Director, Procurement-REMOTE

Designer Brands Inc. • Columbus, OH

2d • Remote

About The Position

At Designer Brands, we are the proud parent company of DSW Designer Shoe
Warehouse, The Shoe Company, and Rubino, operating nearly 675 stores across
North America and a billion-dollar digital commerce business. We lead the
footwear industry with a diverse portfolio of iconic brands, including Topo
Athletic, Keds, Vince Camuto, Kelly & Katie, Jessica Simpson, Lucky Brand, Mix
No. 6, Crown Vintage, and others. With expertise in design, production, and
sourcing, we create on-trend footwear and accessories, delivered through a
robust omni-channel infrastructure and national wholesale distribution. At
Designer Brands, we are committed to fostering a culture of collaboration,
innovation, and inclusivity, where each employee’s unique perspective
contributes to our success. Anchored by our core values of “We Love What We Do,”
“We Own What We Do,” “We Do What’s Right,” and “We Belong,” we continuously
drive forward together, building a future where everyone can put their best foot
forward.

GENERAL SUMMARY

Develops enterprise-wide procurement strategies that drive cost savings,
mitigate supplier risk, and ensure strong contractual and operational
compliance. Manages sourcing effectiveness by streamlining procurement
processes, responding to market dynamics, and optimizing total cost of ownership
across all spend categories. Establishes and enhances high‑performing supplier
relationships to support business continuity, while providing market
intelligence and industry insights to inform decision‑making. Controls expenses
by governing spend categories, monitoring budget impacts, and maintaining
ethical, transparent procurement practices.

Requirements

• Experience managing category spend exceeding $150MM annually.
• Expertise in developing category strategies.
• Strong contract negotiation and contract management capabilities.
• Proficiency in Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) modeling with a rigorous, analytical approach.
• Ability to drive organizational change and gain alignment with diverse stakeholders across multiple business units.
• Experience leading operational redesign and process improvement initiatives.
• Broad understanding of business and contract-related issues, competitive landscapes, and relevant market/industry trends.
• Knowledge of supplier ecosystems and markets relevant to DBI.
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Strong attention to detail with consistent on‑time project delivery.
• Strong supply chain and operational acumen with end‑to-end understanding.
• Proficiency in MS Excel (financial modeling) and PowerPoint.
• Strong problem‑solving, leadership, and influencing skills.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a commitment to driving results.
• Flexible and adaptable to organizational and market change.
• At least 15 years of experience in indirect procurement, vendor management, and strategic sourcing, with deep expertise in relevant business areas (Marketing, IT, Distribution & Logistics, etc.).
• Bachelor’s degree required.

Nice To Haves

• Post‑graduate degree(s) preferred.
• Demonstrated success leading large-scale change management initiatives.
• Experience implementing and managing eProcurement systems.

Responsibilities

• Develops cost savings and strategic sourcing initiatives that ensure business continuity and high levels of supplier performance.
• Manages spend, supplier, and market data to analyze savings opportunities and broader value‑chain impacts.
• Leads supplier RFI/RFP processes, including execution, readouts, and development of business-case implications; engages with potential and incumbent vendors, responds to inquiries, evaluates proposals, and supports final award decisions.
• Drives annual productivity improvements across spend categories by optimizing total cost of ownership (TCO) and ensuring successful implementation of sourcing strategies.
• Supports and develops procurement policies and procedures, enabling organizational change management within assigned spend categories.
• Leads sourcing events including supplier identification, negotiation strategy, and contract negotiations.
• Establishes sourcing roadmaps, expands e‑procurement catalog capabilities, and increases efficiency across procurement activities.
• Directs research and analytics efforts to validate savings projections and strengthen negotiation outcomes.
• Reviews major contracts within key spend areas, serving as SME for complex negotiations and resupply modeling; develops a procurement playbook for cyclical spend.
• Monitors savings performance against established targets by category, subcategory, and supplier.
• Develops tools such as PPV (product price variance) trackers to enhance price/savings baseline accuracy.
• Communicates supply chain and sourcing strategies to diverse business stakeholders and supports broader procurement transformation efforts.
• Sources and cultivates best‑in‑class supplier partnerships, leveraging all strategic sourcing levers and identifying new avenues for value creation.
• Builds supplier management frameworks and continuous improvement methodologies for key suppliers.
• Establishes supplier management structures, conducts vendor audits, and ensures thorough vendor vetting.
• Collaborates cross‑functionally to deliver cost savings, risk‑mitigation initiatives, and supplier‑enabled innovation.
• Maintains an aggressive focus on achieving category cost savings targets.

Benefits

• Your Sole Well-Being: Our benefits package is crafted with our associates in mind! We support you with benefits like free virtual health care, robust family/fertility benefits, 401(k) w/ match, and more. Explore our offerings at https://mymobilewalletcard.com/dbi [https://mymobilewalletcard.com/dbi].
• Stride with Flexibility: We offer hybrid and remote work opportunities, giving you the freedom to stay connected, productive, and inspired—wherever you do your best work.
• Stepping Up Your Career: Take advantage of training programs, professional development, and education assistance to advance your career with a company that celebrates bold ideas and fresh perspectives.
• We are Shoe-Obsessed: Because we know a great pair of shoes can change your day, you’ll enjoy 30% off at DSW & com [https://www.dsw.com/], plus discounts across our family of brands.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager