Regional Procurement Manager NOAM

About Applus LaboratoriesApplus is a leading global provider of testing, inspection, and certification services. We work across a wide range of industries to ensure the safety, quality, and performance of our clients' products and operations.Job SummaryApplus is seeking a senior, highly proactive Regional Procurement Manager to establish and lead the North American procurement function across multiple business units and laboratories. This is a build-from-the-ground-up role for an experienced procurement professional who thrives in entrepreneurial environments and is comfortable operating without a mature procurement organization in place.Reporting into senior leadership, this individual will be responsible for defining procurement strategy, identifying value creation opportunities, and executing sourcing initiatives across CAPEX, equipment, consumables, fleet, and services for the North American region. The successful candidate will act as a true business partner—actively engaging with lab leaders, assessing current procurement maturity, improving contracts, and driving synergies across entities.This role requires a hunter mindset, strong analytical capability, and the confidence to influence stakeholders across diverse businesses.ResponsibilitiesEstablish and lead the North American procurement function across both multiple Applus Laboratory and TIC (Testing, Inspection, Certification) businessesDefine and execute regional procurement strategies aligned with business needs, budgets, and corporate objectivesActively identify cost optimization, value creation, and efficiency opportunities through spend analysis and supplier strategyManage sourcing and contracting for all procurement needsReview existing supplier contracts and commercial terms, renegotiating and improving agreements where appropriatePartner closely with business leaders and lab operations to understand how each entity operates and how procurement can add valueIdentify and implement synergies across North American entities, including shared suppliers, contracts, and sourcing approachesEnsure appropriate supplier quality, compliance, and performance standards are maintainedUtilize and manage e-procurement platforms (e.g., SAP Ariba, Jaggaer, Coupa, or similar) to support sourcing, contracting, and reportingDevelop procurement reporting, performance tracking, and KPI dashboards for the regionCoordinate with global procurement to leverage existing global agreements where applicable, while owning regional executionSupport and guide the existing buyer, with potential to scale the team over time as the function matures and delivers valueRepresent procurement in regional business initiatives and continuous improvement projectsKNOWLEDGE AND SKILLSSignificant experience in procurement, sourcing, or strategic purchasing at a regional or multi-business levelBackground in services-based, laboratory, consulting, or similarly complex environments strongly preferredExperience building or transforming procurement functions in less structured or entrepreneurial environmentsStrong analytical skills with the ability to define strategy and execute independentlyDemonstrated ability to proactively engage stakeholders and drive changeExperience working with e-procurement platforms (SAP Ariba, Coupa, Jaggaer, or similar)Comfortable operating as a senior individual contributor; Director-level candidates may be consideredHigh level of professionalism, discretion, and business judgmentSelf-starter with a hands-on, action-oriented mindset