Director of Procurement

Central Alabama Water; Birmingham (AL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Central Alabama Water seeks a Director of Procurement to provide executive leadership for the organization's procurement and supply chain functions. The role aligns procurement strategy with capital planning, regulatory compliance, and financial sustainability across the enterprise.

The successful candidate will oversee competitive solicitations (RFBs, RFQs, RFIs, RFPs), major contracts, supplier relationships, and risk management, while developing talent and ensuring audit readiness within the

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Public Administration, Supply Chain Management, or related field required.
• Master’s Degree preferred.
• CPPB or CPPO preferred; NIGP Certification preferred.
• Valid Driver’s License required.
• Minimum twelve (12) years of progressively responsible procurement experience in public sector or highly regulated environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide enterprise-wide executive leadership for procurement and supply chain functions.
• Ensure strategic sourcing, regulatory compliance, fiscal stewardship, and risk management.
• Oversee supplier governance, contract strategy, and procurement policy.
• Lead procurement governance, policies, procedures, and internal controls.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Public procurement

Regulatory compliance

Contract negotiation

Risk management

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Public Administration, Supply Chain Management, or related

Master’s Degree preferred

CPPB or CPPO preferred

NIGP Certification preferred

Valid Driver’s License required

Job description

MANAGERS | (DIRP)- Director- Procurement

Job Information

Job Title: Director- ProcurementDepartment: Procurement

Reporting Relationship: Chief Finance OfficerFLSA Status: Exempt

Grade: O

General Responsibilities:

Provide enterprise-wide executive leadership for the procurement and supply chain function, ensuring strategic sourcing, regulatory compliance, fiscal stewardship, and risk management across the organization. Align procurement strategy with organizational objectives, capital planning, and long-term financial sustainability, while ensuring full compliance with Alabama State Bid Law and other applicable regulations. Serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership and the Board, overseeing supplier governance, contract strategy, and organizational procurement policy.

Essential Job Functions:

• Action-oriented leader who establishes and leads the organization’s procurement and supply chain strategy, ensuring alignment with enterprise goals, capital improvement plans, and operational priorities.
• Set and own procurement governance, including policies, procedures, ethical standards, and internal controls that ensure compliance with Alabama State Bid Law, Board policies, and applicable regulatory frameworks.
• Provide executive oversight of all competitive solicitations, including RFBs, RFQs, RFIs, and RFPs, ensuring legal sufficiency, risk mitigation, and best-value outcomes for the organization.
• Serve as the authority for major contracts, supplier relationships, and strategic sourcing initiatives; lead or approve negotiations for high-value, high-risk, or long-term agreements.
• Advise executive leadership and the Board on procurement risks, market conditions, supplier performance, and cost-containment opportunities; present procurement strategies, exceptions, and recommendations as required.
• Oversee and develop organizational procurement capability, including talent development, succession planning, performance management, and workforce planning within the Purchasing Division.
• Direct the procurement budget and financial oversight, ensuring cost controls, transparency, audit readiness, and alignment with approved departmental and enterprise budgets.
• Partner with senior leaders across all departments to proactively plan procurement timelines, optimize sourcing strategies, and ensure procurement supports operational continuity and capital delivery.
• Establish enterprise supplier management and performance standards, including evaluation metrics, contract compliance, dispute resolution, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure organizational readiness for audits, public scrutiny, and regulatory review; maintaining accurate records and documentation and overseeing responses to inquiries, protests, or legal challenges.
• Represent the organization externally with vendors, professional associations, regulatory bodies, and peer utilities; promote supplier variety, competition, and ethical procurement practices.

Education:

Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Public Administration, Supply Chain Management, or a related field required.

Master’s Degree preferred.

Certifications

• Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) or Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO) preferred
• NIGP Certification preferred
• Valid Driver’s License required

Experience:

Minimum of twelve (12) years of progressively responsible procurement experience, including significant senior leadership experience in a public-sector or highly regulated environment. Demonstrated expertise in Alabama State Bid Law (or equivalent public procurement statutes), contract negotiation, enterprise risk management, and executive-level stakeholder engagement. Advanced knowledge of logistics, materials management, inventory control, and physical inventory in large, complex organizations.

**For internal candidates, the successful completion of the following internal leadership development programs may be counted towards the required supervisory experience:

• Pre-Supervisory Program (STAR) = one year of supervisory experience
• Succession Planning Program = one year of supervisory experience

Supervision:

Physical Demands:

• Ability to stand, walk or sit for extended periods of time
• Reaching by extending hand(s) or arm(s) in any direction
• Finger dexterity required to manipulate objects with fingers rather than with whole hand(s) or arm(s), for example, using a keyboard
• Communication skills using the spoken word
• Ability to see within normal parameters
• Ability to hear within normal range Ability to move about
• Moderate Noise (Business Office)
• Occasionally visit job sites, in plants or outdoors, exposed to extreme hot/cold and or wet weather conditions

Acknowledgement

I acknowledge that I have read (or had it read to me) this job description and I can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. I understand and will fulfill the duties and responsibilities listed in this job description and I understand this job description is not designed to be a complete list of all the duties and responsibilities of the position. I recognize that this position involves sensitive, private, and/or confidential information.I agree that I shall not use, publish, copy, or otherwise disclose to others any information that is sensitive, private and/or Confidential Information. I understand that the organization reserves the right to revise this job description at any time.