Shield AI · 15 hours ago
Director of Indirect Procurement (R4468)
San Diego, California
Full-time
Hybrid
Director/Executive
$160K/yr - $240K/yr
10+ years expShield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company dedicated to protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. The Director of Indirect Procurement is responsible for defining and executing the enterprise-wide strategy for indirect spend categories, collaborating with executive leadership to drive value creation and optimize costs.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)Autonomous VehiclesDronesMachine LearningNational Security
Responsibilities
Own and lead the enterprise indirect procurement strategy, aligning category roadmaps with business priorities and long-term growth plans
Provide executive oversight for complex, high-value sourcing initiatives across all indirect spend categories
Establish and govern category strategies, including demand management, supplier consolidation, and innovation partnerships
Sponsor and oversee RFx processes (RFI, RFP, RFQ) for mission-critical goods and services
Lead or approve negotiations for major contracts, including pricing models, SLAs, risk allocation, and long-term agreements
Drive enterprise-level cost savings, cost avoidance, and value realization initiatives
Set the strategic framework for supplier relationship management, performance management, and risk mitigation
Build and maintain executive-level relationships with key strategic suppliers
Partner with Legal and Compliance to oversee contract standards, negotiation strategy, and approval authority
Ensure governance over contract lifecycle management, renewals, and commercial obligations
Resolve escalated supplier issues and lead remediation or exit strategies as needed
Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders and executives across the organization
Translate business strategy into procurement-led solutions that balance cost, risk, speed, and innovation
Influence stakeholders on sourcing decisions, demand planning, and total cost of ownership considerations
Champion procurement best practices, governance, and policy adherence at the leadership level
Provide leadership and direction to indirect procurement teams, including coaching, performance management, and capability development
Establish scalable procurement operating models, policies, and approval frameworks
Oversee procurement execution, including requisitions, purchase orders, vendor onboarding, and invoice resolution
Ensure robust documentation, audit readiness, and process discipline across procurement operations
Ensure enterprise compliance with procurement policies, approval authorities, and internal controls
Provide oversight for SOX, FAR/DFARS, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance as applicable
Lead supplier risk management efforts, including financial, operational, cybersecurity, and regulatory risk
Promote ethical sourcing, sustainability, and supplier diversity initiatives aligned with corporate values
Define and monitor KPIs for spend visibility, savings, supplier performance, and risk
Present procurement performance and insights to executive leadership
Sponsor enhancements to procurement systems and tools (ERP, P2P, contract lifecycle management)
Lead continuous improvement, automation, and digital transformation initiatives across procurement
Contribute to enterprise governance, policy development, and long-range procurement planning
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, or a related field (MBA or advanced degree preferred)
10+ years of progressive experience in indirect procurement, strategic sourcing, or supply chain leadership
Demonstrated experience leading enterprise-level indirect spend categories (IT, software, professional services, facilities, etc.)
Proven track record of developing and executing procurement strategies at scale
Executive-level negotiation and contract management expertise
Strong understanding of procurement governance, compliance, and risk management frameworks
Experience with ERP and P2P platforms (SAP, Oracle, Workday, Coupa, Ariba, or similar)
Advanced financial acumen, data analysis, and spend analytics capabilities
Exceptional communication, executive presence, and stakeholder influence skills
Demonstrated people leadership and organizational change management experience
Benefits
Bonus
Benefits
Equity
Temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)
Company
Shield AI
Shield AI is a deep-tech company that focuses on developing AI-powered systems to enhance the safety of service members and civilians.
1001-5000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$1.31BKey Investors
Hercules CapitalUS Innovative Technology FundSnowpoint Ventures
2025-03-06Series F· $240M
2023-12-29Debt Financing· $200M
2023-10-31Series F· $300M
Leadership Team
Gary Steele
Chief Executive Officer
Brandon Tseng
Co-Founder
Recent News
2026-01-24
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