Lead Associate, Operations – Procurement

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Costa Rica.

📋 Description

• Oversee and monitor strategic sourcing projects, encompassing RFx events, negotiations, and renewals from start to finish.

• Develop and maintain project plans, timelines, milestones, and action items throughout the sourcing pipeline.

• Manage the PMO operating rhythm and create materials for regular pipeline, sourcing, and finance/sourcing deal-review meetings.

• Record outcomes from forums, uphold governance standards, and ensure seamless intake-to-execution processes.

• Collaborate with Sourcing, Procurement Operations, Finance, Legal, and internal stakeholders.

• Track spending and budget savings, reconciling committed savings against actual results.

• Assist in the quarterly and yearly reporting of the procurement value achieved.

• Recognize and implement enhancements in sourcing and PMO processes.

• Standardize documentation and playbooks while minimizing cycle time and manual processes.

• Manage and enhance procurement/sourcing systems along with intake-to-pay workflows.

• Ensure data integrity within systems and promote tool adoption among the team.

• Facilitate supplier onboarding, contract renewals, and monitoring of contract lifecycles.

• Monitor supplier and contract timelines, obligations, and approvals in collaboration with Sourcing and Legal.

• Create and maintain dashboards and KPI reports for pipeline coverage, savings, cycle time, and timely execution.

• Provide visibility into performance and trends for Procurement leadership.

⛳️ Requirements

• 1–2 years of experience in Strategic Sourcing and/or PMO roles.

• Strong analytical skills: capacity to organize ambiguous issues, utilize data, and convert figures into actionable insights.

• Project management expertise; highly organized with the ability to manage multiple workstreams concurrently.

• Demonstrated ownership and timely delivery of projects.

• Clear and credible communication tailored for sourcing partners, business owners, and leadership.

• Proficient in stakeholder management and capable of fostering alignment across teams without direct authority.

• Exceptional attention to detail and dedication to data accuracy, process consistency, and dependable reporting.

• A mindset focused on continuous process improvement.

• Capability to standardize tools and scale the PMO function.

🏝️ Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based incentives.

• Comprehensive health and wellness programs.

• Opportunities for professional development and career advancement.

• Flexible work arrangements to promote work-life balance.