Vice President, Procurement

Forward Air Corp.; Coppell (TX); On-site; USD 200,000 - 320,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base pay

Health insurance

401(k) with employer match

PTO & holidays

Job summary

Forward Air Corp. is seeking a strategic, globally oriented Vice President of Procurement to lead our end-to-end procurement and corporate real estate initiatives.

This role reports to the CFO and collaborates with Finance, Operations, IT, Legal and HR to align procurement with enterprise goals. The ideal candidate will drive cost optimization, supplier performance, and risk management while delivering measurable value across a complex, global organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field is required; MBA preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive procurement leadership experience in a large-scale, global organization.
• Proven success leading enterprise procurement and driving transformation initiatives.
• Expertise in strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, contract lifecycle management, and supplier governance.
• Experience across transportation, logistics, brokerage, facilities, technology, and operations spend categories.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a modern, data-driven global procurement strategy aligned with financial and growth objectives.
• Lead enterprise-wide sourcing across direct and indirect spend categories including transportation and logistics.
• Drive supplier consolidation and total cost of ownership analyses to optimize expenditures.
• Establish and maintain a best-in-class SRM program focused on supplier performance and partnerships.
• Negotiate complex, high-value contracts and real estate/technology agreements.
• Develop category management strategies for transportation, facilities, and operations.
• Enforce procurement policies, controls, and governance frameworks for compliance and efficiency.
• Establish KPIs, dashboards, and scorecards to monitor savings and supplier performance.
• Identify and mitigate procurement, real estate, and cyber risk through proactive sourcing and due diligence.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to align procurement/real estate with regulatory and governance standards.
• Work with executive leadership on mergers and acquisitions, integrations, and synergies.
• Champion sustainability, supplier diversity, and responsible stewardship across vendor relationships.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Supplier negotiations

Contract lifecycle management

Supplier governance

Category management

Data-driven procurement

Executive stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management

Bachelor's degree in Finance

MBA preferred

Tools

Oracle Procurement

Coupa

SAP Ariba

Job description

• Locations 3200 OLYMPUS BOULEVARD, Dallas, TX, 75019, US
• Job Category Corporate: Leadership
• Job Category Finance and Accounting
• Job Function Procurement

Job Description

The Vice President, Procurement is responsible for developing and executing the organization's global procurement function and procurement transformation initiatives. They oversee all direct and indirect categories while driving cost optimization, supplier performance, risk mitigation, and long-term value creation across the enterprise. Reporting to the CFO, they partner closely with executive leadership, Finance, Operations, IT, Legal, HR, and business stakeholders to ensure procurement and real estate strategies align with organizational objectives and support sustainable growth. They continuously improve sourcing practices, supplier governance, contract management standards, and procurement processes and infrastructure.

This leader also leads the Corporate Real Estate function, including lease administration, property acquisitions and dispositions, facility portfolio optimization, landlord and property management relationships, and long-term real estate planning aligned with business objectives. They will bring strategic vision, financial acumen, operational expertise, and strong relationship management skills to deliver measurable outcomes across a complex, global organization.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a modern, data-driven global procurement strategy aligned with enterprise financial, operational, and growth objectives.
• Lead enterprise-wide sourcing and procurement activities across all direct and indirect spend categories, including transportation services, logistics partners, technology, professional services, facilities, fleet-related expenditures, corporate services, and other critical business functions.
• Drive supplier consolidation, strategic sourcing initiatives, and total cost of ownership analyses to optimize expenditures and improve enterprise value.
• Establish and maintain a best-in-class Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) program focused on supplier performance, innovation, service excellence, and partnership development.
• Negotiate complex, high-value contracts, commercial agreements, transportation service agreements, technology subscriptions, strategic vendor partnerships, and real estate transactions that support business objectives and mitigate organizational risk.
• Develop and execute category management strategies that support evolving transportation, brokerage, warehousing, distribution, technology, facilities, and operational requirements.
• Develop, implement, and enforce procurement policies, procedures, controls, and governance frameworks that ensure compliance, consistency, and operational efficiency.
• Establish procurement metrics, scorecards, dashboards, and key performance indicators to monitor savings, supplier performance, compliance, service levels, occupancy costs, and operational effectiveness.
• Identify and mitigate supplier, operational, financial, geopolitical, cybersecurity, real estate, and compliance risks through proactive sourcing strategies, due diligence processes, and contingency planning.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to ensure procurement and real estate activities support regulatory requirements, internal controls, customer commitments, and corporate governance standards.
• Collaborate with executive leadership on mergers, acquisitions, integrations, and other strategic initiatives by evaluating supplier contracts, facility requirements, identifying synergies, and aligning procurement and real estate practices.
• Champion sustainability, supplier diversity, ethical sourcing, and responsible stewardship across all vendor relationships, procurement activities, and property investments.
• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing procurement and corporate real estate organization, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, collaboration, and innovation.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership on procurement strategy, supplier dynamics, market trends, facility investments, and opportunities for business value creation.
• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for the Corporate Real Estate function, including facility leasing, purchasing, property management, site selection, portfolio planning, workplace services, and real estate governance.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive corporate real estate strategy that aligns with organizational growth objectives, operational requirements, workforce needs, and financial targets.
• Lead negotiations for facility leases, renewals, acquisitions, dispositions, easements, and related real estate agreements to ensure favorable commercial terms and effective risk mitigation.
• Oversee facility-related spend, occupancy costs, capital improvement projects, and real estate operating expenses to maximize return on investment and cost efficiency across the property portfolio.
• All other duties as assigned to meet evolving business needs.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Finance, Management, Real Estate, Operations, or a related field required; Master's degree (MBA or related advanced degree) preferred.
• Certification/Licensure: CPSM, CIPS, CPM, CPIM, CSCP, CCIM, SIOR, or other relevant procurement, supply chain, or real estate certifications preferred.
• Experience: 10+ years of progressive procurement leadership experience, including senior leadership responsibility within a large-scale, global, multi-site organization; transportation, logistics, brokerage, supply chain, distribution, warehousing, or related industry experience strongly preferred.
• Proven success leading enterprise procurement organizations and driving large-scale procurement transformation initiatives.
• Demonstrated expertise in strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, contract lifecycle management, spend management, category management, and supplier governance.
• Experience negotiating and managing agreements across transportation, logistics, technology, facilities, fleet, professional services, and operational spend categories.
• Experience leading or partnering closely with Corporate Real Estate functions, including lease management, site selection, facility operations, portfolio optimization, and commercial real estate negotiations.
• Strong understanding of real estate financial analysis, occupancy planning, capital project budgeting, facilities management, and portfolio optimization best practices.
• Strong understanding of procurement technologies and digital procurement platforms, including tools such as Oracle Procurement, Coupa, SAP Ariba, or similar solutions.
• Advanced business, financial, and commercial acumen with the ability to evaluate complex contracts, supplier relationships, facility investments, and sourcing strategies.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and executive stakeholder management skills with a demonstrated ability to influence across all levels of the organization.
• Strong analytical capabilities and experience leveraging data, metrics, dashboards, and market intelligence to drive decision-making and organizational performance.
• Demonstrated experience building cross-functional partnerships with Finance, Operations, Technology, Human Resources, Legal, and executive leadership teams.
• Demonstrated discretion and confidentiality in handling and protecting sensitive information.
• Technical: Proficient with common office technologies, including Windows PCs, Microsoft O365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and web conferencing (Teams, Zoom, Webex, etc.)
• Environment: Comfort commuting to/from and working in a 100% on-site setting (listed in this posting), with travel for related meetings/events.

#LI-Onsite #LI-BT1

WHAT WE OFFER

• Compensation: Competitive base pay based on experience, industry/geographic benchmarks and internal equity. Some positions may be eligible for incentive pay programs and/or equity-based incentives. Pay ranges published on job boards are not provided nor verified by the Company.
• Health: Medical and Pharmacy insurance; Health Savings Account (HSA); Vision; Dental; Life and Disability; Critical Illness; Accident Indemnity; Hospital Indemnity; On-demand telehealth via Teladoc; Employee Assistance Program (counseling and financial/lifestyle coaching).
• Wealth: 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match; Employee stock purchase program; Flexible Spending Account (FSA); Commuter Benefits; LegalEASE legal coverage.
• Time: 7 paid holidays and generous Paid Time Off (PTO) tiers ranging from 10-25 days annually.
• Culture: A collaborative, transformation-driven, solutions-first environment full of "can do" attitude and "will do" work ethic.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Agencies: The Company does not accept unsolicited outreach from third parties. Absent an agreement signed by internal Talent Acquisition and Procurement, and a documented request from Talent Acquisition to submit candidates for a specified requisition, we will not approve payments to any third party.
• Work Authorization: Within the United States, the Company is an E-Verify employer. Unless otherwise indicated, U.S.-based workers must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship, including but not limited to F-1, H-1, H-2, L, J, and TN visas, etc.
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI): The Company is proud to be an equal opportunity employer . Applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or veteran status.
• Reasonable Accommodations: Physical/mental requirements are listed only to identify where potential accommodations may be needed, not as qualification standards. In compliance with applicable laws and regulations (including ADA, ADEA, and FMLA), accommodations may be available to qualified individuals unable to perform essential duties without them. Additional requirements may apply to meet legal, regulatory, and Company standards.
• Recruitment Fraud: We will only contact you from @forwardair.com or @omnilogistics.com emails (system messages may come from @workflow.email.us-phoenix-1.ocs.oraclecloud.com). If reached via Indeed or LinkedIn, verify recruiters by reviewing their LinkedIn profiles. We will never request sensitive personal information outside secure systems, nor ask for purchases. Report suspected scams to the Federal Trade Commission and your state Attorney General .