - 211,032; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

Health insurance

Vision insurance

Dental insurance

401k matching

PTO

Volunteer Time Off

Job summary

Rakuten International is seeking a Director of Procurement to lead supplier lifecycle, source, contract, renewals, data stewardship, and ESG reporting. This role champions automation and AI to deliver measurable value while balancing cost, risk, and quality.

You will partner with global stakeholders, drive governance, and own outcomes with accountability. The position is hybrid, with locations in Salt Lake City or San Francisco, and offers a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, vendor management, or related disciplines.
• Proven experience leading commercial negotiations, managing complex renewals, and driving supplier accountability.
• Track record of evaluating business cases, ROI, and value realization for purchasing and renewal decisions.
• Experience with procurement platforms (Coupa, Ariba, or similar).
• Strong background in executive reporting, governance, and audit-support activities.
• Bachelor’s Degree, advanced degree or relevant certification (CPSM, CSCP, CPM) a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead competitive sourcing, supplier evaluations, commercial negotiations, and contract execution across multiple spend categories.
• Own renewal planning and actively drive contractual obligation management.
• Evaluate purchasing and renewal decisions against business requirements, utilization, strategic alignment, and expected ROI.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to business stakeholders, balancing cost, risk, and quality with a bias toward business outcomes.
• Identify and capture opportunities to improve commercial terms, reduce unnecessary spend, and maximize supplier value.

Skills

Procurement

Strategic sourcing

Vendor management

Commercial negotiations

Renewals management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree or CPSM/CSCP/CPM

Tools

Coupa

Ariba

Job description

Rakuten International is seeking a Director of Procurement to lead supplier lifecycle, source, contract, renewals, data stewardship, and ESG reporting. This role champions automation and AI to deliver measurable value while balancing cost, risk, and quality.

You will partner with global stakeholders, drive governance, and own outcomes with accountability. The position is hybrid, with locations in Salt Lake City or San Francisco, and offers a comprehensive benefits package.