Purchasing Manager, Non-Food | Construction

Darden Restaurants - Orlando, FL

Orlando, FL

Food Services and Drinking Places

About the position

The Purchasing Manager, Non-Food | Construction plays a crucial role in developing and executing strategies to support the Design and Construction Team with all building construction bids and materials. This role focuses on procuring high-risk, high-value products, leveraging in-depth analysis to evaluate options and execute agreements while identifying opportunities to optimize spend. Utilizing extensive knowledge of business and commodity market trends, the Purchasing Manager negotiates effectively with construction suppliers and manages cross-functional project coordination. As a central project manager, the Purchasing Manager will collaborate closely with the Design and Construction team and may lead one or more team members to ensure successful project outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Identifies and recommends business solutions by leveraging available resources.
• Ensures that the identification and selection of suppliers aligns with overarching purchasing strategies.
• Has an expert understanding of purchasing implications and negotiation tactics with construction projects.
• Develops and gains alignment on long-term purchasing strategies for one or more services requested by Darden stakeholders.
• Uses analysis provided by Sourcing Analysts to actively negotiate agreements with suppliers.
• Conducts cost formulation and develops component cost break-outs, including staffing plans.
• Prepares and executes Requests for Information (RFIs) & Requests for Proposals (RFPs).
• Demonstrates an expert-level understanding of one or more categories/industries, specific and general market trends, and available suppliers.
• Conducts supplier site visits in support of activities including development, education, negotiation, issue resolution, compliance, etc.
• Maintains and updates list of 'strategic suppliers' to be monitored against critical risk factors.
• Provides guidance to internal stakeholders to develop supplier relationships in support of purchasing strategies.
• Monitors, analyzes, and projects relevant cost trends in order to ensure continuity of service, manage risk, and ensure value.
• Provides Purchasing Support to Darden Functions.
• Monitors and identifies trends across category that could be used in innovation efforts.
• Leads crisis management for critical items.
• Leads sustainability efforts and thought-leadership; develops sustainability strategies.
• Works with Functional Leaders, Brand Leaders, and/or Finance teams to plan presentations, review scopes of work and/or evaluate supplier compliance.
• Costs proposals of new or changing services; provides cost information to internal decision makers.
• Contacts suppliers to find and investigate new services and innovations.
• Conducts Contingency Planning with Brands as necessary.
• Cultivates strong relationships with internal stakeholders impacted by services managed within the category.
• Demonstrates financial ownership by developing and communicating forward estimates of cost trends to finance teams.
• Maintains thorough documentation of executed contracts, scopes of work, and RFPs to catalog best practices and ensure compliance.
• Works with Accounts Payable department to ensure accurate vendor setup and invoice settlement process.
• Establishes and champions a positive, vibrant culture within the work group that is consistent with Darden's values.
• Coaches for performance by delivering performance-based and developmental feedback.
• Encourages knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and best-practice sharing among team members.
• Assigns and delegates tasks to team members as appropriate.

Requirements

• Knowledge and familiarity with the use of software/information systems.
• Understanding of procurement operations and associated technology, including Procure-to-Pay (P2P) systems (e.g. Coupa).
• Bachelor's degree in business or a relevant field preferred; Master's degree a plus.
• 5-8 years of relevant experience.

Nice-to-haves

• Expert understanding of Construction Services industry as it relates to purchasing.
• Considered an expert with purchasing/buying negotiation tactics.
• Well-versed in cost formulation and development of financial models.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong analytical ability.
• Ability to think strategically.
• Excellent presentation skills.