VP of Global Procurement & Real Estate

Forward Air Corporation; Coppell (TX); On-site; USD 250,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

Forward Air Corporation seeks a dynamic Vice President, Procurement to lead the global procurement function and Corporate Real Estate. You will set strategy, drive cost optimization, manage supplier performance, and align procurement with growth objectives.

The role requires transforming sourcing practices, governance, and technology use while collaborating with senior leaders to deliver measurable value. You will oversee direct and indirect spend, negotiate complex contracts, and champion

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field; MBA preferred.
• CPSM, CIPS, CPM, CPIM, CSCP, CCIM, SIOR or similar certifications preferred.
• 10+ years in progressive procurement leadership within a global, multi-site organization; transportation, logistics, brokerage, warehousing experience preferred.
• Proven success leading enterprise procurement and large-scale transformation initiatives.
• 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 with Corporate Real Estate functions, including lease management and site selection.
• Strong understanding of real estate financial analysis, occupancy planning, capital project budgeting, facilities management, and portfolio optimization.
• Strong understanding of procurement technologies and digital procurement platforms (Oracle/Coupa/SAP Ariba).
• Advanced business, financial, and commercial acumen with ability to evaluate complex contracts and supplier relationships.
• Exceptional leadership and executive stakeholder management skills with influence across the organization.
• Strong analytical capabilities with data, dashboards, and market intelligence.
• Cross-functional partnerships with Finance, Operations, HR, Legal, and executive leadership.
• Discretion and confidentiality in handling sensitive information.
• Technical: Windows, O365, Teams/Zoom/Webex.
• On-site work with travel requirement.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a modern, data-driven global procurement strategy aligned with financial and growth objectives.
• Lead enterprise-wide sourcing across all spend categories, including transportation, tech, facilities, and services.
• Drive supplier consolidation and total cost of ownership analyses to optimize expenditures.
• Establish a best-in-class SRM program focused on performance and partnerships.
• Negotiate high-value contracts and real estate transactions that support objectives and mitigate risk.
• Develop category management strategies for transportation, facilities, and operations.
• Develop and enforce procurement policies, controls, and governance frameworks.
• Establish metrics, dashboards, and KPIs to monitor savings and performance.
• Identify and mitigate procurement and real estate risks via due diligence and contingency planning.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to align procurement with regulatory requirements and governance.
• Partner with executive leadership on mergers, acquisitions, integrations, and synergies.
• Champion sustainability and ethical sourcing across vendor relationships and property investments.
• Lead and develop a high-performing procurement and corporate real estate organization.
• Serve as trusted advisor on procurement strategy, market trends, and value creation.
• Provide oversight for Corporate Real Estate: leasing, site selection, portfolio planning, and governance.
• Lead negotiations for leases, acquisitions, and related real estate agreements.
• Oversee facility spend and occupancy costs to maximize ROI.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic Sourcing

Contract Negotiation

Procurement Transformation

Supplier Governance

Data Analytics

Cross-functional Leadership

Risk Management

Executive Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain, Finance, Real Estate or related field

MBA preferred

Tools

Oracle Procurement

Coupa

SAP Ariba

Job description

Forward Air Corporation seeks a dynamic Vice President, Procurement to lead the global procurement function and Corporate Real Estate. You will set strategy, drive cost optimization, manage supplier performance, and align procurement with growth objectives.

The role requires transforming sourcing practices, governance, and technology use while collaborating with senior leaders to deliver measurable value. You will oversee direct and indirect spend, negotiate complex contracts, and champion